ARIZONA CARDINALS

Fitzgerald hauls in game-winning OT catch as Cardinals beat 49ers

Oct 1, 2017, 5:01 PM | Updated: 5:04 pm

In the complex game of football, overthinking happens.

Sometimes, it’s just best to go with what’s worked. When the Arizona Cardinals so desperately needed a play for their offense that failed to produce anything other than four field goals through regulation and most of overtime, they called Larry Fitzgerald’s number.

Carson Palmer threw a 19-yard touchdown pass on 2nd-and-2 to Fitzgerald with 37 seconds left in overtime, and Arizona held off a now 0-4 San Francisco 49ers team, 18-15.

Fitzgerald finished with four catches for 32 yards, giving the Cardinals the edge in a game dominated by the defense, and as a result, by the two kickers.

Arizona’s Phil Dawson finished 4-for-4 on his field goal attempts as San Francisco’s Robbie Gould hit all four of his own attempts in regulation. Gould would knock in a field goal to put the 49ers ahead 15-12 with just more than two minutes left in overtime to cap a 17-play drive that lasted 7:36.

But Palmer and the Cardinals went 75 yards on seven plays covering 1:52 to follow, setting up Fitzgerald’s leaping grab to seal the Arizona win.

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Western Governors University
Members of the San Francisco 49ers kneel during the national anthem as others stand prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Members of the San Francisco 49ers kneel during the national anthem as others stand prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Members of the San Francisco 49ers kneel during the national anthem as others stand prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Members of the San Francisco 49ers kneel during the national anthem as others stand during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Members of the San Francisco 49ers kneel during the national anthem as others stand during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown (13) is hit by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jimmie Ward (25) and cornerback Dontae Johnson (36) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Members of the San Francisco 49ers kneel as others stand during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) is hit as he throws by San Francisco 49ers defensive end Aaron Lynch (59) to force an interception during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals running back Andre Ellington (38) can't make the touchdown catch as San Francisco 49ers cornerback Rashard Robinson (33) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown (13) pulls in a catch as San Francisco 49ers cornerback Dontae Johnson (36) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson (4) kicks a field goal against the San Francisco 49ers as punter Andy Lee (2) holds during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Trent Taylor (81) is hit by Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) San Francisco 49ers kicker Robbie Gould (9) kicks a field goal as punter Bradley Pinion (5) holds against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Trent Taylor (81) is hit by Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) is pulled away from San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Trent Taylor (81) after a tackle during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Members of the San Francisco 49ers kneel as others stand during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) looks to throw as San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (99) pursues during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson (4) kicks a field goal as punter Andy Lee (2) holds as San Francisco 49ers cornerback Dontae Johnson (36) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) San Francisco 49ers cornerback Rashard Robinson (33) breaks up a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown (12) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) runs as San Francisco 49ers cornerback Dontae Johnson (36) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) runs as San Francisco 49ers cornerback Dontae Johnson (36) and defensive back K'Waun Williams (24) defend during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) runs back an interception as San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) and ffensive guard Laken Tomlinson (75) pursue during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer is sacked by San Francisco 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead (91) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) San Francisco 49ers cornerback Rashard Robinson (33) breaks up a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown (12) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) San Francisco 49ers kicker Robbie Gould (9) kicks a field goal as punter Bradley Pinion (5) holds against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner shows his Football Hall of Fame ring during his ring ceremony at half time of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) is sacked by San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle DeForest Buckner as linebacker Dekoda Watson (97) pursues during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (99) celebrates his sack of Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson (4) kicks a field goal against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson (4) kicks celebrates his field goal against the San Francisco 49ers wth teammates during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) is sacked by San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (99) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) is hit by Arizona Cardinals nose tackle Corey Peters during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) San Francisco 49ers running back Matt Breida (22) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) San Francisco 49ers kicker Robbie Gould (9) celebrates his field goal with offensive tackle Joe Staley (74) as Arizona Cardinals defensive end Frostee Rucker (92) walks to the bench during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) San Francisco 49ers kicker Robbie Gould (9) kicks a field goal as punter Bradley Pinion (5) holds during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brian Hoyer looks to throw as Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Markus Golden (44) and outside linebacker Chandler Jones (55) pursue during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Trent Taylor is hit by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Antoine Bethea, left, and strong safety Tyvon Branch, right, during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson (23) is hit by San Francisco 49ers free safety Jaquiski Tartt (29) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals cornerback Justin Bethel (28) breaks up a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Aldrick Robinson (19) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson (4) kicks a field goal as punter Andy Lee (2) holds against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

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