Murray's late-game mistake dooms Cards; Eagles stay unbeaten

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray reacts as he walks off the field after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Kyler Murray's late-game mistake dooms Cardinals, helps Eagles stay undefeated

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 10/9/22

The Arizona Cardinals may have some trouble getting over this one.

On Sunday, Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals let a chance at knocking off the NFL's only remaining unbeaten team slip through their fingers. The Cardinals had a shot at the upset but ultimately fell to the Philadelphia Eagles, 20-17, after a late-game mistake by Murray doomed their chances.

Trailing the Philadelphia Eagles 20-17 with 1:45 left in the fourth quarter, Murray and the Cardinals took the ball from their own 25-yard line with a chance to win the game.

With 36 seconds left, the Cardinals faced 2nd-and-10 from the Philly 34-yard line. Murray scrambled up the middle, sliding just short of the first down marker. However, Arizona was out of timeouts, forcing Murray to spike the ball on third down to stop the clock. With fourth down looming, the Cardinals had no choice but to try a 43-yard field goal with Matt Ammendola, who had been called up from Arizona's practice squad this week in place of an injured Matt Prater.

Ammendola's kick went wide-right, letting the Eagles off the hook.

Kyler slid short of the 1st down on this scramble, forcing the Cardinals into a field goal.

Cardinals missed the FG and lost the game. pic.twitter.com/TWCoSeLgT2
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 9, 2022

Post-game, Murray told reporters he thought he had reached the first-down marker, which led to confusion on third down.

"After the play, everyone is screaming 'clock it,'" Murray said. "I was assuming I had the first down ... After the play was over, everyone was screaming 'clock,' we practice it all the time. Hindsight, I would've loved to get a few more yards."

Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury agreed with Murray.

"I thought he was clearly past and they brought it back," Kingsbury said. "By that time we had committed to clocking it. It was just past the point of no return."

The loss drops the Cardinals to 2-3 on the season. They travel to take on the Seattle Seahawks next Sunday at 4:05 p.m.

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