Colts, Scoring on Final Play, Stun Eagles, 24-23

The Philadelphia Eagles, who were able to beat the Rams the previous week, fell to the Indianapolis Colts, 24-23, Sunday, as Jack Trudeau passed six yards to Bill Brooks for the winning touchdown as time ran out.

The Eagles (1-3) lost to Phoenix in the second game of the season.

“I’ve been in this business a long time,” Coach Buddy Ryan said, “and I think this is the toughest loss I’ve ever had. We had the opportunity to make the plays and we didn’t make them.

“It’s going to be tough living around here for the next two weeks,” added Ryan, whose team has a bye next week.

Colt Coach Ron Meyer said: “This was my biggest win, especially winning like that in the last second. We were the decisive underdog in this game.”

It was the Colts’ first win of the season.

On the winning 14-play, 82-yard drive, Trudeau completed seven passes, six to Brooks. For the game, Trudeau, starting in place of Jeff George, who was sidelined because of an abdominal injury, completed 19 of 40 passes for 329 yards.

Of the winning touchdown play, Trudeau said, “I was hoping to hit (Pat) Beach inside, but he was covered. Fortunately, Brooks got between me and the defender because otherwise I had nowhere to throw it.”

At the start of the drive, Trudeau completed consecutive passes of 27 and 11 yards to Brooks and 13 to Stanley Morgan.

After an incomplete pass and a penalty against the Eagles, Trudeau connected with Brooks for three and six yards for a first down at the 16.

With a third-and-15, Trudeau threw to Brooks for a first down at the six with 10 seconds remaining. On the next play, the Eagles’ William Frizzell knocked down a pass in the end zone, but Trudeau came back to Brooks just in front of Izel Jenkins in the end zone. Jenkins tried desperately to tip the ball from behind.

Of Trudeau, Meyer said: “He performed extremely well, especially with that drive at the end. He never lost his poise.”

The Eagles’ Keith Byars, who had personal highs with 12 catches for 133 yards, said the Colts “don’t ever really get blown out. They came up with some big plays when they had to and we came up short.”

Randall Cunningham, who passed for 274 yards and two touchdowns and scrambled for 61 yards, said, “It’s just ridiculous that we lose the way we do.”