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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 10:36 a.m., Sunday, September 21, 2008

NFL: Fourth-quarter tip spurs Redskins to victory

By JOSEPH WHITE
AP Sports Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Arizona Cardinals' Edgerrin James (32) fumbles the ball as he is hit by Washington Redskins' Reed Doughty (37) and Rocky McIntosh (52) during the first quarter today. The Redskins recovered the ball.

KEVIN WOLF, Associated Press

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LANDOVER, Md. _ Leigh Torrence executed the tip drill to perfection, reaching over Steve Breaston's shoulder to flick Kurt Warner's pass high into the air. Carlos Rogers cradled the ball just before it hit the ground, got to his feet and took off.

Rogers got the ball to Arizona's 15-yard line today. Two plays later, Santana Moss took a receiver screen for a 17-yard touchdown that gave the Washington Redskins a 24-17 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

Jason Campbell completed 23 of 31 passes for 193 yards with two touchdowns. He has yet to throw an interception this season, and the Redskins' no-turnover day kept Warner and the Cardinals in poor field position throughout the game.

Clinton Portis ran 21 times for 68 yards and a touchdown for the Redskins (2-1), who have won two straight since coach Jim Zorn lost his debut game.

The Cardinals (2-1) had been looking to go 3-0 for the first time since 1974. But they committed their first turnovers of the season and ended a 10-game streak in which they scored 20 or more points.

Warner completed 16 of 30 passes for 192 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Larry Fitzgerald caught seven passes for 109 yards and one touchdown. The Cardinals didn't start a drive beyond their 29 until the fourth quarter.

Campbell completed his first eight passes, giving him 16 straight over two games. He dinked and dunked his way down the field on the game's opening drive, going 6-for-6. Portis' 3-yard touchdown run gave the Redskins a 7-0 lead.

A pair of Cardinals mistakes helped Washington extend the lead. A fourth-and-inches delay-of-game penalty in Redskins territory forced Arizona to punt when it had lined up to go for it.

Then, on the last play of the first quarter, Edgerrin James' fumble after a completion gave Washington the ball at the Cardinals 34. Shaun Suisham made a 48-yard field goal.

The Cardinals got on the board late in the half with an 84-yard drive, aided by pass interference penalty on Rogers. Receiver Jerheme Urban's completed his first NFL pass attempt for 18 yards to Tim Hightower, setting up Warner's 4-yard touchdown toss to Anquan Boldin.

The Cardinals marched 72 yards on the first drive of the second half, but Jason Taylor tipped Warner's passes on both second and third down inside the 10. Arizona settled for Neil Rackers' 26-yard field goal to tie the game at 10.

The Redskins responded with an 80-yard drive, again taking small chunks at a time. They pulled off their own receiver-option play, with Antwaan Randle El finding Chris Cooley for 11 yards, and Cooley also took a screen pass 16 yards to the 2. Campbell hit another tight end, Todd Yoder, for the touchdown.

The Cardinals tied the score again on the game's first offensive play of more than 20 yards. Fitzgerald, who last week had a 75-yard touchdown reception, sped past Reed Doughty and LaRon Landry on a post route for a 62-yard scoring pass.