Plummer Up to His Old Tricks

Jake Plummer the miracle worker is back.

Plummer, ineffective nearly all game in his return as starting quarterback for Arizona, led the Cardinals to two touchdowns in the final 4:31 as they rallied to beat Philadelphia, 21-17, Sunday for their fourth victory in a row.

Frank Sanders’ diving catch of Plummer’s 38-yard pass short of the goal line set up Plummer’s one-yard sneak for the decisive touchdown with 57 seconds left.

With the victory, Arizona (6-6) moved within a game of first place in the NFC East going into next week’s game at Washington (7-5).

Plummer, starting for the first time since Oct. 17 because of a broken finger, has rallied Arizona to victory 11 times when the Cardinals trailed or were tied in the fourth quarter. The last two comebacks came this season against Philadelphia (3-10). The Eagles lost to Arizona, 25-24, in the season opener on Chris Jacke’s 31-yard field goal as the time ran out.

In Arizona’s final two drives, Plummer was 12 for 19 for 126 yards. He finished 20 for 37 for 179 yards. Before the two scoring drives, Arizona went past midfield once after its opening series.

“Eventually, after playing so terribly for enough of a game, you get sick of it, and I flip the switch myself usually and say, ‘Let’s go,’ ” Plummer said. “The guys around me, they believe in me, and without our defense, I’m not doing this in the fourth quarter.”

Arizona went 80 yards in 16 plays to cut its deficit to 17-14 on Plummer’s three-yard touchdown pass to a leaping David Boston with 4:31 to play. The Cardinals stopped the Eagles on their next possession and took over at the Arizona 31.

Arizona drove to the Eagle 39 and, on third and 10, Plummer scrambled to his right and heaved a perfect pass to Sanders, who caught it as he was diving out of bounds at the goal line.