Parcells and Patriots Get a Victory : Interconference: An unusual lateral pass-run play helps New England beat Phoenix, 23-21. Bledsoe is injured.

In a game between mistake-prone teams, New England surprised everybody with a perfect play at the perfect time.

Kevin Turner’s impromptu lateral to Leonard Russell was pivotal in an 82-yard pass-run play that put the Patriots in position to beat Phoenix, 23-21, Sunday.

It began as a 13-yard pass from Scott Secules to Turner in the flat. Cardinal defenders Steve Lofton and Tyronne Stowe had their hands on Turner but couldn’t drag him down before he lateraled to Russell for a 69-yard sprint to the Phoenix two-yard line.

“I saw him looking around like he was looking for somebody to give the ball to, so I went over and got it and saw a lot of green in front of me,” Russell said.

Phoenix safety Dave Duerson claimed that Turner pitched the ball forward--an illegal pass. A flag was thrown but was retrieved with no call.

Patriot quarterback Drew Bledsoe, the No. 1 pick in last summer’s draft, sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee with 12 seconds left in the first half. He did not return and there was no immediate word on his long-term prognosis.

Secules, a sixth-year journeyman, replaced Bledsoe in the second half and brought New England back from a 14-13 deficit.

John Booty, whose interception of Secules earlier in the fourth quarter set up a go-ahead Phoenix touchdown, caught Russell from behind on the long pass-run, but Secules completed a two-yard pass to Ben Coates in the end zone with 3:56 remaining.

Steve Beuerlein of Phoenix threw three touchdown passes--six and 15 yards to Ricky Proehl and 30 yards to Randal Hill.

It was Coach Bill Parcells’ first victory with New England after four losses. Phoenix also came out the game with a 1-4 record, losing the last three.