GLENDALE, Ariz. _ Tavon Austin had been mostly silent during the Los Angeles Rams' first three quarters.
The wide receiver and special teams standout struggled to make big plays.
Austin came through Sunday.
His 47-yard punt return in the fourth quarter set up Case Keenum's second touchdown pass to Brian Quick, which gave the Rams a 17-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium.
The Rams forced five turnovers en route to their third consecutive victory, which improved their record to 3-1 and solidified their place at the top the NFC West.
Keenum passed for 266 yards as the Rams defeated the Cardinals here for the second time in row.
Cornerback Trumaine Johnson, linebacker Mark Barron and safety T.J. McDonald intercepted passes and defensive linemen Aaron Donald and Dominique Easley forced fumbles, though the Rams did not turn any of the turnovers into points.
Quick has three touchdown catches in the last two games. He had a 44-yard touchdown against Tampa Bay and had 65- and four-yard scoring plays on Sunday.
Todd Gurley rushed for only 35 yards in 17 carries, but the defense limited the Cardinals to only one touchdown as Arizona fell to 1-3.
Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer completed 23 of 36 passes for 288 yards and a touchdown, with one interception. He went to the locker room late in the fourth quarter for concussion protocol.
The Rams trailed, 13-10, when Austin made his big return, which was compounded by a facemask penalty.
The Rams had the ball at the Cardinals' 19, and moved to the nine on Keenum's third-down pass to Gurley.
Gurley ran for five yards and then Quick out-jumped cornerback Marcus Cooper for the touchdown catch.
Barron's interception with 1 minute 27 seconds appeared to clinch the victory, but it was not over until McDonald intercepted Drew Stanton's Hail Mary as time expired.
The score was tied, 10-10, at halftime after Palmer capped an impressive two-minute drive with a touchdown pass to Michael Floyd.
The Rams' defense was impressive early, forcing the Cardinals to go three and out on the first possession and then stifling a clock-eating drive with a sack by safety Maurice Alexander.
The Cardinals helped the Rams by committing a defensive holding penalty on the ensuing possession, an infraction that offset a sack that would have ended the Rams' drive.
Three plays later, Keenum connected with Quick. The receiver leaped to make the catch about 15 yards downfield, and when he landed he split two defenders and sprinted to the end zone for a 65-yard touchdown.
The Cardinals cut the Rams' lead with a field goal early in the second quarter.
Keenum immediately answered, connecting with tight end Lance Kendricks for 23 yards and Kenny Britt for 34 during a drive that ended with Greg Zuerlein's 29-yard field goal for a 10-3 lead.
Johnson's interception in the end zone with about three minutes left ended a Cardinals threat, but the Rams could not take advantage.
They went three and out, giving Palmer one more chance before halftime.
Starting at the Cardinals' 20 with 1:48 remaining, Palmer picked apart the secondary, completing passes to running back David Johnson and receivers John Brown and Floyd.
On first and goal at the five, Floyd beat Rams cornerback Troy Hill on the left side and made a diving catch in the end zone to tie the score.
