Kareem Martin (96), Earl Watford (78) and D.J. Humphries (74) swarm kicker Chandler Catanzaro after Catanzaro's field goal won the game for the Cardinals Sunday.
The kick split the uprights this time, and it was hard not to see it as a season-saver for the Cardinals.
Even coach Bruce Arians said as much following his team's more-dramatic-than-necessary 23-20 win over the 49ers Sunday at University of Phoenix Stadium, ending on a Chandler Catanzaro 34-yard field goal on the same end of the field where the kicker had missed a winning attempt against Seattle.
"It's over," Arians said. "It's over if you don't win it at home. It really is. Now it's where it needs to be."
It was a drive of redemption that created the game-winning points. Struggling Michael Floyd capped his first 100-yard game of the
season with a leaping 26-yard catch to jump start the march. Carson Palmer, who threw a terrible interception that allowed the 49ers a chance to tie the game, completed four passes as he guided his team down the field.
And then there was Catanzaro, who stood about 10 yards further back than the miss against the Seahawks. This time, the Cardinals (4-4-1) made sure the ball was on the right hashmark before the kick, something Catanzaro admitted he prefers if possible, and he booted it through.
"My kick was just the punctuation mark at the end of the sentence," Catanzaro said.
"I put (the Seattle kick) behind me. It was tough to do that, but it put it behind me and just worked on the fundamentals."
It really shouldn't have come down to that, of course. The 49ers (1-8), losers of eight straight, hadn't been able to stop the run all season and the Cards dominated the first quarter. Up 14-0 just 18 seconds into the second quarter, the Cards had outgained the 49ers, 145-4.
But turnovers undercut the path the Cardinals had first set out upon, as did an inability to run.
"You want to put teams away," wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said. "We have to learn how to do that."
Against the NFL's worst run defense, the Cardinals averaged only 3.5 yards a carry and ran it just 23 times, compared to 51
dropbacks to pass. Running back David Johnson gained only 55 yards on 19 attempts (although he kept his streak alive of 100-yard games of total offense with his 46 yards on five catches.)
Fitzgerald was magnificent, hauling in 12 receptions for 133 yards (on 18 targets) despite banging up his knee enough to put on a brace. Floyd had 101 yards on five catches. Palmer had 376 yards passing and one of the interceptions could be excused – a pass that should have been caught for a first down bounced off the chest of J.J. Nelson for the pick – but the second was a poor choice.
"I'm mad at myself for putting our defense and our team in that position," Palmer said.
That defense still could've gotten out of it, with 3:13 left and the 49ers needing to go 57 yards to tie it. But quarterback Colin Kaepernick had a 19-yard rush on third-and-8 and later easily ran in from four yards out on another third down play.
Kaepernick, in fact, had the same amount of rushing yards as Johnson.
"You've got to play for 60 minutes," safety Tony Jefferson said. "We were dominate for the first quarter. Hats off to them. They kept fighting, and we'll go in (Monday) and fix the mistakes we made."
The Cardinals did what they needed to do to keep postseason hopes. Their NFC West hopes took a major shot Sunday night when the Seahawks held on for a 31-24 win in New England -- a road game the Cards had hoped would end up as a Seattle loss. A wild card spot is possible, but there are a ton of teams in a messy NFC playoff picture.
Playing like they did in the second half Sunday won't help the Cardinals in either quest – the next two games are in Minnesota and in Atlanta – but apologies weren't coming after a victory.
"I think a team that was done would've folded," Arians said. "We're 1-0 in our second half. They are hard to get in this league. We'll take them however we can get them."
Images from the Cardinals' game against the 49ers in Week 10

K Chandler Catanzaro hits the game-winning field goal

Big Red with members of the military on Salute to Service day

RB David Johnson prior to the game

QB Carson Palmer warms up

The bald eagle flies over the crowd during the national anthem for Salute to Service

CB Patrick Peterson gets ready before the game

Fans honor Pat Tillman outside University of Phoenix Stadium

WR Larry Fitzgerald

Salute to Service

U.S. Navy Retired Officer 1st Class Steven Powell delivered the national anthem

WR Larry Fitzgerald and Cardinals join military members during national anthem

RB David Johnson on his first touchdown of the day

QB Carson Palmer

RB David Johnson

LB Chandler Jones brings down 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick for a sack

WR Michael Floyd for a 35-yard reception

QB Carson Palmer scrambles

RB David Johnson scores his second touchdown of the game

WR J.J. Nelson makes the catch attempt

LB Chandler Jones celebrates a sack

WR Larry Fitzgerald near the sideline

Fans honor military members for Salute to Service

RB David Johnson makes a run in the first quarter

WR J.J. Nelson makes a catch attempt in the first quarter

RB David Johnson

CB Patrick Peterson

WR Larry Fitzgerald makes a diving grab

QB Carson Palmer

RB David Johnson extends toward the pylon

RB David Johnson celebrates his touchdown with G Earl Watford

DT Calais Campbell celebrates a sack

Head coach Bruce Arians

WR Larry Fitzgerald

S Tony Jefferson attempts to bring down 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick

WR Michael Floyd with the leaping grab

K Chandler Catanzaro nails a field goal

LB Alex Okafor with the sack

WR Larry Fitzgerald is flipped while making the catch

RB David Johnson with the stiff arm

WR Larry Fitzgerald with the leaping catch

49ers RB Carlos Hyde and Cardinals DT Corey Peters

WR Larry Fitzgerald dives

TE Jermaine Gresham makes the catch

DT Calais Campbell celebrates a sack with LB Chandler Jones

WR Larry Fitzgerald with the catch

49ers QB Colin Kaepernick attempts to throw over Cardinals DT Calais Campbell

WR Larry Fitzgerald with the catch

Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians (left) with 49ers head coach Chip Kelly (right)

K Chandler Catanzaro celebrates after the game-winner