Zimmer bemoans 'easy' field goal miss as Cardinals move to 2-0
A missed field goal doomed the Vikings to an 0-2 start, with Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury accepting they were fortunate to win.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer felt Greg Joseph's missed field goal in their 34-33 loss to the Arizona Cardinals should have been an "easy one".
The Vikings dropped to 0-2 in heartbreaking fashion as Joseph sent a potential game-winning kick wide of the right upright from 37 yards at the end of a captivating see-saw encounter at State Farm Stadium.
Joseph also missed an extra point in a one-point defeat and Zimmer did not hold back in airing his thoughts on his kicker.
"I felt good about that kick," said Zimmer. "I knew he had missed the extra point earlier, but he has been kicking good, we are indoors, perfect surface.
"I am thinking this should be an easy one here. He just has to continue to be more consistent."
Asked in his post-game media conference if he was willing to stick with Joseph, Zimmer replied: "I don't think you should make a decision today on things like that."
Cardinals march on
The Cardinals are 2-0 following another spectacular showing from Kyler Murray, who threw four 400 yards and three touchdowns while adding a further score on the ground.
Having tossed four touchdown passes and scored on the ground in Week 1, Murray became the first player with at least three passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown in each of his team's first two games of a season in NFL history.
He also has 12 career games with both a passing and a rushing touchdown, the fourth-most by a quarterback in his first three seasons behind Cam Newton (20), Josh Allen (16) and Dak Prescott (13).
Yet Murray was also intercepted twice, with one of those picks returned for a touchdown, and head coach Kliff Kingsbury accepted the Cardinals were fortunate to prevail.
"I've got to tip my hat to Minnesota," Kingsbury said. "We knew we would get their best shot and they were awesome. Offensively, defensively, I thought they played their tails off and we just got fortunate at the end.
"We lost the turnover margin, throw one pick going in, throw a pick-six and then rough the punter on a fourth down that extends the drive and still find a way to win, that's hard to do in this league.
"I was proud of their fight. We have a lot we've got to clean up; it wasn't nearly good enough. But they fought hard."