Referees’ call before fumble impacts Cardinals rally attempt

Oct 4, 2015, 7:59 PM | Updated: Oct 5, 2015, 4:33 pm

ArizonaSports.com lead editor

Leave it to @Campbell93 to bring the BOOM! #STLvsAZ pic.twitter.com/Y3keeLhHR4

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) October 4, 2015

There’s no denying how much the Arizona Cardinals’ self-inflicted wounds impacted their 24-22 loss to the St. Louis Rams, but a call by the referees in the final seconds of the third quarter left fans wondering if things could have turned out differently.

With the Rams backed up near their own end zone leading 17-12, quarterback Nick Foles found running back Benny Cunningham open in the flat. After a spin move, Cunningham found himself with several Cardinals bearing down on him. Arizona defensive lineman Calais Campbell hit Cunningham head-on at the Rams’ 8-yard line and simultaneously knocked the ball out of Cunningham’s hands before Frostee Rucker scooped the ball up before stepping out of bounds. It looked like a fumble and a turnover. But the Cardinals wouldn’t get the ball inside the St. Louis 10-yard line.

The officiating crew ruled the play had been blown dead because Cunningham’s forward progress was stopped — and before the fumble — meaning Arizona couldn’t challenge the call on the field. St. Louis would punt and the Cardinals would drive 41 yards to settle for one of their five field goals on the day.

Asked if that appeared to be a play the Cardinals needed to rally, Arizona coach Bruce Arians offered this after the game: “Hell yeah. That was first and goal at the nine, and it was blown dead.”

FOX Sports’ officiating expert, Mike Pereira, agreed with the officials during the telecast that the Cardinals couldn’t challenge the play. By rule, referees can’t review a play that ended because of forward progress. Pereira, however, did admit that it looked like a clear fumble.

One well-known Cardinals fan, Larry Fitzgerald Sr., who knows football quite well as a long-time sports writer, thought Arizona got a bad deal.

From opening kickoff Rams played their game-force turnovers (3)run the ball hit hit hit.Officials took a sure fumble away from Cardinals. — Larry Fitzgerald Sr. (@FitzBeatSr) October 5, 2015

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St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins (21) intercepts a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown (12) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

St. Louis Rams offensive guard Jamon Brown (68) lifts wide receiver Tavon Austin (11) after Austin scored a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson (23) watches during warm ups prior to an NFL football game agains the St. Louis Rams, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) fumbles on the opening kick off as St. Louis Rams linebacker Daren Bates (53) and linebacker Cameron Lynch (50) chase down the ball during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals tight end Jermaine Gresham (84) is hit by St. Louis Rams strong safety Mark Barron (26) and cornerback Janoris Jenkins (21) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) is hit by St. Louis Rams cornerback Lamarcus Joyner (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) is hit by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) is hit by St. Louis Rams outside linebacker Alec Ogletree (52) and safety Mark Barron (26) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

St. Louis Rams quarterback Nick Foles (5) is hit by Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Markus Golden (44) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

St. Louis Rams quarterback Nick Foles (5) is helped up by teammate Jamon Brown (68) after being hit by Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Alex Okafor (57) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson (23) finds room to run as teammate Jared Veldheer (68) hits St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins (21) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) is hit by St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long (91) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Markus Golden (44) and defensive end Frostee Rucker (92) celebrates Golden's sack of St. Louis Rams quarterback Nick Foles during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) his hit by St. Louis Rams outside linebacker Alec Ogletree (52) and safety Mark Barron (26) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws under pressure from St. Louis Rams defensive end Robert Quinn (94) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown (12) runs the ball along the sideline against the St. Louis Rams during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) makes the catch as St. Louis Rams strong safety T.J. McDonald (25) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

St. Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin (11) lunges for the end zone for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is hit by St. Louis Rams strong safety Mark Barron (26) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) fumbles after being hit by St. Louis Rams free safety Rodney McLeod as cornerback Lamarcus Joyner (20) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. The Rams recovered the ball. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) eludes the reach of Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley (56) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

St. Louis Rams running back Benny Cunningham (36) spins around the tackle of Arizona Cardinals free safety Rashad Johnson (26) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

St. Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin (11) makes a catch as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jerraud Powers (25) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson (23) runs against the St. Louis Rams during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) jump over Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jerraud Powers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) scores a touchdown against the St. Louis Rams during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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