Harlan Miller wasn't necessarily supposed to play. Heck, he wasn't even going to be on the roster, if Tharold Simon hadn't been cut last week. And he's a cornerback.

But there he was, after Tony Jefferson — one of the few defensive backs who has stayed healthy all season — sprained his MCL on his first play, on punt coverage. Tyrann Mathieu was already on IR, Tyvon Branch too. Marcus Cooper was out. Justin Bethel used to be a safety, but he was needed at corner. So they sent Miller in to play free safety.

Keep in mind, Miller hasn't practiced at safety.

"The only thing I could remember was (defensive backs) coach (Nick) Rapone in the safeties meeting telling them to stay deep," Miller said. "That's pretty much what I did."

"I kind of know what a safety does. I just listened a lot."

It was that kind of game Saturday. Fill in where you can. Hope it holds up. No, the secondary isn't going to put this on the wall of fame, not with the way Russell Wilson diced them up in the second half. But within the circumstances, it was exactly what they needed. Justin Bethel played much better. Brandon Williams struggled, but he did enough — and his effort on the Tyler Lockett bomb, while unfortunately sending Lockett off injured on a cart, stopped the Seahawks from scoring any points given the Cards' goalline stand.

-- The offensive line too, Evan Boehm, in at right guard for Taylor Boggs who was in for Earl Watford who was in for Evan Mathis. Everyone who thought the Cardinals would be able to score 34 points in Seattle under those circumstances, raise your hand.

-- Carson Palmer was great. His stats weren't as gaudy as Wilson, but Palmer was a man who led his team in a situation where they needed it. Palmer already said he is coming back. Yes, I think the Cardinals should and will draft a quarterback of the future. But to anyone who thinks Palmer should step away and not quarterback this team in 2017, I think that's crazy.

-- Larry Fitzgerald was not a happy man the last couple of weeks. The losing had reached him, the Floyd situation, and he just looked down in the dumps. When the retirement stuff came up, it's understandable why he'd consider it. I don't think anything was determined Saturday — but it was a happy Fitz in the locker room. Everyone was happy, but it was particularly nice to see with No. 11.

-- J.J. Nelson makes the best of his touches, doesn't he?

-- David Johnson cracks 100 yards. I didn't think it was possible with the way the game was going, and then he blew past it late. Aside from his fumble — which was three-points-costly — he was the rock on offense. Grinding, grinding, grinding, near 100 yards rushing alone. And then that 29-yard catch to set up the game-winning field goal — MVP-esque.

"I was messing with Steve (Keim) earlier, we need to get his contract done right now, because after every game he getting more and more expensive," Fitzgerald said. "He's going to be like ten percent owner of the franchise."

-- (Just as a reminder, Johnson's contract cannot be re-done or extended until after the 2017 season, per the CBA.)

-- Boehm made a mistake on the Cards' next-to-last drive, blowing his assignment to let Palmer get hit and force an incompletion. Center A.Q. Shipley let him know about it as they came off the field.

"That was on me," Boehm said. "I thought I lost the game for us. Told myself if we got another opportunity I had to reprove myself that I belonged out there."

-- Fellow rookie offensive lineman Cole Toner got his first work on offense too, just like Boehm had done earlier in the season — as a lead blocker for Johnson.

-- With the schedule a little warped this week and players off Monday, I'll hold my weekly chat Monday afternoon at 3 p.m.

-- Have to be happy for Chandler Catanzaro. It's been a rough year, and I know sometimes fans don't want to hear this, but he is loved in that locker room  and there isn't a guy in there who wasn't happy to see him come through.

-- The Cardinals are now 3-0 with Palmer in Seattle. They have a confidence now.

-- This is way too long on Christmas Eve. We're heading back to Phoenix as I post this, and soon the Cardinals (and myself) will be headed home to be with our families. It'll be a much better holiday for all involved.

Merry Christmas, everyone.