One of the key plays in the Arizona Cardinals’ 25-24 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers was a fourth-down interception Kyler Murray threw in the second quarter.
It was fourth down with less than a yard to go at their own 34-yard line.
Instead of simply running the ball, Murray attempted a pass down the field to DeAndre Hopkins. Derwin James picked it off.
After the game, when Murray was asked about the play, he explained that it wasn’t even supposed to be a throw to Hopkins. It was just what happened because “schematically, we were (expletive).”
The Ringer’s Benjamin Solak explained what went wrong on Twitter. The Chargers wrecked the play and there was perhaps a small mistake made.
play breakdown on how the chargers schematically HECKED the cardinals on 4th and 1 https://t.co/tGRKqTDz5F pic.twitter.com/nIhAFTAviv
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) November 28, 2022
The play was a run-pass option (RPO). Murray didn’t hand the ball off because the Chargers sold out on the run.
Tight end Trey McBride runs a route to the left in the flat, where the ball should go and they pick up a yard or two. Easy stuff.
Marquise Brown and DeAndre Hopkins run down the field to occupy defenders.
However, Chargers safety Alohi Gilman was ready for the play. He drops back early before the snap, making it look like McBride would be wide open.
However, he reads the play and breaks in to cover him.
In a perfect scenario, Hopkins would see it and rub off him to start his route, creating just a sliver of separation.
He didn’t, Gilman had McBride covered, and so Murray had nowhere to go. His only chance was to throw it up to Hopkins, hoping he could make a play. James made the play for the interception.
Gilman read the play and the Chargers blew it up, keeping the Cardinals from extending the drive when they were moving the ball well. If the Cardinals convert on that play and score points in that possession, the Chargers probably are unable to pick up the last minute-win.
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