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GLENDALE, Ariz. -- No risk it, no biscuit was back for the Arizona Cardinals.So was the big play.The result was a much-needed 31-23 victory over the Washington Redskins on Sunday.Carson Palmer threw for 300 yards and three touchdowns and David Johnson scored twice on another dynamic afternoon for the second-year running back.I think hes the best player in the NFL, Palmer said. Point blank.The loss by the Redskins (6-5-1) clinched a playoff spot for the NFC East-leading Dallas Cowboys (11-1).Palmers 25-yard touchdown pass to Johnson with 11:09 to play put Arizona ahead 24-20, the fourth lead change of the second half.The big gamble came when, leading 24-20, Arizona went for it on fourth-and-1 at its 34-yard line.I was shocked, Palmer said. I was ready to jog off the field.But Johnson ripped off a 14-yard run and, moments later, when most teams would just try to run out the clock, Palmer threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to J.J. Nelson that gave the Cardinals (5-6-1) a 31-23 lead with 1:56 to play.Ive had a few drops, Nelson said. And with that opportunity to ice the game and get in the end zone, I thought `I cant miss this opportunity.Such long passes have been few and far between for an Arizona team that routinely pulled them off in its 13-3 season a year ago.We finally found a big play at the end that we needed desperately, Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said, because I didnt want to play for a three-point game. We wanted to play for that eight-point win. And sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, but if you dont try, you dont ever win.Washington drove to the Arizona 28-yard line before Patrick Petersons interception of Kirk Cousins pass with 41 seconds left sealed the victory.Johnson, who also scored on a 1-yard run, became the second player in NFL history to top 100 yards from scrimmage in the first 12 games of a season. Edgerrin James was the other.Ive been very fortunate to be around two pretty good backs, Arians said. Actually three, but Marshall Faulk and Edgerrin James arent too shabby when they were young, and he reminds me a lot of those two guys.Johnson carried the ball 18 times for 84 yards and caught nine passes for another 91.Cousins completed 21 of 37 passes for 271 yards and a touchdown. His 59-yard pass to DeSean Jackson on the first series of the second half set up his 1-yard touchdown sneak.In the third quarter, Cousins was stripped of the ball by Calais Campbell, and Markus Golden returned the fumble 20 yards to set up Palmers 6-yard touchdown pass to Michael Floyd.I dont know if it is my job to really put a grade on my performance, Cousins said. It is up and down. Each play has its own reason on why things happen. It is hard to give a blanket statement to summarize it.That gave Arizona a 17-13 lead. The Redskins came right back. Cousins threw to a wide-open Jamison Crowder on a 26-yard touchdown to put Washington back on top, 20-17, with 1:06 left in the third quarter.The Cardinals avoided what would have been the teams first three-game losing streak since Arians came to the desert four seasons ago.We came out flat to start the game, Washington defensive end Chris Baker said. They go down and have a 15-play drive and then we get the ball back on offense and have two false starts. Against a good team like Arizona, you cant come out flat like that.Palmer, in one of his best games of the season, completed 30 of 46 for 300 yards despite constant pressure behind a patchwork offensive line .Josh Norman saved one touchdown by breaking up a pass intended for Floyd.FITZGERALDS CLIMBLarry Fitzgerald caught 10 passes for 78 yards, moving past Cris Carter and Marvin Harrison into third on the NFLs career receptions list.Its great, Fitzgerald said. The most thing Im happy about is it came in a winning effort. ... Its always nice to climb up a little bit higher, but its humbling to know that Im still 400 catches behind Jerry Rice.He also became the youngest player in NFL history to top 1,100 catches.INJURIESRedskins center Spencer Long left the game early to be evaluated for a concussion and did not return.Washington was without standout tight end Jordan Reed and Arizona didnt have do-everything defensive back Tyrann Mathieu. Both have shoulder injuries.UP NEXTRedskins: Washington returns to NFC East play with a game at Philadelphia next Sunday.Cardinals: Arizona travels across the country to face Miami on Sunday.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Old Skool Wholesale . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. Cheap Old Skool China . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. http://www.cheapoldskoolchina.com/ . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. Wholesale Old Skool . The recently retired Stern was elected Friday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be enshrined with the class of 2014 on Aug. Old Skool Clearance . A big centre with all the tools to be an elite player, Johansen paced the Blue Jackets with a standout game Saturday night. He had a goal and two assists for a career-high three points as Columbus beat the New York Islanders 5-2 to snap a five-game losing streak. DAYTON, Ohio -- Charles Cooke scored 20 points and added six rebounds to help Dayton pull away from Winthrop in the second half for an 83-67 win on Saturday.Scoochie Smith added 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds while Kendall Pollard had 12 points for Dayton (5-2), which shot 51.6 percent from the field and held a 45-27 advantage on the glass.Keon Johnson scored 24 to lead all scorers for Winthrop (4-3). The Eagles struggled most of the aafternoon from the field, shooting just 41.dddddddddddd.4 percent overall and 28.6 percent from long range. Xavier Cooks added 14 points for the Eagles.Dayton led 33-27 at the half but pulled away in the second. A Cooke layup with 10:43 left gave the Flyers an 11-point lead and a Xeyrius Williams jumper made it 80-62 with 2:29 to go. ' ' '