Eagles Cruise Past Hapless Patriots, 48-20 : Interconference: Cunningham passes for four touchdowns, runs for another and rushes for a 124 yards. New England loses for sixth consecutive time.

The New England Patriots were hoping to duplicate the success of Phoenix and Indianapolis, which had beaten the Philadelphia Eagles at Veterans Stadium despite being heavy underdogs.

But the hapless Patriots never had a chance Sunday as quarterback Randall Cunningham passed for four touchdowns and ran for another in the Eagles’ 48-20 victory.

Cunningham completed 15 of 24 passes for 240 yards and connected with Keith Jackson on touchdown pass plays of 37 and three yards, with Fred Barnett on a 37-yard scoring play and with Calvin Williams for a 23-yard scoring play.

Cunningham rushed for a career-high 124 yards in eight carries, exceeding the 110 yards he gained against Detroit on Nov. 16, 1986.

Cunningham scored a fourth-quarter touchdown on a 52-yard run off a broken play, the longest scramble of his six-year career.

“This is the best game I’ve ever seen the offensive line play,” Cunningham said. “I can see now that we’ve turned the corner on offense. Guys have confidence in themselves. I’m more confident of myself and my team than I’ve ever been in the past.”

Heath Sherman, starting in place of the injured Anthony Toney, rushed for 113 yards in 24 carries--the first time since Dec. 17, 1978, that two Eagles rushed for 100 yards.

All week the Eagles (4-4) were reminded of Phoenix and Indianapolis. The players were told to pretend that their opponent was the San Francisco 49ers.

Patriot Coach Rod Rust, whose team is 1-7 and has lost six consecutive games, said he could not remember his team playing worse on defense.

“I thought we were ready to play, and we didn’t play well,” Rust said. “Every Sunday is beginning to be a mystery to me.”

Steve Grogan, 37, started at quarterback for the Patriots but neither he nor backup Marc Wilson could counter the Eagles’ 514 yards on offense.

Grogan completed two of nine passes for 31 yards and Wilson completed 11 of 24 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns.

The Eagles took a 3-0 lead with 6:19 left in the first quarter on a 27-yard field goal by Roger Ruzek.

It was the fifth time in the last six games the Patriots’ opponent scored on its first possession.

Jason Staurovsky kicked field goals of 39 and 44 yards for the Patriots, who also scored on a 36-yard pass play from Wilson to Irving Fryar and 14-yard pass play from Wilson to Marv Cook.

Fryar led the Patriots with four receptions for 115 yards.