Late Field Goal Lifts Ravens Past Arizona

Sunday, September 23rd 2007, 4:13 pm

By: News On 6

BALTIMORE (AP) _ Kurt Warner orchestrated a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback, only to be outdone by another backup quarterback who never anticipated playing in such a pressurized situation.

Kyle Boller moved the Ravens into position for Matt Stover's 46-yard field goal as time expired, and Baltimore squeezed out a 26-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

The Ravens (2-1) led 20-3 at halftime and 23-6 entering the fourth quarter, but wilted in the final 15 minutes in a second straight game. Although the New York Jets never pulled even one week earlier, Warner rallied the Cardinals (1-2) to a tie at 23 with 1:50 left.

That left it up to Boller, who entered in the fourth quarter for an ailing Steve McNair. Starting at the Baltimore 20, Boller went 5-for-5 for 32 yards, and the Ravens benefited from a questionable personal foul call on safety Adrian Wilson to get into position for Stover's winning kick.

Wilson was called for a high hit on Todd Heap at the end of a first-down pass.

Warner replaced an ineffective Matt Leinart and went 15-for-20 for 258 yards and two touchdowns. His favorite target was Anquan Boldin, who had a career-high 14 catches for 181 yards.

Baltimore led by 17 late in the third quarter before Warner got to work. He went 6-for-6 for 72 yards in a drive that ended with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Boldin.

After a punt by Baltimore, Warner took the Cardinals 54 yards in two plays: a 22-yard completion to Larry Fitzgerald and a 32-yarder to Boldin with 10:19 left.

Warner completed the comeback on Arizona's next series, moving the Cardinals 64 yards in 10 plays before Neil Rackers kicked a 41-yard field goal to tie it.

Leinart was sacked only once but received pressure on almost every throw. The second-year quarterback went 9-for-20 for 53 yards before being replaced by the 36-year-old Warner, who also made a brief appearance in the first half.

Back after missing last week's game due to a groin injury, McNair went 20-for-27 for 198 yards in leading the Ravens to scores in three of their first four possessions. But Baltimore coach Brian Billick called for Boller to start warming up with the Ravens up 23-6, and Boller entered after Warner put up Arizona's first touchdown.

Willis McGahee finished with 98 yards rushing on 21 carries, and Derrick Mason had eight catches for 79 yards and a touchdown.

Stover kicked four field goals and moved past Norm Johnson into fifth place on the NFL career scoring list with 1,745 points.

Playing in Baltimore for the first time since 1997, Arizona fell behind 20-3 when rookie Yamon Figurs gathered in a punt and cut to his left en route to his first NFL touchdown. Figurs is playing for B.J. Sams, who is out for the season with a knee injury.

The Ravens got a field goal on their opening possession, using a 37-run by McGahee to set up Stover's 21-yard kick.

On Baltimore's next march, McNair went 7-for-7 for 68 yards before Stover kicked a 28-yarder for a 6-0 lead.

Warner entered on Arizona's third series, after Leinart went 2-for-6 for 10 yards. Operating with no huddle, Warner threw a 37-yard pass to Boldin and a 13-yarder to Fitzgerald before Rackers kicked a 48-yard field goal.

McNair answered with a 70-yard drive, connecting with Mason on a 13-yard touchdown pass.

Leinart returned with a three-and-out, which led to Figurs' 75-yard return.