The Arizona Cardinals suffered one of the most painful defeats in recent NFL history on Sunday.
The Cards blew an 18-point fourth-quarter lead to the previously winless Tennessee Titans, losing the game 22-21 in a stunning collapse that is likely to sting for weeks.
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The defeat was titled by running Return Emari DeMermercado Miscue that cost the team a touchdown when they were up 21-6.
DeMermado had obliterated opponents in what would be a 72-yard touchdown run, but just as he crossed the end zone, he fumbled the ball.
This mistake prevented the Cardinals from going up 27-6 and effectively sealing the game.
Officials ruled the play a turnover and touchdown that led to the Titans scoring on the next possession.
With five minutes to go, this year’s number one pick,Cam roomthrew an interception, but the Cardinals’ Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, who picked the ball, dropped it and it ended up as a touchdown to Tyler Lockett.
The Titans then won the game after Joey Slye hit a game-winning field goal as the clock expired, earning the franchise’s first victory of the season.
Cardinals HC Jonathon Gannon appears to hit DeMERCADO
Not surprisingly, Cardinals head coach Jonathon Gannon looked furious with Demermercado after his fumble.
And the 42-year-old didn’t hesitate to let his feelings be known during the match.
Footage caught Gannon on the sidelines, appearing to lambast the 26-year-old before punching him in the lower stomach or giving him what some are calling a low-five.
“It’s unacceptable,” Gannon told reporters after the game.
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“I told everyone in there, the clock was ticking. It doesn’t matter if you’re a number one overall pick, a pro-bowl safety, a third-year head coach, a first-year assistant, it doesn’t matter.
“We have to do a better job of closing out games.”
Fans online were sympathetic to Gannon, who saw the Cardinals become the first team since 1970 to lose three straight games on field goals.
“Well, I can’t even imagine being a coach and one of my players doing that after he continues to perform in college and NFL Again and again, “a user wrote about X.
“One of the most embarrassing losses I’ve seen in a long time,” another user wrote.
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Gannon apologizes, says he ‘doesn’t feel well’
On Monday, Gannon was asked about the trade.
“I haven’t seen the video,” Gannon told reporters.
“But, yeah, I woke up this morning and I didn’t feel good about it, honestly. And so in a team meeting, I addressed myself. I apologized to Emari, I apologized to the team. And I just told her that I’m leaving the moment of what happened the best of me there.
“Obviously, like, II tries to be emotionally stable and calm, because my job is to solve problems … during a game – and kind of sort of about it. So that’s not really who I am, who I want to be, and I told the guys that today.
According to reports, the Cardinals decided to bribe Gannon $100,000 in connection with the incident.
Sources told ESPN there would be no further discipline for him.
According to Skip Bayless, his punishment is not enough and what he did is a “drawn offense.”
“It’s a pull offense, and that’s how you bring your point home,” Bayless said on the Arena: Gridiron podcast.
“You just wake up Monday morning and just send him packing. You’re fine without him. You can understand that. You can add anybody you have, you have plenty of time. … It sends a message around the National Football League.”
DeMermado issues response after Gannon mistake and incident
DeMermerado didn’t hide from the media after his costly mistake as he took responsibility for the loss.
“I just made a mistake,” DeMermercado said.
“There’s really no excuse. Let the ball go. Obviously emotional, great play, but I just have to be smarter.”
Offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. went to the DeMermercado console right after the goal-line sampling:
“I wanted to be one of the first people to find him on the sidelines…Make sure he didn’t catch the looks and stares and people mumbling…I didn’t want him to hear any of that,” Johnson Jr. said after the game.
$230 million quarterback Kyle Murray was also stunned by his teammate’s mistake.
“I don’t really know what to think about it,” Murray said.
“I don’t even know. I really don’t know. It’s ‘How to lose a game 101.’ I don’t know.
“I know his character. I know his gaming IQ. And never in a million years would I think Emari would do it. But obviously we all make mistakes.
“I just think if you look at the mistakes, I think we played well enough to win the game, but crucially, Bonehead Errent gave them a chance to stay in the game.”
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