The Cardinals were ahead until late in the fourth quarter.
Typically, a one-point defeat on the road against a 9-2 team would not be the worst outcome.
However, after the Arizona Cardinals found themselves 19-6 up in the third quarter, they will feel like they have thrown away a monumental win.
The game was short on points to start with, both teams exchanging early field goals and punts.
The Cardinals defense was doing a great job keeping the Vikings out of the end zone and the offense was starting to click into gear as well.
Arizona kicker Chad Ryland had the birds 12-6 up in the third quarter, having kicked four out of five field goals. Kyler Murray then found Marvin Harrison Jr. for a touchdown to extend the lead even further.
Not long after that touchdown, the Minnesota Vikings had one of their own and the game opened up.
Chasing a go-ahead touchdown, Sam Darnold marched the Vikings up the field before dropping it into Aaron Jones in the endzone.
The Vikings managed to hold off Kyler’s attempt to get Arizona in field-goal range for a walk off field goal. It left a bitter taste in the mouth for Cardinals fans that must have thought they would be getting a huge win to go back top of the NFC West.
More aggression needed against Seattle
Looking back at the game, the Cardinals should have another one in the win column. They had the Vikings where they wanted them and failed to convert redzone chances into touchdowns.
Numerous penalty calls hampered Arizona throughout the game and made it an even harder task for the offense.
The last time the Cardinals won in Minnesota was in 1977 and they could not have come much closer this time, albeit against a very good Vikings team.
This weekend will see the Seattle Seahawks travel to Arizona for a rematch of the match that Geno Smith’s side won 10 days ago.
This time the Seahawks are clear top of the division. Another loss would be a major blow that could potentially signal the end of a playoff challenge for the Cardinals.
Jonathon Gannon needs his offense to be aggressive, take the game to Seattle and get rookie Harrison Jr. involved as much as possible. They need to punch that ball in and score seven points rather than three every time.
Upcoming fixtures against the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers look favourable, which make this weekend’s divisional game such a must win for Kyler and co.
