By Alvin Reid
ST. LOUIS - Beanie Wells rushed for a franchise record 228 yards and a touchdown to lead the Arizona Cardinals over the St. Louis Rams 23-20 on Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.
"It was a great day. The offensive line did a great job. It's a blessing that we pulled that one out," Wells said.
His last run of 14 yards sealed the outcome and also gave him the Arizona Cardinals single-game rushing record.
As for that record, Wells said it is "okay."
"I'm just excited we got the win and glad we got the ground game going today."
Wells became the second back this season to set a franchise mark against the Rams. DeMarco Murray's 253 yards for the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 23 is also a new team standard.
The Rams rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to tie the game at 20-20 before Wells popped a 53-yard run that led to the game-winning 22-yard field goal by Jay Feeley.
Things looked bleak for the Rams after they dared Patrick Peterson to burn them again on a long punt return and he left them in flames.
Peterson, who stunned the Rams with a 99-yard punt return in overtime three weeks ago, split the Rams punt coverage team en route to an 80-yard touchdown.
As for his record-tying fourth punt return for a touchdown this season, Peterson said "That's amazing. I want to thank God for putting me in this position and to continue to help me stay healthy, stay focused and have the will each and every Sunday to make plays."
As for the Rams kicking to him, albeit inadvertently, Peterson said "I was actually very surprised."
But the Cards kept trying to give the game back. With the Rams trailing 20-13, Brady Poppinga forced a Wells' fumble and also recovered the ball at the Cardinals 43. Two plays later the Rams picked up a ferocious blitz and Bradford connected with Brandon Lloyd for a 16-yard touchdown with 7:15 left in the game.
Nick Miller put the Rams on top 7-0 with an 88-yard punt return to give the St. Louis Rams with 9:15 left in the first quarter.
A member of the Rams earlier this season before being released, Miller was re-signed this week to replace wide receiver Mark Clayton who was placed on injured reserve.
After a 29-yard Feeley field goal cut the lead to 7-3, the Rams responded with a 63-yard drive late in the second quarter they capped with a 35-yard Josh Brown field goal.
Feeley connected on a 37-yard field goal with 9:38 left in the third quarter to cut the Rams' lead to four points at 10-6.
Lance Kendricks fumbled after a short reception on the next Rams' drive and the Cardinals recovered at the 28 yard line.
Wells put the Cardinals up for the first time at 13-10 with a seven-yard run that capped a six-play drive with 5:54 left in the third quarter. Wells also had a 72-yard run earlier in the game.
Peterson's punt return came after the Rams chose to punt rather than go for a fourth-and-half-a-football at their own 30 yard line.
"It was way too early," said Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo when asked about his decision. "I thought it was just too risky."
The Rams' game plan also said it was too risky to punt the ball directly to Peterson.
"The intent was not to punt the ball down the middle of the field," he said.
It was Peterson's intent to burn the Rams just as he had done in the Cardinals' 19-16 win on Nov. 6 and that's what he did. He bisected the punt coverage team ran virtually untouched for 80 yards.
The Cardinals overcame a poor performance by quarterback John Skelton who was 12-for-23 for 114 yards and two interceptions.
Sam Bradford was a bit more effective for the Rams, completing 17-of-31 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown.
