Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado had a breakaway touchdown run on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, which would have put the game away. But Demercado just pulled a bonehead play in a game that the Cardinals looked to have in their back pocket.
What Did Emari Demercado Do?
As Demercado broke away from the Titans’ defense, he was in the clear and headed for a 76-yard touchdown.
But, as he got close to the goal line, he dropped the ball. As a result, the play was ruled a touchback, and the Titans got the ball back.
Genuinely curious, why do players do this? Emari Demarcado must have seen Adonai Mitchell do this JUST LAST WEEK and yet…. pic.twitter.com/KiBkQwoeSz
— James D Koh (@JamesDKoh) October 5, 2025
Demercado has been getting roasted online for his play. It’s one of the strangest plays fans will see in NFL games. In fact, some Dallas Cowboys fans might harken back to what happened with former player Leon Lett.
How did this end in a loss ☠️ pic.twitter.com/8rfPJIocU8
— JPA (@jasrifootball) October 5, 2025
The Cardinals have lost 3 straight, all on a walk-off FG as time expired:
- Week 3 at 49ers: led 15-3 after a safety with 3:15 remaining, lost 16-15 on a walk-off FG
- Week 4 vs Seahawks: Game-tying TD with 0:28 left, lost 23-20 on a walk-off FG
- Week 5 vs Titans: Led 21-6 in the 4th quarter, lost 22-21 on a walk-off FG
After Demercado’s play, what happened? The Titans scored a touchdown, then another touchdown on a fumble return after an interception, and the game-winning field goal from Titans kicker Joey Slye.
Titans since Emari Demercado fumbled at goal line:
TD
TD on fumble return after INT
Game-winning FG pic.twitter.com/Y0s2ObWqgZ— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) October 5, 2025
This marked the second straight week that this type of play happened in the NFL. Last week against the Los Angeles Rams, the Indianapolis Colts’ Adonai Mitchell made a circus catch against two Rams defenders. He broke away and was headed for a touchdown.
As he got right to the goal line, though, the ball slipped out of Mitchell’s hands. The referees ruled that play, too, would end up in a touchback and give the ball over to the Rams. The Colts were down 13-10 at that point in the third quarter when Colts quarterback Daniel Jones connected with Mitchell.
That play should have been a warning for other NFL teams this week. It appears that Demercado didn’t get the memo. With Tennessee’s first win of the season, it leaves the Cardinals’ running back wondering what might have been.