A stunning Cardinals fourth quarter collapse on Sunday, marked by two critical turnovers, allowed the Tennessee Titans to secure a comeback win with a last-second field goal.
Costly Emari Demercado Fumble Touchback
The first major error occurred when running back Emari Demercado dropped the ball before crossing the goal line on a 76-yard run. The play, which would have given Arizona a 21-point lead, instead resulted in an Emari Demercado fumble touchback and a turnover for the Cardinals.
Arizona Cardinals Fumbled Interception Changes Game
Later, with just 4:55 left in the game and the Cardinals holding a nine-point lead, a second costly blunder occurred. A potential game-sealing interception was fumbled, and the Titans recovered the ball for a touchdown.
This critical mistake narrowed the score to 21-19.
Titans Capitalize for Comeback Win
The Titans offense took the field for its final drive, where quarterback Cam Ward completed a 38-yard pass to Calvin Ridley. This play brought the Titans to the Cardinals’ 15-yard line and was followed by an 11-yard run from Tony Pollard.
With time expiring, kicker Joey Slye made a 29-yard field goal. The successful kick at the buzzer finalized the Titans comeback win.
Gannon Addresses Cardinals Fourth Quarter Collapse
Head coach Jonathan Gannon called the offensive sloppiness “unacceptable.” He stated, “Obviously, very disappointing. (It) felt like we had multiple chances to put away the game in all three phases, and we did not do that.“
Gannon noted this has become a troubling pattern for the team. “It feels like that’s now three games in a row that I’m saying the same thing, but until we do a better job, we’re going to keep losing,” he said.
The coach stressed that the team’s “sense of urgency” needs to increase. “(It’s) never about one play. (It’s) never about one phase. All of us collectively have to do a better job, so that’s what we’ll work on tomorrow,” Gannon concluded.
