PRO FOOTBALL : Ware Leads Lions to 26-20 Victory : NFC: Detroit quarterback, making his fifth career start, gets offense back on track against Phoenix.

The quarterback controversy will continue for the Detroit Lions despite the efforts of Andre Ware on Sunday.

A switch from Rodney Peete to Ware produced a 26-20 victory over the Phoenix Cardinals. Yet Coach Wayne Fontes wouldn’t commit to Ware, who finally got the offense untracked.

“Wednesday will be our first day back at practice,” Fontes said. “I’ll look at the films and then I’ll decide who will be our quarterback.”

With Ware making only his fifth career start, the Lions scored their first touchdowns since opening day.

“What’s he going to do?” a frustrated Ware said. “Try out a quarterback every week?”

Ware, the 1989 Heisman Trophy winner, completed 11 of 24 passes for 194 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown pass to Brett Perriman.

“I just wanted a chance,” Ware said. “That’s all I’ve said since I’ve been here. There haven’t been any perfect rookies, except maybe Dan Marino. As a leader of the team, you have to put all the negatives aside.”

Derrick Moore scored on a one-yard run and Jason Hanson kicked field goals of 44, 22, 33 and 38 yards for Detroit (3-1).

Steve Beuerlein completed 23 of 31 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns for the Cardinals (1-3). He connected with Ricky Proehl for a 51-yard touchdown pass play and with Walter Reeves on a two-yarder. Greg Davis kicked field goals of 54 and 30 yards for Phoenix.

Afterward, Beuerlein blasted his teammates for careless play that contributed to three lost fumbles.

“This is absolutely ridiculous,” Beuerlein said. “To come in here with as much talent as we have, and to move the ball the way we did, it is unbelievable that we lost this game.”

Moore’s touchdown at the 6:17 mark of the second quarter ended a stretch of 11 quarters, plus an overtime period, in which the Lions went without a touchdown. It also was the first time Detroit had scored a touchdown from inside the 20 in eight tries this season.

Hanson missed a 43-yard attempt midway through the third quarter. It was the first miss in Hanson’s career from inside the 45.