By Steven Wine
The Associated Press

MIAMI - From the first play - a 59-yard completion - the Philadelphia Eagles had the Miami Dolphins' proud defense reeling.

Donovan McNabb passed for 236 yards, receiver Freddie Mitchell threw for a touchdown and Philadelphia extended its winning streak to nine games Monday night by beating the Dolphins 34-27, pushing them to the brink of elimination from the playoff race.

The Eagles (11-3) matched St. Louis for the NFC's best record, and their winning streak matches a franchise record set by the 1960 NFL champions.

"We're opening up some eyes," McNabb said. "We've gotten better and better each week. Guys are out here having fun."

With coach Dave Wannstedt's job in jeopardy, the Dolphins (8-6) slipped into their traditional December swoon with a second consecutive loss. They could miss the playoffs for the second year in a row even if they win their final two games.

"Do we need a little bit of help? Sure," Wannstedt said. "Anything can happen."

Philadelphia has averaged 32 points in the past five games, and McNabb and company continued to roll against a Miami defense that ranked third in the NFL in points allowed.

The 34 points and 401 yards allowed by Miami were season highs. The Eagles scored touchdowns on three of their first four possessions.

"They probably made more big plays today than we've given up all year," Wannstedt said. "We missed too many tackles."

Three times the Dolphins came from behind, but they couldn't rally after Correll Buckhalter scored on a 2-yard run with 14:53 left to break a 24-all tie.

Buckhalter reached over the goal with the ball extended as he leaped across the corner pylon. A replay review determined the play was a touchdown after the officials originally ruled Buckhalter out of bounds short of the goal.

A pass-interference penalty against Miami's Arturo Freeman on third and 18 set up the score.

David Akers' second field goal gave Philadelphia a 10-point lead. Olindo Mare kicked a 50-yard for Miami with 14 seconds left, but his ensuing onside kick went out of bounds to give the Eagles the ball.

Ricky Williams ran for 107 yards and a touchdown for Miami. But he carried only 18 times, while Jay Fiedler threw 40 passes - a ratio sure to be questioned by Wannstedt's critics.

Williams broke a 45-yard run, his longest this season, to set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Travis Minor for a 14-all tie. On the first series of the second half, Miami evened the score at 24 with an 80-yard drive capped by Williams' 3-yard run.

McNabb went 15-for-27, but it was Mitchell who threw the game's only touchdown pass - on his first NFL completion.

McNabb lateraled to the wide receiver, who retreated and hit Brian Westbrook with a 25-yard scoring pass. Westbrook outfought linebacker Zach Thomas for the ball in the end zone to put the Eagles ahead 21-14.

The teams scored touchdowns on five of the first seven possessions, and the Eagles needed just three plays to take the lead. Todd Pinkston beat Sam Madison deep for the Eagles' longest pass of the season, a 59-yard gain. After an incompletion, Westbrook ran up the middle 21 yards for the score.

Miami drew even with a 63-yard touchdown drive capped by Fiedler's 1-yard sneak.

The Dolphins sent eight pass-rushers on a third-and-5 blitz but McNabb burned it with a 44-yard completion to James Thrash. McNabb scored two plays later on a 1-yard sneak.

A roughing-the-kicker penalty on Philadelphia's Ike Reese sustained a possession by the Dolphins, and they took advantage with a 27-yard field goal by Mare.

Akers kicked field goals of 46 and 42 yards.

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