Did Raiders get screwed on Byron Murphy’s game-winning fumble return?
Las Vegas Raiders fans are now wondering whether or not Arizona Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy really scored a touchdown as he crossed the pylon.
This afternoon, two professional sports teams owned by Mark Davis played: the Las Vegas Aces in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, and simultaneously, the Las Vegas Raiders when they hosted the Arizona Cardinals at Allegiant Stadium.
The good news is that the Aces won their first WNBA championship in franchise history, and a beaming Davis presented team awards as he glowed over this major victory.
The bad news? His NFL team wasn’t as lucky today, losing 23-29 in overtime and starting off their 2022 season with a record of 0-2.
What’s worse is that beyond overtime, the loss came in typical Raiders fashion: down to one gut-wrenching play that didn’t go their way. When Hunter Renfrow got smashed by the Cardinals defense, the ball went flying, and Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy was the one to recover. Murphy ran all the way for a touchdown, stunning Raiders fans.
https://twitter.com/NFLonFOX/status/1571649423238889473?s=20&t=RidQcxUHIR3nCXNi8tzqPg
RAIDERS STUNNED 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/Q9eM4Dvg3c
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 18, 2022
Some Raiders fans are suspicious of whether or not the call should have held up, as Murphy tossed it as he crossed the pylon threshold.
This would've been very wild: Byron Murphy came awfully close to throwing the ball away too early on his scoop-and-score TD.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 19, 2022
I mean, wow.pic.twitter.com/Pbvg1JSTNP
That was a really bad job by the CBS crew at the end of the Raiders/Cardinals game to wait 3 minutes before showing the final angle with whether Murphy got into the end zone or not
— JaguarGator9 (@JaguarGator9NFL) September 18, 2022
Saw that right away that he let go of the ball awfully quickly. How did no one in the truck?
That ball is OUT. Byron Murphy, Raiders / Cardinals #raiders #nfl pic.twitter.com/2URB6ULdRz
— Ajtiras (@Ajtiras1) September 19, 2022
Did Raiders get screwed on Byron Murphy’s game-winning fumble return for Cardinals?
A contrast to the Aces’ historic moment in their franchise history, the Raiders made franchise history for all the wrong reasons: they saw their largest blown lead (20 points) in the team’s history.
THE RAIDERS JUST BLEW A 20-POINT LEAD (LARGEST IN FRANCHISE HISTORY)
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) September 18, 2022
🤯 pic.twitter.com/CYdPDDCddY
Some blame Derek Carr, some blame Hunter Renfrow, and some blame the referees for ruling Murphy’s play as a touchdown.
Never too early to post this pic.twitter.com/XPQ6SYz4hU
— PAIN (@CHIEFSNEWS816) September 18, 2022
Raiders throwing it to Renfrow after he fumbled pic.twitter.com/XCgoJ8KAGV
— Breeze💨 (@BreezyANI) September 18, 2022
Hunter Renfrow trying to get into the Raiders’ practice facility tomorrow: pic.twitter.com/9c87Ehoo8j
— Legion Sports Management (@thelegionsm) September 19, 2022
Raiders fans coping saying Murphy threw the football before entering the end zone pic.twitter.com/zqIebDqz4B
— Cards Nation (@RIPCardsNation) September 19, 2022
But as JustBlogBaby’s Alex Monfreda points out, a football game truly never comes down to one person, nor does it come down to one play. Yes, this play is what finalized the game, but arguably, the Raiders had four quarters to win it beforehand.
The problem is, many try to blame a 3 possession comeback on 1 single player. Some will argue Carr’s fault. Some will argue McDaniels. Others Renfrow, and of course the defense. The truth is, it takes a collective effort to throw this one away.
— Alex Monfreda (@AlexMonfreda) September 19, 2022
As far as Murphy’s touchdown, the camera angles available convey that he crossed the pylon with the ball in hand.
Perhaps more angles could shed light on this controversy, but as it stands, the Cardinals won the game — and Byron Murphy came dangerously close to potentially losing it.
Must Read. Raiders fans are convinced A.J. Green dropped game-tying catch. light