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Who is to blame for Cardinals 22-21 loss to Titans?

Originally posted on Burn City Sports
By Tanner Tortorella | Last updated Oct 5, 2025 8:00 PM ET

GLENDALE – Embarrassment isn’t the right word to describes the Arizona Cardinals 22-21 lost to the Tennessee Titans. Humiliating is close, unforgivable might be perfect. Arizona held an 18-point lead at one point and proceeded to not score a single point the rest of the game. The offensive cold streak could lead fans to blame offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, or quarterback Kyler Murray.

However, the biggest reason why the Cardinals lost on Sunday was because of one massive mistake by running Emari Demercado. The 26-year-old had a breakaway 72-yard touchdown to put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter, and what he decides to do is drop it on the one-yard line.

Demercado’s fumble cost Cardinals:

AGAIN. #Cardinals RB Emari Demercado just had a 76-yard TD — but he let go of the ball before crossing the goal line, and it’s a touchback.

HOW DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING?!

pic.twitter.com/EstLI9R4jW

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 5, 2025

The play would’ve made it a three-score game and essentially ice the game for the win. Head coach Jonathan Gannon will likely say postgame that one play doesn’t lose his team the game. Despite that, Demercado had the game in his hands and decided to flick it into the back of the endzone to give the ball back to the Titans.

Arizona would still allowed 16 unanswered points after that moment, but that play will continue to haunt fans for the rest of the season if the failures keep coming for the franchise. The fumble could be the type of mistake that could cause the Cardinals to cut ties with Demercado. Only time will tell if Gannon and his staff will let one massive mistake decide the fate of his running back.

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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