ST. LOUIS — So who needs Reggie Bush? The San Francisco 49ers got a pair of big runs from backups in a victory over the St. Louis Rams.

Frank Gore scored the deciding touchdown on a 30-yard run with 4:05 to go and seldom-used Maurice Hicks scored untouched on a 73-yarder on the game's first snap in a 24-20 comeback victory over the sagging St. Louis Rams yesterday. The combination of Hicks and Gore helped the 49ers rush for 217 yards without injured Kevan Barlow.

"It shows the heart of a 3-12 team," Gore said. "I think any other team would have laid down."

The 49ers ended a seven-game losing streak after entering the day tied for the fewest victories in the NFL. But they swept the Rams (5-10) for the first time since 1998, also beating them 28-25 in the opener.

They also moved ahead of the Houston Texans (2-13) in the "race" for the first overall draft pick, presumably for Heisman Trophy winner Bush if the junior tailback leaves Southern Cal.

"The fans will talk about it," coach Mike Nolan said. "But I certainly don't talk about it."

Jamie Martin threw for a career-best 354 yards against a decimated 49ers secondary and the Rams led 20-7 late in the first half. They were mistake-prone the rest of the way, losing for the sixth time in seven games overall and their fourth straight time at home.

At 3-5, they finished with their first losing record at home since 1998. That's also the last time they lost at home to the 49ers.

"I feel like we embarrassed the city of St. Louis," wide receiver Isaac Bruce said. "Today wasn't a good day for us."

The 49ers won even though rookie Alex Smith, this year's first overall draft pick, still doesn't have a touchdown pass. Smith was 12 for 16 for 131 yards.

"I don't think I would have gotten here if I hadn't won games in the past," Smith said. "That's how quarterbacks are ultimately evaluated."

Mostly, though, San Francisco counted on the two big gains and some misplays by the Rams.

"When you run the ball like that," Smith said, "it makes it easy."

Hicks broke free on a simple off-tackle play to open the game and finished with 109 yards on 10 carries. He entered the game with only 135 yards all season. Gore, who also scored on a 10-yarder in the second quarter, appeared to be jammed up the middle before a cutback left clear sailing on the clinching score.

The Rams twice had the ball deep in San Francisco territory in the fourth quarter, but came up empty. Shawntae Spencer intercepted Martin's pass in the end zone on the first play of the quarter, and Steven Jackson was stopped for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-1 at the 49ers 22 with 9:11 to go.

St. Louis also drove to the 31 at the finish before Ben Emanuel intercepted a tipped pass.

"It's definitely disappointing when you go and give your all, and don't quite get there," Martin said. "I just needed to make a few more plays."

The Rams wasted big games from Torry Holt, who caught 10 passes for 163 yards and a 40-yard score, and Jeff Wilkins, who kicked a pair of 50-plus yard field goals.

San Francisco's Joe Nedney kicked a career-best 56-yard field goal on the last play of the half.

BUCS 27, FALCONS 24, OT

TAMPA, Fla. — Matt Bryant kicked a 41-yard field goal as Tampa Bay (10-5) beat Atlanta (8-7) to edge closer to its first playoff berth since it won the Super Bowl three seasons ago, while elimination the Falcons from playoff contention.

"The world picked us not to be very good and we've managed to prove the world wrong quite a few times," Bryant added. "We've just got to do it one more time to get to the playoffs."

The Bucs and Falcons both wasted opportunities to win in the extra period. Atlanta's Todd Peterson had a 28-yarder blocked after Tampa fumbled on the overtime kickoff and Bryant shanked a 27-yarder that would have won it six minutes later.

"To have the kick blocked. It kind of put everything into perspective — like maybe it just ain't our year," said Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who threw for 161 yards and two TDs.

Tampa Bay's Chris Simms threw for 285 yards and two touchdowns and Carnell "Cadillac" Williams ran for 150 yards to go over 1,000 for the season, including a 6-yard burst that tied the score 24-24 in the closing seconds of regulation.

CARDINALS 27, EAGLES 21

TEMPE, Ariz. — Josh McCown threw two touchdown passes and Karlos Dansby returned an interception 11 yards for a score as Arizona (5-10) ended 18 years of mostly unremarkable football at Sun Devil Stadium by beating Philadelphia (6-9).

The Cardinals move to their $370 million new stadium in the western suburb of Glendale next fall.

"I was really thinking about that a lot," McCown said. "I don't know how much other guys thought of it because we're such a young team. But being here four years, being here with Jake (Plummer) and some of the guys that were around here a while, it was special to me. I wanted to go out with a win."

Arizona's Neil Rackers kicked field goals of 37 and 32 yards, giving him 38 in 40 attempts. He needs two in the season finale at Indianapolis to break the NFL record of 39 shared by Olindo Mare of Miami (1999) and Jeff Wilkins of St. Louis (2003).

LIONS 13, SAINTS 12

SAN ANTONIO — Jason Hanson rushed onto the field and kicked a 39-yard knuckleball field goal as time expired, lifting Detroit (5-10) over New Orleans (3-12).

There were six field goals, no offensive touchdowns, dropped passes and spotty play by two quarterbacks still trying to figure out where they fit with their teams.

"Winning like this shows character," said Detroit quarterback Joey Harrington, who struggled most of the game before hitting Roy Williams with two big passes on the final drive — a 40-yarder on fourth down and the other with 13 seconds left to barely give Hanson time.

"It was done like it should have been, but I would have liked to have killed the clock (with a spike) and given them time to set up," Lions coach Dick Jauron said. "I was watching the clock because that would have been a bad way to lose the game."

NFC