No one ever talks about "must-win" before a game, not players or coaches. But after Sunday's nail-biting-when-you-hoped-there-be-no-nails-bitten win for the Cardinals, Bruce Arians acknowledged that the victory over the 49ers was not just vital, but that if the Cards couldn't win that game at home, "it's over."

Safety Tony Jefferson paused a bit when that info was relayed to him. "I don't know how that works," Jefferson said. "I barely just found out who's in the AFC and all that." Jefferson chuckled. "I just go out there and play and try and get a 'W.'"

The Cardinals did that. There was hope there might be some style points this week if for no other reason to build confidence. Instead, the Cardinals will have to take what they can -- their field-goal unit came up with a kick it had to have. The passing game got some chunks. Michael Floyd emerged with a 100-yard game. Larry Fitzgerald was pretty awesome.

-- It did not help that the Seahawks hung on in New England.

-- Something to watch is Fitzgerald's health. He had a big knee brace he was playing with by the end of the game. He landed awkwardly after one tackle by 49ers defensive back Jimmie Ward. "He ended up telling me that he ended up tearing something," Ward said of Fitz. Which is probably not good -- although Fitz played the whole game.

Afterward, Fitzgerald said he's "been better" but said he'd be ready for this week. It would stun me if he wasn't available -- the last game Fitzgerald would ever want to miss is one in his home state of Minnesota. If he's injured he's injured, but I'd guess Fitz makes it work.

-- I've covered Fitzgerald his whole career and he's always been a great player. But one thing that's really come into focus the last couple of seasons is how tough he is. He's been tough blocking (doing something he still will say he doesn't like to do) and he's been tough playing through injuries -- even if he won't come out and call them injuries. If he did tear something, anything and still had a 12-catch game, most of them in traffic, it just underscores the thought.

-- Chandler Jones two more sacks. Again, he's been good.

-- That's the Floyd the Cardinals want and need. Great catches battling for the ball. The one he made on the final field-goal drive -- after Carson Palmer bought some time and threw on the run, a nice play by him as well -- was stellar and vintage Floyd. "Mentally I had to tell myself this is like playing in the sixth grade -- going out and making plays," Floyd said. Postgame was the first time Floyd really talked about making drops. The Cards hope it's behind him.

-- That last Palmer interception was straight out of first-half-of-2013 Palmer. He took way too long on the play he was stripped and lost the fumble too. Those are plays the Cardinals can't afford to have Palmer make.

-- Niners coach Chip Kelly said he didn't really think about going for two with 1:55 left, instead kicking the extra point for the tie. His thoughts -- which I agree with -- is that a field goal still beats you and there was time for the Cards to get that field goal. "I didn't want to lose it for them because I wanted to be a gunslinger and end up 20-19," Kelly said.

-- That 16-yard scramble Palmer had in the first half? Longest run of his career, which started in 2003.

-- I thought David Johnson was going to have a huge game. And it's funny, he still had 100 yards rushing + receiving and scored two touchdowns. Most guys would take that as a huge game. But we all know, against the league's worst run defense, more was expected. It was a combination of things, I think. The blocking wasn't great, no. Johnson could've avoided a loss a couple of times. But also, the Niners have heard for a minute now about giving up 100-yard rushers seven straight games. At some point, you gotta think there's a little "no more" of a vibe.

That said, the Cardinals still have too many hiccups in getting yards -- Sunday, it was in the air -- but not enough touchdowns.

-- A win is a win. It wasn't the one everyone wanted, but I know this -- it's not a loss. I agree with Arians, it would've been over. But it isn't.