Plummer Rescues Cardinals

TEMPE, Ariz. — The same old Cardinals--until Jake Plummer and Joe Nedney came to the rescue.

The Arizona Cardinals squandered a nine-point lead in the final 1:39, then came back to beat the Washington Redskins, 29-27, Sunday on Nedney’s 47-yard field goal with two seconds left.

A week ago, Nedney hit a career-long 53-yarder to beat Detroit, 17-15.

“Last year, I kicked a game-winner at Baltimore and then I came back for a nice reception from the home crowd and ended up missing one from 46 to win it against Pittsburgh,” Nedney said. “So to hit one at home was sweet redemption.”

Plummer completed four passes for 50 yards in 29 seconds to set up Nedney’s winning kick.

“We are talking about a different team here, and we don’t believe in that stuff,” said Plummer, who was 22 for 30 for 186 yards.

Plummer, who had a four-yard touchdown pass to Larry Centers and no interceptions, set a franchise record by completing 15 consecutive passes, starting with his first in the second half.

Washington (1-8) scored 10 points in 56 seconds to overcome a 26-17 lead.

Trent Green passed to Leslie Shepard for a 35-yard touchdown to cut it to 26-24. Then Stephen Davis recovered an onside kick to set up Cary Blanchard’s 54-yard field goal with 35 seconds left, giving Washington a 27-26 lead.

But the Redskin defense wilted as Plummer drove Arizona downfield to set up the winning field goal.

The Cardinals improved to 5-4, just the second time they’ve been over .500 after nine games since 1988, their first season in Arizona, when they started 7-4 before a hip injury ended the career of quarterback Neil Lomax.