Eagles Slip Past Vikings

The Philadelphia Eagles, in need of a win to stay in the NFL playoff chase, knew where to turn in a desperate moment--to Randall Cunningham.

Cunningham threw three yards to Cris Carter for a touchdown with 2:32 remaining Sunday as the Eagles ended a two-game losing streak with a 10-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Both teams are 7-4.

Minnesota, which earlier in the fourth quarter had blown a scoring chance on Rick Fenney’s fumble deep in Eagle territory, drove to Philadelphia’s 36-yard line, but Wade Wilson, who was 14 of 34 for 157 yards, threw four consecutive incomplete passes, the last just over the outstretched arms of Leo Lewis, who was open inside the 10.

“I thought somehow we’d pull it out,” Philadelphia Coach Buddy Ryan said. “I just didn’t know how.”

But Byron Evans did. Evans recovered a fumble on what could have been a game-clinching drive by Herschel Walker, who had returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown.

Evans carried the ball 17 yards, then lateraled to Eric Allen, who ran to the Minnesota 20.

“I just happened to see the ball hit the ground and happened to see it rolling around,” he said.

“I was just changing the ball from one hand to another and it dropped out,” Walker said. “I don’t know if someone got a hand in there.”

Six plays later, Cunningham lofted the ball into the end zone where it was tipped by Carl Lee and caught by Carter.

Then Steve DeLine, who had made one of four field goal attempts, kicked the extra point. It made the difference as Minnesota’s Rich Karlis missed the extra point after Walker’s touchdown.

Cunningham was 26 of 43 for 207 yards, and tight end Keith Jackson had 12 receptions for 87 yards.