PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- On the night Dick Vermeil returned to the Vet, Irving Fryar found his way back to the end zone.

Fryar caught his first touchdown pass in nearly a year, a 61-yarder from Koy Detmer in the third quarter, as the Philadelphia Eagles beat Vermeil's St. Louis Rams 17-14 Thursday night.It was Vermeil's first game at Veterans Stadium since he last coached the Eagles in 1982.

"It was emotional to go out there early and be around and see a lot of people I know," Vermeil said. "... It felt warm. The comments made to me as I came out the tunnel, by fans, and just general people making a real effort to come and say hello."

Like Vermeil's old Eagles teams, the Rams didn't quit when Fryar's TD gave Philadelphia (3-10) a 17-6 lead with 7:18 left in the third.

Tony Banks hit J.T. Thomas -- one of a hodgepodge of receivers carrying the load for injured Isaac Bruce -- for 41 yards to the Eagles 10. June Henley scored from the 1, and Banks hit Ricky Proehl for a 2-point conversion that cut it to 17-14 with 11:04 left.

View Comments

"It got a little scary at the end," said Detmer, who was 17-for-33 for 169 yards and two TDs.

Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.