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 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.
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“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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