DALLAS - Terrell Davis, the NFL's most valuable player last season, will miss the rest of the season because of a knee injury, a devastating blow to a championship team already reeling from four straight losses.

The Denver Broncos running back tore ligaments and cartilage in his right knee while making a tackle during the first quarter of a 21-13 loss to the New York Jets.

"I talked to him and he's in as good as spirits as he could possibly be in," Coach Mike Shanahan said. "He's working through it right now."

Davis is expected to be out four to six months and make a full recovery.

NEON'S BACK: Even though Arizona QB Jake Plummer made sure that Deion Sanders couldn't unveil his new touchdown dance in his much-anticipated return to the Dallas lineup, Plummer couldn't stop the All-Pro cornerback from bringing something else to the injury-plagued Cowboys defense: attitude.

The Cardinals never threw a pass in Sanders' direction last Sunday, but the mere presence of Sanders in the Dallas secondary helped the Cowboys force five turnovers en route to a 35-7 victory.

"He gives us a little more cockiness," said Dallas safety George Teague, who returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown. "We're more sure of what we can do. It makes everybody's job easier."

Sanders hadn't played since last Nov. 15, when he severely injured a toe against the Cardinals.

RECORD DAY: Az-Zahir Hakim tied a Rams record by scoring four touchdowns, three on passes from Kurt Warner, the fourth on an 84-yard punt return. Warner, a former Arena Football passer, became the first quarterback in the last 50 years to throw three touchdown passes in each of his first three starts.

SUPER SUB: Jeff Garcia, replacing Steve Young, threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third in San Francisco's 19th straight win at home under Coach Steve Mariucci, 24-22 over Tennessee.