The Arizona Cardinals took on the Tennessee Titans in Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season. The Cardinals came into the game with a question mark in the backfield as they were in need of a new starting running back. James Conner is on season-ending IR, and Trey Benson is also on IR, but expected back at some point this season.
Arizona came into Week 5 with the group of Michael Carter, Emari Demercado and Bam Knight as its running back crew. Carter ended up getting the early work, with Demercado working his way into the game, starting late in the first half. Demercado finally got a chance to shine in the fourth quarter when he broke through with what looked like a 72-yard touchdown run.
Upon review, the running back fumbled the ball ahead of the goal line by dropping the ball before he reached the endzone. The play resulted in a turnover and possession for Tennessee.
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Here is more on how a monster touchdown run by Demercado turned into a turnover for the Cardinals.
Emari Demercado fumble, explained
Many rules in the game of football irk fans, but none more than an offensive player fumbling the ball through the endzone resulting in a turnover. That is why it is always preached to ball carriers that they need to ensure that they are in the end zone before letting go of the ball.
Demercado was off to the races on his would-be touchdown. He got too cute with the end of the run and put the ball loosely into his fingers in front of him. A defender chased him down and knocked him down at the goal line. Because he had the ball so gingerly in his fingers, he lost the ball and it went out of the endzone.
It happened again.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 5, 2025
From touchdown to touchback. pic.twitter.com/w7gDXTTLov
After review, it was determined that Demercado lost possession of the football ahead of crossing the plane of the goal line. Rather than a 72-yard score for Demercado, it ended up being a 71-yard run and a fumble.
To make matters worse, Tennessee scored a touchdown on the drive after the turnover. Later in the game, Arizona's defense picked off Tennessee's rookie quarterback, but fumbled the ball into the end zone, and it was recovered by the Titans for a touchdown. The Cardinals were up 21-3 and ended up losing 22-21. The 72-yard touchdown run by Demercado would have kept the Cardinals' win intact, but instead it was a critical factor in an embarrassing loss.
The impact of Demercado's turnover was laid bare in advanced analytics. The Titans' victory was the second-most improbable comeback of the season based on in-game win probability, per Next Gen Stats. Tennessee was given a 1.8% chance to win at one point and an average win probability of just 12.1%, the second-lowest mark since 2016.
The Titans’ win probability was as low as 1.8% in their comeback win over the Cardinals, the 2nd-most improbable comeback of the season.
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 5, 2025
The Titans had an average win probability of 12.1%, the 2nd-lowest average WP in a win in the NGS era (since 2016).
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Cardinals RB depth chart
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | James Conner- Season Ending IR |
| 2 | Trey Benson - IR |
| 3 | Michael Carter |
| 4 | Emari Demercado |
| 5 | Bam Knight |
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Cardinals upcoming schedule
| Week | Opponent |
| 6 | at Colts |
| 7 | vs. Packers |
| 8 | BYE WEEK |
| 9 | at Cowboys |
| 10 | at Seahawks |
| 11 | vs. 49ers |