Opinion: Arizona Cardinals are good and lucky in victory over Minnesota Vikings

It’s debatable whether it’s better to be lucky than good, but it’s always good to be lucky.

Just ask the Arizona Cardinals.

Good fortune was an essential element of their 34-33 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at State Farm Stadium.

Arizona stalled out on offense late in the fourth quarter with a chance to ice the game.

Then their defense couldn’t stand up to Minnesota’s dink-and-dunk attack on the final drive. Minnesota went nearly 60 yards in nine plays to give kicker Greg Joseph a chance to win the game with a 37-yard field goal.

But he pushed it wide right.

All the fans who left early had to hear the celebration, because they couldn’t see it from the concourse or with their backs turned on the steps.

Cardinals players were so giddy they were turning backflips on the field.

That wasn’t the only lucky break for Arizona.

Tight end Maxx Williams made a 34-yard catch over the middle that was so unlikely he must have blended four-leaf clovers into his pregame smoothie. Williams was just jogging along, minding his business when a football bounced off a running back’s shoulder pads and landed in his arms. Seeing the gift for what it was, Williams grabbed on and took off running!

It was a key play on a second-quarter scoring drive that kept the Cardinals in the game.

On that same drive, Minnesota defensive back Bashaud Breeland forced a fumble on the goal line against Arizona rookie Rondale Moore, allowing Vikings linebacker Nick Vigil to slide in and grab the loose ball.

The officials reviewed the play and ruled the Vigil was out of bounds, adding to Arizona’s good fortune. The Cardinals scored a touchdown on the next play.

It’s debatable whether it’s better to be lucky than good.

It’s not debatable that the Cardinals are both at this point in the season.

It’s also not debatable that it’s always good to be lucky.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Vikings' missed field goal allows Cardinals to escape with win