Lomax Finds Soft Spot in Packer Defense : St. Louis Hits Green Bay in the Midsection for a 43-28 Victory

Neil Lomax looked into the Green Bay secondary and liked what he saw.

Lomax passed for three touchdowns, and Ottis Anderson rushed for 104 yards to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 43-28 victory Sunday over the Packers.

Lomax picked apart the Packers (1-3) by connecting on 20 of 38 passes for 260 yards. Roy Green caught 6 passes for 94 yards and 2 touchdowns. Pat Tilley caught 3 for 38 yards and 1 touchdown.

“It was like a school teacher and new student,” Lomax said. “I take what they give me. I’ve been saying that for three years. They let me throw over the middle, and I took advantage of it. Roy caught a couple of passes over the middle and Patty did, too. The key was the offensive line gave me plenty of protection.”

Lomax had been criticized for not throwing downfield in earlier games.

Tilley had one reception entering the game.

“This is my 10th year and you wonder how good you are,” Tilley said. “I’m really encouraged. I didn’t have many opportunities in the last three games. It was good to catch one for a touchdown. I’m excited.”

St. Louis (3-1) converted four Green Bay mistakes into 19 points and jumped out to a 26-0 lead. The Cardinals took advantage of a safety, a blocked punt and two interceptions.

Strong safety Leonard Smith played chief opportunist for St. Louis, blocking a punt and returning an interception 67 yards to set up 10 points.

“We had that in our game plan,” Smith said of the blocked punt. “I wasn’t getting picked up. On the interception, Lee Nelson made a good play. The ball shot up in the air. There were about six hands after it, but I got it.”

Second-year Green Bay quarterback Randy Wright completed just 8 of 17 passes for 77 yards and 2 interceptions before giving way midway through the third quarter to veteran Lynn Dickey, who led the Packers to 4 touchdowns. Dickey completed 14 of 21 for 175 yards and 3 touchdowns, including 2 to Paul Coffman.

Dickey said earlier in the week he didn’t think he should start because of recent poor performances.

“I didn’t bench him to begin with,” said Green Bay Coach Forrest Gregg.

Added Dickey: “Don’t try to dig into my mind because there is nothing there.”