Bulger Perfect Quarterback for Rams

Marc Bulger is still the St. Louis Rams’ good-luck charm.

The former third-string quarterback returned from a sprained index finger and threw two touchdown passes, and Jeff Wilkins kicked a 26-yard field goal with 20 seconds left that lifted the Rams over the Arizona Cardinals, 30-28, Sunday night.

Sidelined for three games, Bulger came back and improved to 6-0 as the starter for the Rams, who are 0-6 with last season’s NFL most valuable player, Kurt Warner.

But Bulger also threw two interceptions and struggled in the second half as the Rams (6-8) barely snapped a three-game losing streak that chased the defending NFC champions out of playoff contention.

“He was a little rusty,” Ram Coach Mike Martz said. “He made some throws that he doesn’t usually make, and he needs to be a little bit more disciplined than he was at some times in the second half. But he made plays and that’s what makes him so special.”

Bulger was concentrating on the bottom line.

“Obviously, I made some big mistakes and put my team in some bad situations,” said Bulger, who was 24 for 40 passing for 319 yards. “But anytime you win, all of those feelings go away.”

Marcel Shipp scored three touchdowns and Jake Plummer’s one-yard touchdown pass to Steve Bush gave the Cardinals, down by 17 points at halftime, a 28-27 lead with 7:56 to go.

Plummer, 17 of 27 passing for 258 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, came close to his 22nd come-from-behind victory in six seasons, including all five victories this year for the Cardinals (5-9).

Plummer produced two first downs before giving the Rams back the ball with 1:51 to go and no timeouts remaining. Bulger delivered, moving the Rams 72 yards in five plays over 1:31, the biggest a 58-yard pass play to Torry Holt on the first play.