Morris Runs for 111 Yards as Giants Win

Joe Morris scored two touchdowns and posted his fourth consecutive 100-yard-plus game while the New York Giants had seven sacks and defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 17-14, Sunday.

The Giants (8-2) remained tied for first place in the NFC East with the Washington Redskins, who beat Green Bay, 19-7, Sunday.

The final score was no indication of the superiority of the Giants, who led, 17-0, before Philadelphia scored two late touchdowns.

Morris gained 111 yards in 27 carries. Four weeks ago against Seattle he had 126 rushing yards and then ran for 181 in each of the last two games against Washington and Dallas. His four-game total is 599 yards.

Linebacker Lawrence Taylor was credited with three sacks to lead a Giants defense that limited the Eagles to 49 total yards in the first half and 234 in the game. Philadelphia (3-7) gained 75 rushing and 159 passing.

New York’s first touchdown came after Jeff Hostetler blocked an Eagle punt at the Philadelphia 48. Six plays later, Morris scored on an 18-yard run.

New York made it 10-0 on a 22-yard field goal by Raul Allegre after the Giants moved from their 35 to a first down at the Philadelphia 13.

New York upped the lead to 17-0 4:56 into the final period on a three-yard touchdown run by Morris. It came five plays after linebacker Gary Reason returned an intercepted pass 18 yards to the Eagles’ 18.

The Eagles’ first score came with 8:49 remaining on a 75-yard pass play from quarterback Randall Cunningham to wide receiver Mike Quick. Cunningham ran a yard for the Eagles’ other touchdown with 45 seconds to play.

Cunningham, who took over on the second series of the second half when starter Ron Jaworski suffered a torn finger tendon in his passing hand, completed 10 of 21 for 152 yards and 1 touchdown.

Jaworski is expected to be out the rest of the season.

Eagle Coach Buddy Ryan said he would have used Cunningham Sunday even if Jaworski had not been injured. “I had decided Randall was going in if Ron didn’t move the team on the first series (of the second half),” he said.