Josh Brown kicked a 49-yard field goal on the last play of the game on Sunday, giving the Rams a 19-17 upset of the Washington Redskins to end an eight-game losing streak over two seasons.
Jim Haslett was a winner in his St. Louis head coaching debut.
It took a fluke play for the two-touchdown underdog to pull off the stunner. The Rams got one at the perfect time in the first half.
PHOTO: AFP
The Redskins (4-2) overcame a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit and appeared set to win their fifth straight game when Clinton Portis’ 2-yard run with 3:47 left gave Washington a 17-16 lead. But Marc Bulger hit Donnie Avery down the right sideline for a 43-yard gain on third-and-13 to move into field goal territory.
CARDINALS 30, COWBOYS 24, OT
At Glendale, Arizona, Sean Morey blocked Mat McBriar’s punt and Monty Beisel scooped up the ball and scored from 3 yards. Morey rushed untouched off the left side of the Dallas line to block the kick. Beisel, a backup linebacker, picked up the ball and bowled over the goal line.
McBriar had to be carted off the field in the din of a crowd that included the usual large portion of Dallas fans.
The stunning play by two of Arizona’s most unheralded players brought a conclusion to a game loaded with confusion, controversy and clutch performances.
CHARGERS 30, PATRIOTS 10
At San Diego, Philip Rivers threw three touchdown passes and San Diego’s defense stuffed quarterback Matt Cassel on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line.
It was a measure of payback against a team that had beaten the Chargers three straight times, including in the playoffs the last two seasons.
Rivers drew raves for his toughness by playing the AFC championship game with a shredded ligament in his right knee, but he couldn’t get the Chargers into the end zone that day and they lost 21-12 to the Patriots at Foxborough.
At San Francisco, Donovan McNabb passed for 280 yards and two touchdowns without his top two receivers and his best running back, and the Eagles’ aggressive defenders forced three turnovers during a 23-point fourth quarter.
Donald Strickland returned a blocked field goal 41 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the first half for the 49ers (2-4), who went ahead 26-17 in the third quarter. They couldn’t sustain that momentum in their third straight loss against a Philadelphia defense that repeatedly made stunning plays in the final minutes.
PACKERS 27, SEAHAWKS 17
At Seattle, Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay’s ailing quarterback, ran for a touchdown early, then threw two scoring passes in the second half to perhaps save the Packers’ season.
Seattle paid for having to start No. 3 quarterback Charlie Frye.
It looked inept on offense while dropping to 1-4 — the equal of the St. Louis Rams at the bottom of the NFC West the Seahawks have ruled the last four seasons. Seattle was last 1-4 in 2002, its most recent losing season.
Green Bay (3-3) won for the 10th time in 13 road games.
FALCONS 22, BEARS 20
At Atlanta, Jason Elam made the most of his second chance, kicking a 48-yard field goal on the final play.
Elam appeared to be the goat after hooking a 33-yard attempt wide left with less than 3 minutes left. The Bears took advantage of Elam’s first miss in 31 attempts, quickly driving downfield and going ahead for the first time when Kyle Orton hit Rashied Davis on a 17-yard touchdown with 11 seconds remaining. Robbie Gould booted through the extra point that gave Chicago a 20-19 lead.
But the surprising Falcons, coming off an upset of the Packers in Green Bay, weren’t done. With many fans heading for the exits, Gould pooched the ensuing kickoff, and Harry Douglas managed a 10-yard return to the Atlanta 44.
JAGUARS 24, BRONCOS 17
At Denver, David Garrard completed 25 of 34 passes for 276 yards, one TD and no interceptions and running back Maurice Jones-Drew rumbled for 125 yards and two TDs on 22 carries.
The Jaguars (3-3) also won at Invesco Field last year, thanks to a franchise-record 18-play, 80-yard drive that chewed up nearly 12 minutes. This time, they wasted no time in sending the Broncos (4-2) to their first home loss since last Oct. 29 against Green Bay.
TEXANS 29, DOLPHINS 28
At Houston, Matt Schaub threw interceptions on Houston’s first two possessions, but ran for a 3-yard touchdown with 3 seconds left.
The Dolphins (2-3) had knocked down consecutive passes in the end zone before Schaub ran for the score. The 2-point conversion failed, but Houston had enough points. That drive was kept alive when Andre Johnson caught a 23-yard pass on fourth-and-10.
In Sunday’s other games it was:
Vikings 12, Lions 10
Buccaneers 27, Panthers 3
Colts 31, Ravens 3
Saints 34, Raiders 3
Jets 26, Bengals 14
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