Eagles Get Closer but Still Winless

Nothing but chunks of ice and garbage were on the turf at Veterans Stadium, the wreckage of another loss for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Even though they scored three touchdowns and got the tough Philadelphia fans back on their side, the winless Eagles lost, 24-21, to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday for their worst start in 26 years.

Philadelphia native Rich Gannon’s 57-yard completion to Joe Horn in the fourth quarter set up Donnell Bennett’s third touchdown run as the Chiefs (3-1) sent the Eagles to 0-4 for the first time since 1972.

“We handled them most of the game when no one gave us a chance,” Eagle receiver Irving Fryar said. “Yeah, we’re improving every week, but we’re still 0-4. That’s not a good thing.”

The Eagles, who scored 15 points in their first three games, made it close when Rodney Peete passed to Duce Staley for a 17-yard touchdown with 61 seconds left. But the Chiefs recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

With Elvis Grbac and Andre Rison sidelined because of injuries, Gannon and Horn led the Chiefs to their ninth consecutive victory against NFC opponents. Grbac and Rison should be able to play in a more important AFC West matchup against Seattle at Arrowhead Stadium next week.

“I think this was a great win for us, because it showed character,” said Chief linebacker Derrick Thomas, who failed to add to his league-leading seven sacks.

Gannon was 17 for 25 for 262 yards and Bennett rushed for 87 yards.

“That team was 0-3?,” Chief linebacker Anthony Davis asked. “They didn’t play like they were 0-3. We were the ones that played like we were 0-3.”