Eagles Hold off Broncos, 28-24 : Late Rally: Keith Byars scores twice and Randall Cunningham throws for two touchdowns as Philadelphia wins its fourth straight game.

Keith Byars ran for his second touchdown of the game with 5:25 left after a botched Denver punt return, lifting the Philadelphia Eagles to a 28-24 victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Randall Cunningham threw two touchdown passes as the Eagles (6-2) won their fourth consecutive game.

Denver (6-2) rallied from 14-0 and 21-7 deficits for a 24-21 lead early in the final quarter after two touchdown passes and a 10-yard run by John Elway.

Elway’s second touchdown pass, a four-yarder to rookie fullback Melvin Bratton, put the Broncos ahead, 24-21, for the first time with 9:18 remaining. Elway’s 33-yard pass to Vance Johnson and his 14-yard scramble set up the score.

The Eagles punted on the next possession. The officials ruled the bouncing kick touched Denver rookie Darren Carrington and William Frizzell alertly covered the ball at the Denver 24-yard line, giving the Eagles possession.

Two minutes later, Byars ran one yard off the left side for the score. Byars finished with 96 yards in 23 carries.

Elway was sacked seven times and the Broncos committed six turnovers--two in the closing minutes. Most of the failings proved relatively harmless, but not Carrington’s miscue.

“Darren says the punt did not hit him,” Bronco Coach Dan Reeves said. “But I knew that if the replay was inconclusive, it would go their way. I don’t think the referee saw it clearly.”

The replay was inconclusive, and the call stood. The Eagles scored six plays later.

“We had planned to run some time off and protect a three-point lead,” Reeves said. “And then all of a sudden they have the ball. I hate losing like that, particularly with so many mistakes, but I am proud of the way we fought.”

Philadelphia Coach Buddy Ryan disagreed with the Broncos’ assessment of the key fumble.

“I had an excellent view and I saw the ball hit the Denver player,” Ryan said. “I was just afraid the ref was going to miss it. It was a good call, no question about it.”

Cunningham hit Gregg Garrity for 21 yards on third-and-18 to keep that drive alive, and Byars bulled the final yard for the winning score.

Philadelphia, which led 14-7 at halftime, scored touchdowns on its first two possessions, driving 96 and 41 yards.

The second score was set up by an 18-yard interception return by cornerback Izel Jenkins.

The Eagles had to punt on their third series, but Denver’s Ken Bell fumbled the ball away at the Broncos 13. Philadelphia couldn’t capitalize as Matt Cavanaugh, taking over on one play after Cunningham was shaken up, threw an interception to linebacker Rick Dennison.

Eric Allen intercepted an Elway pass at the sideline moments later, giving the Eagles possession at the Denver 42. But Luis Zendejas was wide left on a 41-yard field-goal attempt.

Denver then went 76 yards in eight plays for a score, with Elway running 10 yards for the score.

The Eagles took a 21-7 lead early in the third quarter when tight end Jimmie Giles caught a short Cunningham pass and turned it into a 66-yard touchdown.

The Broncos then scored the next 17 points.

First, Elway passed 13 yards to Vance Johnson for a touchdown.

Denver then turned a Cunningham fumble into a field goal and marched 62 yards for the Elway-to-Bratton score.

Denver had two scoring opportunities after Byars’ second touchdown, but was stopped by an interception and a failed fourth-down play.

Elway completed 19 of 39 passes for 278 yards and was intercepted three times.

Cunningham was 11 of 20 for 126 yards.