Saying things didn't go too well for the Arizona Cardinals Saturday night might be an understatement. Not only did the redbirds lose its first-round draft pick — right guard Jonathan Cooper, who
broke his leg and is out indefinitely — but they were on the
wrong side of a wacky touchdown in a 24-7 loss to the San Diego Chargers.
In the second quarter, the Cardinals were whistled for their third pass interference penalty of the game, giving San Diego the ball at the Cardinals 1. Chargers running back Ryan Mathews went over the middle, but the ball popped free. Cardinals safety Rashad Johnson picked it up but, in an ill-advised move, lateraled to Sam Acho.
Acho, who appeared to be caught off-guard by Johnson’s toss, was hit by Antonio Gates and again the ball popped in the air. Another San Diego tight end, John Phillips, grabbed it and returned it 3 yards for the score to make it 14-0.
It ain't the Buttfumble, but it sure is funny.
“We talk about being a smart football team,” first-year Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said, “and that’s probably the dumbest 30 minutes of football I’ve ever seen.”
The Chargers also blocked a punt and a field goal in addition to scoring on the fumble recovery.
“It's not the conventional way to score,” said Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers about the double-fumble. “I don't know if I've seen a play like that in a long time.”
