The Cardinals return from Minnesota with suitcases and emotional baggage. The overhead compartments must have been loaded with regret.

They lost to the Vikings 23-22 in a game that could have catapulted their playoff hopes. It was a game they deserved to win.

But they didn’t play to win. They didn’t train to win, at least not on offense. And the latter move failed spectacularly.

The margin for error in the NFL is small. If the Cardinals defense could have come up with a fourth-down stop…if they could have prevented a touchdown on the Vikings’ final possession…we would rave about their heart, their courage and their boldness.

When head coach Jonathan Gannon opted for a fourth-down field goal from the Vikings’ 4-yard line with just over three minutes to play, he was certainly the safe bet. The Cardinals defense was spectacular for most of the afternoon. They could be one of the best defenses in recent memory at generating a pass rush and scheming sacks. Mack Wilson Sr. appears to be invisible when blitzing the quarterback.

However, Gannon also chose to hand the ball to the home team in a hostile environment, which will certainly have an impact on their late-game lead. And he gave the ball to a team known for winning games late and that had a superstar on offense in Justin Jefferson.

I won’t criticize Gannon for forgoing a two-point conversion after a touchdown in the third quarter, even though that single point also seems huge in hindsight. But at this point there were still 19:37 minutes left in the game. Unless you’re really desperate, I don’t believe coaches will try to make up for lost points before the start of the fourth quarter.

But Gannon should have gone for the touchdown with 3:23 left in the game. It was his chance to put the game away, rely on the offense and put the Vikings in their place. Even if it failed, Minnesota would have to go more than 90 yards to win the game. The other consideration:

If the Vikings only needed a field goal to tie the game on their last possession, they might play more conservatively. Perhaps the game hinges on Minnesota’s rookie kicker, for a franchise that has often missed big field goal attempts in the past. I would take that risk.

Instead, everything burned down before our eyes, ruining what could have been a football weekend for the ages in the Valley. Combined with Seattle’s fourth-quarter comeback to beat the Jets on Sunday, January’s turn of events could prove very costly. This definitely makes the next game (home against Seattle) a must for the Cardinals.

Too bad. For most of the afternoon, Kyler Murray did wonderful things and made wonderful throws. Trey McBride had his second straight game with 12 receptions and is now a bona fide NFL star. The Cardinals outrebounded the Vikings 154-68. Marvin Harrison Jr. shook off some early struggles and had five catches and a touchdown reception. Meanwhile, the defense forced two early fumbles from Vikings running back Aaron Jones, which resulted in him being benched early. And they accomplished something rarely accomplished in Minnesota.

They silenced one of the NFL’s loudest fan bases.

Unfortunately, Arizona’s defense also ran out of steam at the end of the game. The Vikings’ last three drives totaled 70 yards on six plays; 55 yards in nine plays; and 70 yards in eight plays. And when Murray and the offense got the ball back with a chance to win, they were overwhelmed and swallowed up by the opponent, the crowd and the magnitude of the moment.

That’s why you grab your throat when the other team is down. And in the end, you hope this is just a lesson learned and not a wasted season.

Reach Bickley at [email protected]. Listen to Bickley & Marotta mornings from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Arizona Sports

Follow @danbickley