Cardinal Defense Stops Eagles, 12-6 : NFC: Arizona sacks Cunningham four times and wins second consecutive game for first time this season.

The Arizona Cardinals, who complained about bad breaks in a 17-7 loss to Philadelphia two weeks ago, made their own breaks this time.

“We talked about it from the outset--putting together a 60-minute game. You know, not going out and playing well for a little while here and there,” Seth Joyner said Sunday after Phoenix defeated Philadelphia, 12-6. Joyner had two of the four sacks on Eagle quarterback Randall Cunningham as Phoenix made four field goals by Greg Davis stand up.

“No,” Joyner said, “we were going to go out and put together a 60-minute game and play the way that we know we can play--swarm to the ball, play smart football, and let the chips fall where they may.”

It was a sweet victory for Cardinal Coach Buddy Ryan, who succeeded in his second try at beating the team he coached to three consecutive playoff appearances from 1988-90. It also marked the first time this season the Cardinals (5-6) won consecutive games.

The Eagles (7-4) dropped their second in a row thanks to Ryan’s defense. Arizona allowed 79 yards through the first three quarters and 185 for the game.

If there was a negative, it was Arizona’s inability to score a touchdown on three drives inside the Eagles’ 10.

Arizona lost two offensive keys in the first half when tackle Luis Sharpe and wide receiver Randal Hill were sidelined because of leg injuries. But its luck changed in the third quarter, when Herschel Walker’s 96-yard kickoff return was called back because of a holding penalty on Rich Miano.

The Cardinals got another break when Fred Barnett dropped a pass inside the Arizona 10 early in the fourth quarter and Philadelphia settled for Eddie Murray’s 30-yard field goal with 11:41 left.

Murray’s field goal cut Arizona’s lead to 9-6, and the Cardinals couldn’t move on the next possession. But the defense took over.

After Philadelphia got one first down, Cunningham scrambled out of the pocket, then lateraled to Walker. A hard tackle by Terry Hoage knocked the ball loose, and Aeneas Williams recovered on the Cardinal 42.

After the fumble, Jay Schroeder directed a 37-yard drive ended by Davis’ 39-yard field goal with 5:16 to play. Davis’ other three field goals were from 24 yards.

The Eagles put together a desperation drive, sparked by Charlie Garner’s 21-yard sweep on fourth and inches. But Eric Swann stopped Walker for a one-yard loss at the Arizona 24, Calvin Williams was out of bounds on a end-zone catch, and Cunningham threw incomplete on third and fourth down.