Rewind: How the Cardinals let late lead slip away against L.A. Chargers

The Cardinals are left to wonder what just happened after the Chargers drive for a touchdown, Justin Herbert to Austin Ekeler, then convert the two-point try with 15 seconds to play in the game, Herbert to Gerald Everett.

Final score: Chargers 25, Cardinals 24.

The Cardinals had one last chance with the ball but couldn't get in field goal range before the clock ran out. They fall to 4-8.

Arizona had the ball with a seven-point lead a couple of times in the fourth quarter but could not close out the Chargers.

The Cardinals have reached their bye week. It could be one of a lot of self-reflection.

A second turnover, overturned

After a fumble recovery that was changed from Cardinals ball to Chargers ball earlier in the game, the Cardinals thought they had an interception from linebacker Zaven Collins with 7:35 to play in the game. But officials reviewed the play and overturned the call to an incomplete pass.

Cardinals go three-and-out on offense after a punt, and the Chargers have new life. Cardinals CB Antonio Hamilton has returned to the game.

Touchdown Cardinals, touchdown Conner

James Conner finds the end zone by catching a pass near the sideline, avoiding a tackle and getting into the end zone. The Cardinals are up 24-17 with 13:31 to play. A 6-yard touchdown pass and Conner's first receiving TD of the season.

It was an 11-play, 75-yard drive.

Conner surpasses 100 yards for first time as a Cardinal

Cardinals running back James Conner surpassed 100 rushing yards for the game in the third quarter. It's his first 100-yard game of the season, and first in two seasons as a Cardinal.

The last time Conner had a 100-yard game was October 18, 2020, as a Pittsburgh Steeler. With the third quarter having ended, Conner has 19 carries for 105 yards. The Cardinals are at the L.A. 12-yard line as the fourth quarter opens.

Field goal for Chargers ties game

The Cardinals defense gets a hold, allowing a Chargers field goal with 4:28 left in the third quarter. But cornerback Antonio Hamilton's return is questionable with an ankle injury after he left the game on that drive.

The Cardinals don't seem to be generating the same level of pressure on Justin Herbert as earlier in the game. But it's 17-17.

Cardinals re-take the lead on Kyler keeper

With no timeouts left and 17 seconds to play until halftime, the Cardinals figured to throw the ball into the end zone from the Chargers' 5-yard line. Instead, Kyler Murray took one look into the end zone and ran a quarterback keeper and trotted into the end zone untouched with 12 seconds.

The Cardinals take a 17-14 lead into the break. Murray has 38 rushing yards, 116 passing yards, a passing TD, a rushing TD and an interception.

James Conner is three yards away from a season high in rushing yards in a game, with 67. The Cardinals are 5 of 7 on third down.

Chargers Justin Herbert: 14 of 19, 144 yards, 2 TDs.

Chargers seize momentum, take lead

Following a head-scratching decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 and the resulting deep pass from Kyler Murray that was intercepted by the Chargers' Derwin James Jr. , Los Angeles takes a 14-10 lead on Justin Herbert's 33-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Carter with 4:28 to go in the first half.

The Cardinals' defense started the game well with a strong pass rush and good tackling. But Herbert is making big-time throws and showing why he is one of the NFL's top young QBs, and he found Carter behind the coverage of linebacker Isaiah Simmons for an easy score.

Watch this replay and see Carter go in motion, then basically left alone downfield.

After fumble overturned, Chargers score

The Cardinals thought they had a fumble recovery when Trayvon Mullen Jr. stripped the ball from Joshua Palmer after a catch and appeared to get possession of the loose ball. But the call was reversed to a recovery by the Chargers, and Los Angeles scored a touchdown a few plays later.

Justin Herbert found Keenan Allen for a two-yard touchdown pass with 8:55 to play in the second quarter. It's 10-7 Cardinals.

Cardinals go up 10

The Cardinals have a 10-0 lead with 14:03 to go in the second quarter on Matt Prater's 43-yard field goal. Kyler Murray kept it from being a longer kick by scrambling around and avoiding a sack by throwing the ball away.

Murray looks to be running well after missing the past two games with a hamstring injury.

Murray to Hopkins for 6

The Cardinals' second possession results in a touchdown, with Kyler Murray finding DeAndre Hopkins down the middle of the field on third down. Murray hits Hopkins, who spins away from a tackler and goes for a 33-yard touchdown. Ten plays, 82 yards on a drive that saw James Conner run well and convert a third-and-5 with a reception. Cardinals 7, Chargers 0, 2:33 to go first quarter. Hopkins with two TD catches this season.

Disaster on Cards' first possession

The Cardinals gained 11 and 18 yards on their first two plays of the game on offense, including Kyler Murray's pass to his good pal Hollywood Brown to start the game. But on the third play, Conner fumbled after an eight-yard gain, the Chargers recovered, and Los Angeles takes over at the Arizona 47-yard line.

Watt sack gets Cards' defense off the field

The Chargers got one first down on their opening drive, then J.J. Watt sacked quarterback Justin Herbert on third down for an eight-yard loss to force a punt. Good start for a defense that is coming off a bad performance. Watt leads the Cardinals with 6.5 sacks.

Brown, Hopkins announced as starters

The offensive starters were announced for the Cardinals, and both wide receiver Marquis "Hollywood" Brown and DeAndre Hopkins jogged out of the tunnel. So did offensive lineman Max Garcia, who hasn't played in some time.

Cardinals inactives for Sunday vs. Chargers

This list means the duo of top wide receivers Hollywood Brown and DeAndre Hopkins will potentially be on the field together for the first time this season. Brown missed more than a month with a foot injury sustained just prior to the return of Hopkins.

Tough break for Greg Dortch, who played well in Mexico when given his opportunities on offense. Also, another week without the team's top cornerback, Byron Murphy Jr. We'll see how that plays out on defense.

How to watch Chargers vs. Cardinals NFL Week 12 game:

The game can be seen at 2:05 p.m. MST time on CBS.

Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Trent Green (analyst) will be in the broadcast booth for the game.

The Chargers are a 5-point favorite in the game.

The Chargers are -220 on the money line in the game.

The Cardinals are +190.

The over/under for the game is set at 47.5 points.

The Cardinals are coming off a 38-10 loss against the San Francisco 49ers.

The Chargers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, 30-27.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How the Cardinals let late lead slip away against L.A. Chargers