The Tennessee Titans pulled off a jaw‑dropping fourth‑quarter comeback on Sunday, October 5, 2025, snatching a 22‑21 victory over the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. With the clock winding down, kicker Joey Slye, the Titans’ reliable kicker, nailed a 29‑yard field goal that sealed the win.
Game Overview
From the opening snap, the Cardinals seemed destined to cruise to a comfortable victory. Their offense struck early, putting up 14 points in the first quarter and another touchdown in the second, leaving the Titans staring at a 21‑6 deficit at halftime. The Titans managed just a field goal in each of the first two quarters and were shut out in the third, making the final quarter look like a formality.
Quarter‑by‑Quarter Breakdown
In the Titans vs. Cardinals matchupGlendale, Arizona, the scoring chart read like a roller‑coaster:
- 1st Quarter – Cardinals 14, Titans 0
- 2nd Quarter – Cardinals 7, Titans 3 (half‑time 21‑3)
- 3rd Quarter – No points for either side (still 21‑3)
- 4th Quarter – Titans 19, Cardinals 0 (final 22‑21)
The fourth quarter was pure drama. The Titans erupted for 16 points in the final period, while the Cardinals were mysteriously silent after halftime.
Key Plays and Turning Points
The catalyst for the rally came with 12:51 left on the clock. Cardinals running back Emari Demercado, who had been a workhorse all season, broke through the defense on a 72‑yard sprint that looked like a game‑sealing touchdown. In a heart‑stopping moment, he fumbled just before the goal line; the ball rolled out of the end zone for a touchback, erasing what would have been a 28‑6 lead.
That miscue shifted momentum. On the very next drive, Tennessee quarterback Cam Ward, the team's 27‑year‑old signal‑caller, went from sluggish to scorching. He threw for a career‑high 265 yards overall, with 193 yards coming in the fourth quarter alone. Ward completed 13 of 18 passes after the half, delivering two touchdowns to wide receiver Calvin Ridley, a veteran presence who still found the back of the net despite limited targets earlier in the season.
Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons helped keep the Cardinals yard‑less in the second half, recording a sack and a crucial pressure on the Cardinals’ third‑down attempts. The defense forced a three‑and‑out on the Cardinals' first possession after the Demercado fumble, setting the stage for the Titans’ comeback.
Coaches' Perspectives
Head coach Brian Callahan, who has been openly critical of the team’s early‑season execution, said after the game, "Things just have to go your way sometimes. We haven't had a lot of that so far this year, haven't had a lot of bounces in our favor, and sometimes you need that." He added, "I'm proud of how our guys finished. It shows resilience, which is what we need moving forward."
Cardinals head coach Kelly Clark The win was the Titans' first of the 2025 campaign, moving them to 1‑4 and snapping a 10‑game losing streak that stretched back to the previous year. Statistically, the Titans have now scored 73 points while allowing 141, numbers that still look bleak, but the surge in fourth‑quarter production hints at a potential turning point. In the AFC South, the Titans remain at the bottom behind the Indianapolis Colts (4‑1), Jacksonville Jaguars (3‑1), and Houston Texans (2‑3). The division race is still wide open, and a win like this could spark a mini‑revival if the offense continues to click. For the Cardinals, the loss drops them to 2‑3, leaving them in fourth place in the NFC West, trailing the San Francisco 49ers (4‑1), Seattle Seahawks (3‑2), and Los Angeles Rams (3‑2). Their defense held the Titans to just three points in the second half, yet the offense’s inability to answer after halftime has become a glaring issue. Comebacks from a 15‑point deficit in the fourth quarter are rare in the NFL; the last time the Titans achieved something similar was in 2019 against the Houston Texans. Moreover, the 29‑yard field goal as time expired puts Joey Slye in the record books for the longest successful game‑winning kick in franchise history. The Demercado fumble will be replayed on highlight reels for weeks, reminiscent of the infamous “Miracle at the Meadowlands” where a botched handoff changed a game’s destiny. Such moments remind fans why football is a game of inches and split‑second decisions. At 1‑4, Tennessee is still far from a playoff berth, but the victory narrows the gap in the AFC South and boosts morale. If the offense maintains its late‑game firepower, the Titans could climb to a tie for second place with a few more wins, keeping the postseason within reach. Besides the demoralizing fumble by Emari Demercado, Arizona’s offense stalled after halftime, managing zero points. Conservative play‑calling and a lack of adjustments to Tennessee’s defensive pressure allowed the Titans to dictate the tempo. Cam Ward’s 265‑yard passing night, especially his 193 fourth‑quarter yards, was the headline. Calvin Ridley’s two touchdowns, Jeffery Simmons’ defensive pressure, and Joey Slye’s clutch field goal also earned high marks. The team listed left tackle Marcus Cannon as questionable with a hamstring strain, and safety Darius Ellis left the game with a hyperextended knee. Their recovery will be critical as the Titans face tougher divisional opponents next week. Arizona drops to fourth place at 2‑3, widening the gap to the division leader, San Francisco (4‑1). Seattle and Los Angeles remain ahead, but the Cardinals now need a win in each of their next three games just to stay within striking distance.Implications for the Season
Historical Context
Key Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
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