Rookie quarterback Cam Ward achieved his first NFL victory in dramatic fashion, orchestrating an incredible fourth-quarter comeback as the Tennessee Titans stunned the Arizona Cardinals 22-21. The Titans were trailing by 15 points with less than ten minutes remaining in the match. Ward’s superhuman effort inspired the Warriors to rattle off 16 points in a row.
Ward threw for a career-high 265 passing yards. Just in the last frame, he went 13 of 18 passing for 193 passing yards and you got a glimpse of his scary potential. His resilience was evident as he bounced back from a challenging first half, where he completed only 5 of 16 attempts.
In the fourth quarter, one game-defining play—a 47-yard seam-route reception for Calvin Ridley—completely changed the game. Then, an absolutely ideal over-the-shoulder pass to Gunnar Helm on a huge 3rd-and-2 that helped them get a rushing TD on the Cardinals’ 1-yard line. The Titans started their final drive from their own 18-yard line with just 1:53 left on the clock and trailing by two points.
Ward’s poise in the pocket would turn out to be priceless. He again hooked up with Ridley for a key 38-yard completion before kicker Joey Slye set up the game-winning 29-yarder, clinching a fifth consecutive Panthers win.
“Cam did a hell of a job of controlling that offense and getting us down to be able to kick that field goal,” – Jeffery Simmons
Ward’s knack for delivering the big plays when they needed them most, in a high-stakes situation, earned him early praise from Titans coach Brian Callahan. He explained the odds that they were facing, with their win probability sinking to just 1.8% deep into the fourth quarter. Even in this difficult moment, Ward never panicked and navigated his troops with expert precision.
Ward did take the time after practice to appreciate his performance. He knew that, while he would have preferred to have started stronger, the result was what really counted.
“I think the second half, I really saw the field better in terms of just getting the ball out, letting my guys make plays,” – Cam Ward
Jeffery Simmons commended Ward’s poise under pressure, stating, “I told him that’s why we drafted you No. 1 overall. His calmness in that pocket. I don’t know how many rookie quarterbacks could have that type of poise.”
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