On Sunday, for a little over 59 minutes, the Cardinals hung in against the presumptive current top NFC heavyweight in the Eagles. That is until — after an otherwise solid performance — Kyler Murray appeared to lose track of the downs while trying to set a game-tying field goal near the end of regulation.
When Matt Ammendola, who was already filling in for the injured Matt Prater, would miss a brutal 43-yarder to cap a 20-17 loss, a lot of the postgame criticism turned toward the substitute kicker. Despite the proceedings leading up to the fateful wide right kick, Ammendola drew a solid brunt of the backlash for not even coming close on his game-tying attempt.
His teammate, offensive lineman Justin Pugh, was simply not having any of it. Pugh emphatically made it known to reporters that Ammendola wasn’t solely to blame for the Cardinals’ defeat.
Note: NSFW language in the tweet and video below.
Justin Pugh backing up his teammate, Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Ammendola.
"It's not one fucking guy. Keep your fucking head up." pic.twitter.com/cXB577dRaj
— Bo Brack (@BoBrack) October 9, 2022
Ah, man, what a teammate. And Pugh’s definitely not wrong! One kicker missing a fateful attempt to tie the game is never the sole reason a football team loses. They just happen to be under the microscope because of all of the immense weight on their one play. The football world would do well to remember this before throwing kickers under the bus again.
NFL fans loved how Pugh stood up for his teammate (NSFW language in the tweets below)
God, I love this. https://t.co/6axSv1rUO5
— Ned Balme (@NedBalmeLives) October 10, 2022
l e a d e r s h i p. https://t.co/osjX2WopY9
— Benny LaMonte Jr. (@BennyLaMonte) October 10, 2022
This right here 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 https://t.co/lanedP46YT
— Andrea (@andreaaaaaaaah) October 10, 2022
Apologies for the language, but this is what a leader looks like. https://t.co/WVoODhNlwL
— Will Hickman (@willhickmanjr) October 10, 2022
This is the attitude❗️❗️❗️ https://t.co/jC8BUvplH7
— Kai Vasiluk (@VasilukKai) October 10, 2022
Justin Pugh is a great teammate. Absolutely love this https://t.co/znGsIPyY1P
— Matt O'Leary (@MattOLearyNY) October 10, 2022
— Adam Rosen (@arrosen76) October 10, 2022
Wow much respect to Pugh. https://t.co/pXNAASC2hq
— Jessie ✰ Lynn (@jlcovert44) October 10, 2022
That’s a good teammate! https://t.co/AfHTxvWXlI
— dom (@716Dominic) October 10, 2022
