Gramatica Ends Horrid Matchup

Two bad teams needed overtime to determine which was worse Sunday.

Bill Gramatica kicked a 42-yard field goal with 10:48 left in overtime and the Arizona Cardinals ended a losing streak at six with a 23-20 victory over the Detroit Lions, who lost their fifth consecutive game overall and 15th in a row on the road.

“This is a huge, huge win for where we are right now,” Coach Dave McGinnis said. “I love the effort. I still don’t like the record, but I love the outcome.”

Gramatica also had field goals of 29 and 41 yards. The 41-yarder tied the score, 20-20, with 3:20 to go in regulation. The Cardinals (5-8) never led until his final field goal.

Jake Plummer completed 24 of 43 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns, despite a depleted corps of receivers. It was the 21st time Plummer had brought his team back from a tie or a deficit in the fourth quarter; he has done it in all five of Arizona’s wins this season.

The game was the 21st this season to go to overtime, tying the 1995 league record.

Detroit (3-10) lost in overtime for the second time in three games. The Lions were beaten by Chicago, 20-17, on Nov. 24 when Coach Marty Mornhinweg chose to kick off after winning the overtime coin flip and the Bears drove to a field goal.

The announced crowd of 28,640 was Arizona’s smallest this season and its fourth under 30,000.

Two penalties in the overtime helped the Cardinals. Todd Lyght was called for pass interference for the second time in the game to keep the drive going.