Dolphins’ Offense Finally Kicks In for a 23-20 Victory Over the Eagles : Interconference: Stoyanovich makes 34-yard field goal to force overtime and a 39-yarder to win game.

Pete Stoyanovich was twice a hero Sunday night for the Miami Dolphins.

His 34-yard field goal with three seconds left forced overtime, and his 39-yarder with 2:28 remaining in sudden death gave the Dolphins a 23-20 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

“Nobody wants it to come down to one kick,” Stoyanovich said. “But I just took the opportunity and took it to the bank.”

Miami (10-3), which trailed, 20-10, with less than six minutes left, stayed one game behind AFC East-leader Buffalo. Nearly an hour after the game, NFL officials announced that the Dolphins had clinched at least a wild-card playoff berth, ensuring their first postseason appearance since 1985.

The victory was only the Dolphins’ second against a team with a winning record at the time of the game. It was doubly sweet for Miami Coach Don Shula because of his dislike for Eagle Coach Buddy Ryan.

“He’s a guy that I just don’t appreciate,” Shula said. “I’m sure he doesn’t care about that, but I could care less about Buddy Ryan.”

The Eagles (7-6) lost their second consecutive game following a five-game winning streak.

“If we don’t come together and play hard now, we don’t get into the playoffs,” offensive tackle Reggie Singletary said. “We’re going to learn from this mistake.”

Stoyanovich’s game-winning kick was set up when Jeff Feagles of the Eagles bobbled a bad snap and managed only a 23-yard punt. Starting from the Miami 43, Dan Marino completed passes of 12 yards to Troy Stradford and 14 to Mark Duper to reach the Eagles’ 31.

Three plays later, Stoyanovich gave Miami the victory.

Marino, who had little help from his running game, completed 27 of 54 passes for two touchdowns and 365 yards, a season-high by 103 yards.

“This is a big one for me,” Marino said. “It gives us 10 wins, something we haven’t had here in a long time (since 1985).”

Starting from the Miami 12 with 1:41 left in the fourth quarter, Marino moved his team 71 yards to set up Stoyanovich’s game-tying kick. One play before the score, Eagle cornerback Ben Smith was flagged for a 21-yard pass interference penalty at the Philadelphia 17-yard line.

Smith also was beaten on a 28-yard touchdown pass play from Marino to Tony Martin in the first quarter, and for a 37-yard completion that set up another field goal by Stoyanovich.

Philadelphia quarterback Randall Cunningham completed 18 of 29 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 94 yards in 12 carries.

The Eagles, who scored 23 consecutive points in a 30-23 loss to Buffalo last week, this time overcame a 10-0 deficit with 20 consecutive points. Cunningham connected on touchdown pass plays of three yards to Keith Byars and 45 yards to Calvin Williams on a flea-flicker.

The latter touchdown capped a 96-yard drive and appeared to break the Dolphins, making the score 20-10 with 10:45 left.

But Miami closed the margin to, 20-17, with 5:10 left when Marino connected with Duper on third-and-goal from the six to cap a 49-yard drive.

“I think everybody contributed to the loss on our part,” Ryan said. “We didn’t deserve to win the game.”

The Dolphins scored the first two times they had the ball, then were shut out for more than 40 minutes.

They took the opening kickoff and marched 70 yards to score on the pass from Marino to Martin.

A fourth-down gamble set up another score by the Dolphins on their next possession.

Needing two yards for a first down at the Eagles’ 44, Marino hooked up with Duper down the sideline for a 37-yard gain.

Three plays later, Stoyanovich kicked a 24-yard field goal.