As the clock ran out, the Arizona Cardinals defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 17–15 thanks to a contentious unnecessary roughness penalty and a game-winning field goal.
Kicker for the Chargers With fewer than two minutes remaining, Cameron Dicker put his team ahead 15–14 in Glendale, Arizona, with his fifth field goal of the evening. However, Kyler Murray and the Cardinals’ offense had plenty of time to get down the field and attempt a field goal of their own in order to go 3–4 on the season.
Chad Ryland’s 32-yard attempt split the uprights, and the Chargers were 3-3 on the season after their bye week. That’s precisely what occurred.
On second-and-10 from the Arizona 30-yard line, however, officials made a crucial call when Murray attempted a ball to rookie first-round pick Marvin Harrison Jr., but it was intercepted by two Chargers defenders who were pounding him as he dropped it.
After the play, though, a yellow flag was raised, and Cam Hart was given a roughness penalty for what appeared to be a head knock on Harrison, a defenseless receiver. The decision was made in light of the league’s recent crackdown on it.
The Cardinals were now near midfield rather than facing third-and-10 in their own territory, which was a huge change in momentum.
Although it wasn’t evident in real time, Hart’s helmet seemed to make contact with Harrison’s via the video replay. Hart appears to be swiveling his shoulder as well since he is fully aware that the league does not permit strikes that lead with the helmet.
On social media, however, NFL fans were incensed with the call.
When did the NFL become so lenient? One user on X said, “SOFTEST unnecessary roughness call I’ve ever seen.”
“Chargers were the wrong side, but man,” said another. Is this the new definition of needless roughness?
In any case, the Cardinals made good use of their excellent field position, as on the very next play, James Conner, the running back, grabbed a pass from Murray and ran it 33 yards to the Los Angeles 22-yard line, neatly setting up his team for the field goal.
Ryland was able to complete the triumph as the Cardinals drained the clock.
Although this judgment will be discussed on Tuesday morning, the Chargers committed other errors in this game, such as punting the ball away to allow Arizona to escape after Conner stripped an interception on the opening drive.
Justin Herbert then found Jalen Raegor down the left sideline for a 41-yard pass that looked to be headed for a score on the Chargers’ first offensive drive of the game. However, Raegor fumbled the ball, and the Cardinals recovered it in the end zone, resulting in a touchback.
The Chargers were unable to reach the end zone even though Herbert threw for a season-high 349 yards because head coach Jim Harbaugh felt that Dicker was needed more often than he would have liked.
The Cardinals led 7–6 at the half after Murray connected Greg Dortch for the game’s first touchdown in the second quarter. Murray then sprinted out for a 44-yard rushing score in the fourth quarter, making the score 14–9.
Conner gave Arizona 101 rushing yards and 51 receiving yards on only two catches, while Murray ended with 64 yards on the ground and 145 yards through the air. Trey McBride, a tight end, also had five catches for 51 yards.
