LANDOVER, Md., Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Stephen Davis tied a career high with three touchdowns and linebacker LaVar Arrington spoiled Kurt Warner's return Sunday as the Washington Redskins held on for a 20-17 win over the St. Louis Rams.
Warner missed five games with a broken right pinky and got off to a great start as he completed his first 15 passes and led the Rams to a 10-7 halftime lead. But a potential scoring drive late in the second quarter ended with an interception by linebacker Jeremiah Trotter.
Warner put the Rams in position to tie or win, but Arrington swatted the ball from his hand at the Washington 13-yard line and defensive tackle Daryl Gardener fell on the ball with 17 seconds remaining.
"It was a good win for us," Washington Coach Steve Spurrier said. "We got some good fortune there at the end when LaVar Arrington came around and made a big play. I'm really proud of the defense.
"To hold those guys to 17 points is a pretty good day's work."
"I had been getting pressure all day, but their right tackle was holding me," said Arrington, who has seven sacks in as many games. "On the play that really counted, I got underneath and got to the ball. It was an unbelievable rush to see we had gotten the fumble. Our backs were against the wall. We just have to keep building on this win today."
St. Louis Coach Mike Martz blamed himself for trying to pass the ball.
"It's a shame, I made a bad call at the end," he said. "I wanted to make a safe play, but made the bad call. We lost this game on a coaching error at the end. I thought Kurt played very well. He made terrific throws under pressure and got readjusted to the speed of the game very quickly."
"I was trying to get a quick cross route to the back of the end zone, but it was covered and as I was going to my second read I got hit," Warner said. "I felt good comfort wise, but the bottom line is we didn't finish the job.
"We didn't come to play with the same intensity we had the last couple of weeks. We have to regroup and keep going."
Davis rushed 31 times for 88 yards as Washington (5-6) rebounded from consecutive losses as coach Steve Spurrier changed his starting quarterback for the fourth time this season.
Danny Wuerffel, starting for the first time since a 31-14 victory over Tennessee on Oct. 6, completed 16 of 23 passes for 235 yards.
"We had a great game plan, coach came in with a balanced attack," Wuerffel said. "This was a great team effort and that's what this is all about."
Warner finished 34 of 49 for 301 yards and two touchdowns as St. Louis (5-6) had a five-game winning streak snapped.
The Rams played without star running back Marshall Faulk. Rookie Lamar Gordon filled in and rushed 13 times for 40 yards. Faulk was sidelined for the second straight week with foot and ankle injuries.
Trung Canidate, who filled in when Faulk was injured last season, had a 10-yard reception and a 21-yard run on third and 10 on St. Louis' final drive.
Warner completed five passes on the Rams' first possession of the game, with the final one being a four-yard touchdown catch by Troy Edwards with 5:55 left in the first quarter.
The Rams drove to the Washington eight on their next possession as Warner completed passes to four different receivers. But Warner fumbled the snap on third and goal from the eight and the Rams had to settle for a 30-yard field goal by Jeff Wilkins to make it 10-0.
