Emari Demercado Reacts to Shocking Fumble in Cardinals’ Upset Loss to Winless Titans

Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado owned up to his costly turnover in Sunday’s 22-21 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

With Arizona leading by 15 points in the fourth quarter, Demercado got loose for what initially looked like a 72-yard touchdown run. Unfortunately for he and the Cardinals, he started his celebration prematurely. He lost possession before crossing the goal line, and the ball went out of the end zone for a touchback.

“I made a mistake. There’s really no excuse,” Demercado told reporters after the game. “I was obviously emotional. It was a big play, but I just got to be smarter.”

The third-year back added he’s not going to think about the play any longer than he needs to.

“You just have to,” he said. “Can’t get it back. Nothing I can do about it, so why keep holding on to it?”

It’s almost certainly game over if the Cardinals jump ahead by 22 points with less than 13 minutes to play. Instead, the Titans got a major lifeline.

Tennessee got touchdowns on its next two drives, and Joey Slye connected on a 29-yard field goal as time expired to give his team its first win.

Demercado’s fumble wasn’t the sole reason for Arizona’s late collapse, and the football gods seemed to be tipping the scales in favor of the Titans. You don’t often see a defensive interception turn into an offensive touchdown, which is what happened during the frenzied fourth quarter.

With a losing skid that now sits at three games, Arizona will hope its luck in Week 6 improves as it hits the road to play the red-hot Indianapolis Colts.

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