'Resilient and Relentless' Cam Ward shows up in comeback vs Cardinals

GLENDALE -- Everyone (including myself) left the Tennessee Titans (1-4) for dead in Arizona on Sunday. Despite trailing 21-6 for three quarters of football, Tennessee managed to score 16 miraculous points in the final frame to secure their first win of the season 22-21.

You really had to see it to believe it.

The Cardinals were more "ass" than the Titans in Week 5

It all started with a touchback

Arizona running back Emari Demercado had the run to seal the Titans 11th consecutive loss. A 72-yard sprint to the end zone should have been the end of the game, but Demercado fumbled the ball inexplicably before crossing the goal line. The result was a negated touchdown and another Titans possession.

That started the rally.

Tennessee took advantage, driving 80 yards for its first touchdown in eight quarters. It was the longest scoring drive for the Titans this year. Embattled receiver Calvin Ridley caught a 47-yard pass from Ward for to set up a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Tony Pollard. The reception by Ridley was the biggest offensive play of the season so far for Tennessee.

At 21-12, coach Brian Callahan opted to kick an extra point instead of trying for 2-point converstion. Kicker Joey Slye missed the extra point, keeping it at a two-possession game.

“I think (Ward) had some struggles early and fought his way through it which is what you have to do as a quarterback in this league," said Callahan. "Not every quarter is going to go your way. Not every half is going to go your way. He just got reminded at halftime to put your eyes where they’re supposed to be and make the throws. That’s what he did in the second half. He worked his way out of a particularly slow start of the game and made the plays when we needed it.”

The Titans benefitted from some luck, too.

After a defensive stop to get the ball back, Ward threw an interception on 3rd-and-2 from the Cardinals 20-yard line with 4:06 to play. Arizona defender Dadrion Taylor-Demerson fumbled the pick, however, and the ball squirted into the end zone where Tennessee receiver Tyler Lockett fell on it for a Titans touchdown to make the score 21-19.

After 10 consecutive losses dating back to 2024, Tennessee shut the Cardinals out defensively in the second half, got the ball back at the 2-minute warning and went 71 yards in 11 plays to set-up Slye's game-winning field goal.

Ward completed a 38-yard pass to Ridley on the final drive and finished with 193-yards passing in the fourth quarter alone. The rookie set a career-high as a passer, completing 21 of his 39 attempts for 265 yards, the interception and a rating of 64.6.

“It was real good," said Ward of his connection with Ridley. "It was just good that we finally did it in a game. We did it all offseason, but now we’re finally seeing eye-to-eye in the game. He made a ton of explosive plays for us. I think just his demeanor  never changed throughout the game if we were down. And even when we had a two-minute drive, he just stayed right there and was ready to play, ready to get the ball. He’s a big reason why we won today.”

Tennessee travels to face the Las Vegas Raiders (1-4) in Week 6.