Titans hit ’Boys where it hurts

ARLINGTON, Texas — Kevin Byard secured the interception that sparked the sluggish Tennessee Titans and turned toward midfield.

The flashback for the Dallas Cowboys was just as disheartening as the original.

Byard mimicked Terrell Owens’ mocking celebration on the star logo at the 50-yard line from 18 years ago, Marcus Mariota accounted for three touchdowns and the Titans spoiled Amari Cooper’s Dallas debut with a 28-14 victory on Monday night.

The end-zone pick of Dak Prescott came after Mariota fumbled on the first two Tennessee possessions. Just as T.O. did at old Texas Stadium 18 years ago, Byard ran to midfield, under the huge videoboard at spacious AT&T Stadium, and spread his arms.

Owens did it twice in a blowout San Francisco victory over a bad Dallas team that time. This win by the Titans (4-4) ended their three-game losing streak while handing the Cowboys (3-5) their first loss in four home games and making their road to the playoffs a difficult one.

The Cowboys looked like the team headed for a blowout win, but led just 7-0 after Mariota’s early miscues because of Brett Maher’s missed 38-yard field goal and Prescott’s ill-advised throw into double coverage.

Cooper scored the first Dallas touchdown and finished with five catches for 58 yards after coming over from Oakland in a trade for a first-round pick.