Eagles Beat Packers and White, 20-17 : NFC: Defensive end plays well against former

The Philadelphia Eagles can win, play defense and still rush the passer without Reggie White.

They did all three Sunday with White, their former teammate, on the other side of the ball.

Randall Cunningham eluded White and completed a 40-yard touchdown pass to Victor Bailey in the fourth quarter to tie the score and Roger Ruzek kicked a 30-yard field goal with five seconds to play as the Eagles rallied to beat White’s new team, the Green Bay Packers, 20-17.

“We know who’s in this room, we know the players we have and we’re not going out of our way to show we have to prove anything to anyone,” said Eagle linebacker Seth Joyner, as Philadelphia limited Green Bay to six yards in its final three possessions after the Packers had built a 17-7 lead.

Cunningham was twice stripped of the ball by White in the first quarter, losing both fumbles. But he was able to get away from him in the closing minutes and the pass to Bailey completed a 91-yard drive.

“I dropped back and I knew Reggie was going to throw on one of his moves. So I thought when he does come in here, I’m going to roll out,” said Cunningham.

Bailey’s catch came with 4:14 remaining. A minute later, the Eagles (2-0) got the ball back on the Green Bay 45 after the Packers managed only three yards in three plays.

Philadelphia then used most of the clock with seven running plays, including an 11-yard gain by Herschel Walker, before Ruzek kicked the game-winner to silence a crowd of 59,061, the second largest ever at Lambeau Field.

“It was strange, awkward, but it’s a business,” said Joyner of seeing White on the other side after he spent eight years with Philadelphia.

White finished the game with four tackles, four assists and two sacks. He had only one assist in the second half.

Leading, 10-7, at the half after two sacks and two forced fumbles by White, the Packers (1-1) took the second-half kickoff and moved 58 yards in an eight-minute drive.

Brett Favre had passes of 11 yards to Ed West and 12 yards to Sterling Sharpe, and on a third down from the 15 he passed to tight end Jackie Harris, who dragged Rich Miano and Eric Allen into the end zone for a 17-7 lead.

After that, the Packers’ offense stumbled.

Cunningham completed 23 of 29 passes for 209 yards.