Cardinals Make Lateral Move for Victory, 20-17 : Interconference: Phoenix defensive back takes a pitch after interception and scores go-ahead touchdown against Indianapolis.

Practice paid off for the Phoenix Cardinals Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.

Cedric Mack of the Cardinals intercepted a pass by Jeff George in the fourth quarter and lateraled to Marcus Turner, who scored on a 21-yard run to help the Cardinals gain a 20-17 victory.

“As soon as I saw Cedric get it, I knew he was going to lateral,” Cardinal Coach Joe Bugel said. “Our defense practices that play every day in practice. That was not unusual.”

On third and six from the Indianapolis 14-yard line, Mack picked off George’s pass at the Colts’ 35. Mack cut across the field to his left and then flipped the ball to Turner, who ran down the left sideline and dived over the goal line with 10:19 left.

“Every time we intercept the ball in practice, we always look for someone to pitch to. I wasn’t surprised that Cedric got me the ball,” Turner said. “I saw Cedric all the time and I was yelling his name to get me the ball.”

Said Mack: “I was scrambling around to look for some running room and then I saw Marcus. The Colts had run that play a couple times before, and I was looking for the interception all the way.”

It was the first interception in 147 passes for George, who completed 13 of 28 for 168 yards and two touchdowns.

The loss ended a three-game winning streak for the Colts (5-7). The Cardinals (4-8) won for the second consecutive week after losing their previous five games.

Colt running back Eric Dickerson, who gained 143 yards last week at Cincinnati, was held to 60 yards in 17 carries.

Phoenix trailed 10-6 at halftime and 17-6 after the third quarter but closed to within 17-13 on a quarterback sneak by Timm Rosenbach on the first play of the fourth quarter. Rosenbach completed 12 of 26 passes for 164 yards.

Phoenix rookie Johnny Johnson, who entered the game as the NFC’s third-leading rusher with 801 yards, gained 16 yards in five carries. He left the game in the second quarter after aggravating a sprained right ankle that sidelined him last week against New England.

He limped off three minutes into the second quarter and didn’t play again. Rookie Anthony Thompson, who had 136 yards last week in his first NFL start, gained 74 yards in 18 carries.