ARIZONA CARDINALS

Larry Fitzgerald ‘not soaking in’ potentially final home game

Dec 23, 2018, 7:26 PM | Updated: Dec 24, 2018, 7:19 am

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) leaves the field after an NFL football game a...

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. The Rams won 31-9. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

GLENDALE, Ariz. — First career touchdown pass.

Potentially his last home game as a member of the Arizona Cardinals.

While the moments of Sunday’s game will be remembered from those on the sidelines and in the stands, don’t bet on Larry Fitzgerald reliving the feeling.

“It’s hard to soak in something like this,” Fitzgerald said when asked about if he was taking in what might be his home finale. “Not a good day across the board.”

The wide receiver got off to a fast start doing what he does best in a 31-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, catching five of his six targets for 41 yards.

He also added a touchdown, but not the way you would normally think.

Looking at 1st-and-10 at the Rams’ 32-yard line, rookie quarterback Josh Rosen dropped back to pass, finding Fitzgerald in the backfield. But instead of turning upfield, Fitzgerald let it fly, connecting with a wide open running back David Johnson for Arizona’s first — and only — touchdown of the game.

“That’s like a layup in basketball, you can’t miss it,” Fitzgerald said of his touchdown. “I just wanted to put a little air on it. It came out a little wobbly. Looked like Kurt Warner’s ball right there.

“As Kurt Warner’s was, it was effective.”

But just as it seemed Fitzgerald might be turning in one of his trademark big games, he, and the Cardinals offense, fell silent in the second half, while the Rams continued to move the ball. He made just one more catch for 12 yards.

With the loss, Arizona falls to 1-7 at home this season. At home this season, Fitzgerald recorded 31 receptions for 333 yards and four touchdowns.

“It’s been really difficult and really frustrating,” Fitzgerald said of the home record. “This is a place that we’ve played well in historically and to not play well here all season, it’s disturbing.”

And with the questions looming whether or not Fitz has played in his last game at State Farm Stadium, the fans let the wideout hear it, ringing out “Larry” chants throughout the game.

“I play a team sport,” Fitzgerald said when asked if he heard the crowd. “I’m not Michael Phelps or Tiger Woods or those guys who do individual things. Everything I do in my life is in context of a team setting, so it’s a little uncomfortable being singled out.

“There are 11 other guys with me and I can’t do my job without every single guy doing it. It’s cool but you never get used to it.”

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Los Angeles Rams running back C.J. Anderson (35) falls into the end zone for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams running back C.J. Anderson (35) scores a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) and Arizona Cardinals defensive back David Amerson defend during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Los Angeles Rams tight end Gerald Everett is hit by Arizona Cardinals free safety Antoine Bethea (41) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Los Angeles Rams running back John Kelly (42) is hit by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Gerald Hodges during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Los Angeles Rams running back C.J. Anderson (35) runs against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) celebrates his touchdown pass with teammates against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) pulls in a touchdown pass from wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) during the first half of an NFL football game as Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Samson Ebukam (50) pursues, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) pulls in a touchdown pass from wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald as Los Angeles Rams free safety Lamarcus Joyner (20) pursues during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) throws a touchdown pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) laughs prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals tight end Ricky Seals-Jones (86) is hit by Los Angeles Rams inside linebacker Mark Barron (26) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws over Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals with offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth (77) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is tries to elude Los Angeles Rams cornerback Marcus Peters (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods (17) dives in for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals defensive back David Amerson (38) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals kicker Zane Gonzalez (5) washes his field goal split the uprights against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is tries to elude Los Angeles Rams cornerback Marcus Peters (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) recovers a fumble as Los Angeles Rams center Brian Allen (55) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals free safety Antoine Bethea, right, tackles Los Angeles Rams tight end Gerald Everett during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) gives a thumbs up prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods (17) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) greets head coach Steve Wilks prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) laughs prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) In this Nov. 18, 2018, file photo, Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks watches during the first half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, in Glendale, Ariz. The Atlanta Falcons defeated the Cardinals 40-14 on Sunday, Dec. 16. Another blowout loss has first-year coach Steve Wilks on even shakier ground. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File) Arizona Cardinals center A.Q. Shipley (53) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

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