TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) – The St. Louis Rams pulled off another narrow escape to take sole possession of the NFC West lead. Jeff Wilkins kicked a 49-yard field goal with 10:22 left in overtime to give the Rams a 30-27 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. It was Wilkins’ second winning kick in a row.

His 31-yarder last week beat the Bears in Chicago 23-21.

Jeff Blake threw two second-half touchdown passes to rookie sensation Anquan Boldin and the Cardinals rallied from a 14-point third-quarter deficit to take a 27-24 lead.

But Marc Bulger, who threw four interceptions, led the Rams on a 16-play, 82-yard drive to the Arizona 7 – converting on two third downs and one fourth down on passes to Torry Holt – and Wilkins’ 24-yard field goal tied it at 27.

as regulation ended.

St. Louis won the toss and took the ball in overtime, moving from its 14 to the Arizona 31. Bulger ran 18 yards on the drive, and threw 9 yards to Dane Looker on third down to move the team into field-goal range.

Boldin caught six passes for 123 yards to fall a yard shy of tying the NFL record for the quickest to 1,000 yards receiving by a rookie. He has 66 catches for 999 yards.

It was an up-and-down-then-up-again game for Bulger, who was 28-for-44 for 329 yards and one touchdown.

After completing his first nine to give St. Louis a 14-0 lead, things turned sour. Two of the interceptions were by Renaldo Hill, who returned the first 70 yards for a touchdown and set up the tying TD with the second.

Marshall Faulk ran for 100 yards in 24 carries and a touchdown, his second 100-yard game in a row. Holt caught nine for 145 yards. Marcel Shipp rushed for 95 yards in 24 attempts for Arizona.

Emmitt Smith had practiced all week but didn’t play for the Cardinals.

Bulger, who was sacked four times, fumbled when he was hit by Ronald McKinnon. Arizona’s Kenny King recovered at the St. Louis 19 to set up Neil Rackers’ 27-yard field goal that give Arizona its only lead of the game, 27-24 with 6:05 to play.

Coby Rinehart intercepted on St. Louis’ next possession, but the Cardinals couldn’t capitalize, giving the Rams one last chance in regulation.

The Rams (8-3) led 24-10 after Travis Fisher’s 55-yard interception return for a touchdown with 10:43 left in the third quarter, but Blake connected with Boldin for touchdowns on Arizona’s next two possessions.

Boldin broke two tackles on a 54-yard reception on the final play of the quarter, then caught a 3-yarder over the middle to tie it at 24 with 11:59 left in the game.

After trailing only 17-10 at the half, Arizona (3-8) forced St. Louis to punt for the first time then drove to the Rams 44.

But as Blake was being spun to the ground by Grant Wistrom, he threw a pass that fell into the arms of Travis Fisher, who returned it 55 yards untouched for the score and St. Louis led 24-10 with 10:43 to play in the third quarter.

On the last play of the third quarter, Blake threw over the middle to Boldin. Aeneas Williams bounced off Boldin’s thigh, then Adam Archuleta bounced off his upper arm, and the wide receiver ran untouched to the end zone to cut the lead to 24-17.

On the first play from scrimmage of the fourth quarter, Hill went high over Isaac Bruce for his second interception and returned it 26 yards to the St. Louis 22. On third-and-goal from the 3, Blake threw over the middle to Boldin and it was tied at 24 with 11:59 remaining.

AP-ES-11-23-03 1948EST