Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro (right) is consoled by punter Ryan Quigley after missing the game-winning attempt in overtime, while Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner celebrates.
Chandler Catanzaro estimates that if he had one million chances to hit a 24-yard field goal, he would only miss it one time.
If that's true, the odds gods played a cruel joke on him.
The Cardinals were primed to capture an overtime win over the Seahawks on Sunday night, but Catanzaro's game-winning attempt struck the left upright and went wide. He put his hands on his helmet in a shocked state of disbelief after the miss, and the teams eventually played to a 6-6 tie.
"I just came out of it too fast," said Catanzaro, who dismissed the gravity of the kick as a reason for pulling it. "No excuse for those. … The situation happens quick, and my body didn't do what it's supposed to do."
There was an audible gasp in University of Phoenix Stadium after the failed attempt. The Cardinals grabbed a tie when Seahawks kicker Steven Hauschka missed a 28-yarder of his own with seven seconds left, but no one was happy with that outcome.
"Make it," coach Bruce Arians said. "He's a professional. This ain't high school, baby. You get paid to make it."
It was the second missed field goal attempt of the game for Catanzaro, but the first wasn't his fault. Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner leaped over long snapper Aaron Brewer and swallowed up a 39-yard try in the first quarter. Wagner said he saw on film that Brewer sets up low, and "I felt like I could jump over him. So I tried it, and it was a success."
Dean Blandino, the senior vice president of officiating for the NFL, tweeted that Wagner's play was legal because you have to land on another player for it to be a penalty. Arians was still miffed postgame, believing that Wagner was using illegal leverage.
"He touched him," Arians said. "You saw it. Did you see it? Didn't he touch him? Yeah, he sure did. It sure looked like it to me, but it was not ruled that way. Same with the last (field goal attempt). He definitely touched him. I'm sure I'll talk to the league and we'll get some kind of explanation that is all (expletive), like normal."
Long snapper Aaron Brewer said "I did feel something on my back. I don't know if it was him or not."
The punting game also played a big role in allowing the Seahawks to get the tie. Ryan Quigley was blocked by Tanner McEvoy on an attempt in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks – who were doing nothing offensively to that point – took over at the Cardinals' 22 and got a 40-yard field goal on the drive to tie the game at 3.
IRON MAN DAVID JOHNSON
Running back David Johnson was leaned on early and often in the contest, setting a career high with 41 touches. He carried the ball 33 times for 113 yards and added eight catches for 58 yards.
The most important touch came on his second-to-last carry, when Johnson screamed around the left side of the line on first-and-goal from the 5 and kicked the pylon as he went out of bounds. A score would have given the Cardinals an overtime victory, but the officials ruled the ball out at the 1-yard-line and it wasn't reviewed.
"It looked like he was in," quarterback Carson Palmer said.
Johnson had one more carry from the 1, but was stopped by Wagner, setting up the missed field goal.
PETERSON PLAYS HURT
Cornerback Patrick Peterson injured his back in the first half while returning a punt and went to the locker room twice to get it treated. He didn't miss any defensive snaps but was noticeably limited, and the trainers were putting a heat pack on it during the game.
"I don't really know what the diagnosis is right now, but my back is killing me," Peterson said.
Peterson said it affected him during certain movements.
"I was able to run forward, but it was all about breaking, when I had the opportunity to break left and right, or when I had to extend my arm," Peterson said. "For the most part I'll be OK. I'll be ready to go next week."
Wide receiver Jaron Brown left the game early with a knee injury and didn't return. Wide receiver Michael Floyd suffered a hamstring injury in the first half but "sucked it up," Arians said.
CHANDLER JONES THE GUEST AT BIG RED BREW HAUS
Outside linebacker Chandler Jones will be the guest at the Big Red Brew Haus at University of Phoenix Stadium on Monday. Doors open at 5 p.m.
