Jason Elam came through for the Atlanta Falcons with a game-winning 48-yard field goal on the final play against the Chicago Bears yesterday.

The Dallas Cowboys' Mat McBriar had his punt blocked in overtime and returned for a touchdown in a loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He also was carted off the field with an apparent leg injury.

The two former University of Hawai'i standouts both had quite a day.

FALCONS 22, BEARS 20

ATLANTA — Jason Elam stood on the sideline with head bowed, figuring he had cost the Atlanta Falcons a win.

Then, a kickoff return and a quick pass gave him a second chance.

In the blink of an eye, he went from goat to hero.

Atoning for his miss a few minutes earlier, Elam booted a 48-yard field goal on the final play to give Atlanta (4-2) a stunning victory over Chicago (3-3) yesterday.

"I've been in some wild games," said rookie quarterback Matt Ryan, "but I think this one trumps them all."

Elam was swarmed by his teammates after his winning kick, having atoned for an earlier miss with his fifth field goal of the game, equaling his career high. He also connected from 29, 48, 32 and 41 yards.

"I think this is going to do great things for our confidence and chemistry," said Elam, who played at UH from 1989 to 1992. "Hopefully we can do something pretty special down the stretch."

Elam was really on the hook after hooking a 33-yard attempt wide left with 2:43 left.

The Bears scored on Kyle Orton's pass to Rashied Davis with 11 seconds left and Robbie Gould booted the extra point that gave Chicago a 20-19 lead.

Gould pooched the ensuing kickoff, and Harry Douglas managed a 10-yard return to the Atlanta 44.

Ryan threw a pass to Michael Jenkins along the left sideline for 26 yards with 1 second left.

Elam then lined up for the winning kick.

CARDINALS 30, COWBOYS 24

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Never before had an NFL team started a game with a kickoff return for a score, then ended it with a blocked punt in overtime for a touchdown.

It was that kind of crazy day in the desert.

J.J. Arrington, inactive the first four games of the season, opened things up with a 93-yard return for an Arizona score.

Several comebacks and many clutch plays later, Sean Morey blocked Mat McBriar's punt, then Monty Beisel scooped up the ball and scored from 3 yards to give Arizona (4-2) a wild victory over Dallas (4-2).

It was the first time in NFL history that a blocked punt for a touchdown ended a game in overtime.

"I can't remember one that was this crazy," Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner said, "especially toward the end."

Morey rushed untouched off the left side of the Dallas line to block the kick. Beisel, a backup linebacker, picked up the ball at about the 3 and bowled over the goal line.

McBriar, who played at UH from 2000-02, was hurt on the play and had to be carted off the field.

He finished with seven punts for an average of 47.9 yards.