PRO FOOTBALL : Defense Saves Cunningham and the Eagles, 13-7 : NFC: Fumble on pass play late in game against Packers could have been costly for Philadelphia.

Randall Cunningham almost became a throwback to Joe Pisarcik.

The Eagles appeared to have wrapped up a 13-7 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday when Cunningham scrambled for a first down after the Eagles had been pinned back deep in their own territory.

But instead of simply running out the clock, Cunningham rolled to his left to pass. And of course the worst happened.

Instead of just taking a sack, he tried to get off a pass as he was hit by Steve McMichael and Don Davey. The ball popped loose and Sean Jones recovered, giving Green Bay the ball at the 16 with 2:03 remaining.

But the Eagle defense, as it had all day, came through again. On fourth and one at the six, Brett Favre threw in the right flat to Edgar Bennett, who was stuffed by cornerback Otis Smith for virtually no gain.

In 1978, the Eagles were the beneficiaries of one of the biggest blunders in NFL history. Pisarcik, who was later with the Eagles, was the quarterback of the New York Giants.

All Pisarcik needed to do to wrap up a victory over the Eagles was to kneel. Instead, he tried to hand off to Larry Csonka.

The ball was fumbled and the Eagles’ Herman Edwards returned it for a touchdown and a 19-17 victory. The coach who called the play was fired that night.

So Cunningham, Coach Rich Kotite and offensive coordinator Zeke Bratkowski were all breathing a little easier after the Eagles escaped on Sunday.

“This is how a defense, when a mistake is made, smothers the opponent,” Kotite said. “That’s what winning football teams do, and that’s what we’re doing.”

On another big play earlier in the quarter, defensive end Mike Flores stopped Bennett on fourth and one at the Eagle 34.

Five minutes later, linebacker William Thomas had a 13-yard sack that moved the ball out of field-goal range.

The Eagles got all the offense they needed on two 26-yard field goals by Eddie Murray and a one-yard touchdown run by Cunningham.

Reggie White, the defensive end whose illustrious eight-year career with the Eagles earned him a spot on the NFL’s All 75-Year team, was consistently double- and triple-teamed in his first game in Philadelphia since joining the Packers before last season.

The extra attention limited White to three tackles, although he drew three holding penalties on tackle Broderick Thomas.