TEMPE, Ariz. -- It didn’t take Arizona Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro long to experience the feeling of kicking another game-winning field goal.
Three weeks after he beat the Bengals in prime time on a field goal with six seconds left, Catanzaro kicked a 47-yarder with 1:28 left in Thursday night’s game against the Vikings to give the Cardinals a 23-20 win.
“These are awesome,” Catanzaro said. “You only live once so you got to cherish this moment and enjoy them.”
But after this weekend, he may not remember them. Catanzaro had some friends in town for the game and said they were going to celebrate all weekend.
“You got to celebrate the good moments in life,” Catanzaro said. “Just very happy, thankful for the opportunity.”
From the moment he made contact with the football on Thursday's game-winner, the second-year kicker knew it was going in.
“I was very confident,” Catanzaro said. “There was never a doubt in my mind. I gave myself permission to cut it loose out there. I’ve been hitting it great so I just went out there and trusted my swing. I kicked to make the kick, not to not miss the kick. I gave myself permission to cut it loose and I’m glad I got it done.”
Catanzaro has made 25 of 27 field goals this season, and he’s 6-for-7 on kicks of 40 to 49 yards.
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians has lots of confidence in Catanzaro, especially when it comes to high-pressure situations.
“The day we gave him the job,” Arians said, “I expected him to hit those kicks.”