Another bizarre play occurred earlier in the fourth quarter, and it involved Cardinals running back Emari Demercado, cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, and an official review. With the Cardinals leading 21-6, Demercado appeared to be on his way to a 72-yard touchdown run, which would have put the game out of reach. Officials initially signaled touchdown, in fact. But replays showed Demercado lost control of the football before he crossed the goal line, as Sneed was chasing him down from behind. Sneed deserves credit for his hustle, and for influencing the play. “I knew it was out, and I was just hoping the refs would be on my side,” Sneed said. “(I hope) it sends a message to who we are as a team, resilient, and we fight into the fourth quarter.”
The Titans got off to a bad start on defense, surrendering three touchdowns in the first half as the team fell down 21-3. But the defense stiffened up in the second half, when the Titans shut the Cardinals out. The biggest stand came after the Titans cut Arizona’s lead to 21-19 with 4:39 left. The defense was on the spot to stop the Cardinals, and get the ball back the offense. After allowing one first down, the defense forced a punt, setting the stage for Ward’s game-winning drive, and Slye’s game-winning drive. “Everyone just had to do their job,” Titans linebacker Cody Barton said. “When we do that, it’s a win.”