Garrett Hartley

The 29-yard field goal is haunting the New Orleans Saints in 2010. For the second time, the Saints missed a kick from that distance at a critical point in their 30-20 loss Sunday to the Arizona Cardinals.

To be sure, Sunday's miss by John Carney was not as costly as the one that would have been a game-winner in overtime against Atlanta and that cost Carney's predecessor, Garrett Hartley, his job. At least temporarily.

But on Sunday the momentum seemed to swing irrevocably in Arizona's favor when, with the score tied 13-13 and 1:31 remaining in the third quarter, Carney jerked his 29-yard attempt wide left.

Carney said the blame for the miss was his. The snap and hold were good but, like a golfer on the tee, he rushed his swing.