Cardinals hold on after missed FG as time expires to beat Vikings
Sep 19, 2021, 4:41 PM | Updated: 4:58 pm
Jonathan Ward #29 of the Arizona Cardinals does a back flip as teammates celebrate on the field after the Minnesota Vikings missed on their game-winning field goal attempt in the fourth quarter of the game at State Farm Stadium on September 19, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
In a game full of ups and downs between the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings, the player that would ultimately decide its outcome was on his own roller coaster.
Minnesota kicker Greg Joseph had missed an extra point earlier in the game, which was the reason his team was down 34-33. He had also made two field goals, each of them from 52 yards away, no small feat.
So, when he stepped up from 37 yards with four seconds left and a chance to win it, there was no telling what would happen.
What did was a kick that went wide right, sealing a 34-33 victory for the Cardinals in a thriller.
A missed FG gives the @AZCardinals the W! #AZCardinals pic.twitter.com/O790oAlz32
— NFL (@NFL) September 19, 2021
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The Vikings got the ball back with 2:03 left and one timeout. Quarterback Kirk Cousins and his offense quickly made their way up the field, with gains of nine, 17, 12, nine and eight yards on their five positive plays.
The final one was a reception by K.J. Osborn, one he caught with over 30 seconds left that put the ball on Arizona’s 19-yard line right in the middle of the field. Instead of looking to gain more yards on a play or two, the Vikings let the clock run down from there, calling their last timeout with four seconds left.
That’s when Joseph stepped up, and Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury made the wise decision of not calling a timeout to ice him, as Joseph missed anyway.
The win put the Cardinals at 2-0 on the season.
