GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Redemption.

Chandler Catanzaro made up for missing a game-winning kick in the Arizona Cardinals' last game here with a 34-yarder as time expired for a 23-20 win Sunday over the San Francisco 49ers that kept the team in the hunt for a playoff berth.

"I wanted the opportunity," Catanzaro said. "The past couple haven't gone in but I wanted this opportunity. I just got on my kicking net and focused on the fundamentals, took a couple of deep breaths, said a couple of prayers."

Chandler Catanzaro connected on a 34-yarder as time expired for a 23-20 win Sunday. AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

After the way the second half went, of course the Cardinals were going to win. Why, after the offense all but disappeared in the second half, wouldn't they go marching down the field in a two-minute drill to avoid another embarrassing loss?

It's in situations like the one that won the Cardinals their fourth game of the season that they flourish. There's nothing to think about for coach and play-caller Bruce Arians. All he has to do is move the ball down the field as quickly as possible.

Every Thursday, coach Bruce Arians plays a highlight reel of successful 2-minute drills for his team, wide reciever Larry Fitzgerald said. The point isn't just for the offense to study the situation, but for the defense, as well.

"You see how many games are won and lost by scoring or stopping somebody from scoring at halftime, or scoring or stopping somebody from scoring at the end of the game," Fitzgerald said. "We really pride ourselves on making good, smart decisions and being sound in those scenarios."

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The game-winning drive was an example of the potency of the Cardinals' offense -- when it comes time to play. Arizona's offense disappeared in the second half, scoring just three points and forcing the defense to save it time and time again. Arians didn't mess around Sunday afternoon. He went to the three players who could make a drive like that happen: Larry Fitzgerald, David Johnson and Michael Floyd.

The Cardinals took 12 plays to go 85 yards. Quarterback Carson Palmer used a rotation of passes to all three to get the Cardinals to the 16, where Catanzaro made up for a serious blunder three weeks ago that ended in a tie with the Seattle Seahawks.

Just how important was the win?

"It's over," Arians said. "It's over if you don't win it at home. It really is. Now it's where it needs to be."