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Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals fell just five yards short of the 99 needed to win. Rasul Douglas intercepted Murray in the end zone, and Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers improved to 7-1 with a 24-21 Thursday Night Classic victory against Arizona.
With just over four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, it appeared as though the Packers had gained a two-possession lead, thus ending the game. However, the officials determined that Green Bay running back Aaron Jones was down before crossing the goal line, therefore overturning the on-field touchdown call.
Although Fox commentators Joe Buck and Troy Aikman believed there was insufficient evidence on the video to alter the ruling — and rules expert Mike Pereira agreed — the Green Bay offense was forced to re-enter the game. On second and goal, Jones was stuffed, Rodgers came within inches of the end zone on third down, and Devon Kennard intercepted Rodgers’ ball on fourth and goal.
Murray attempted to win the game with a pass to A.J. Green in the endzone with 15 seconds remaining and a second and goal from the five-yard line, but miscommunication between the seven-time Pro Bowler and Murray resulted in a game-winning interception by Douglas.
RASUL DOUGLAS INTERCEPTS MURRAY. #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/ZIDly9m0Bc
— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2021
“Miscommunication, obviously. I mean, we feel like it’s a safe throw if he knew the route to run,” Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury said. “No question. … It was the right place to go with the ball. Just didn’t communicate on some level and then the guy made a good play.”
Green never turned around to locate the ball, leading Douglas — who was signed by Green Bay from Arizona’s practice squad just weeks ago — to have his Packers moment.
“You’re in a crazy mental state being in the league five years, never been on a practice squad before, and then one day you’re just on a practice squad,” Douglas said. “You feel like you’re working for nothing, kinda. And then you get a call and you’re somewhere else, and you’re just playing. So I’m just thankful.
“That was probably the first time I’ve won a game like that. So it was like a shocking feeling, like, ‘Oh snap, we just won off that play.’ I was like kinda surprised.”
It was a disappointing end to the night for Murray, who threw for 274 yards and no touchdowns, ending Arizona’s undefeated season.
