GLENDALE, AZ (WTAQ) – Saturday night’s NFC Divisional Playoff game between the Green Bay Packers and the Arizona Cardinals will go down as one of the craziest games in NFL history.
Cardinals’ receiver Larry Fitzgerald’s 5-yard touchdown catch on a screen pass on the first possession of overtime closed the book on the Packers season, 26-20. It sends Arizona to the NFC Championship Game next Sunday.
Fitzgerald had a performance for the ages, which was capped by the game-winning screen pass from Carson Palmer. He finished the night with 8 catches for 176 yards and that final score. Fitzgerald’s 75 yard reception on the first play of the extra frame set up that play.
All this came on the heels of likely the most improbable game-tying drives in playoff history.
The Packers were down to their last gasp, 4th-and-20 from their own 4-yard line with 55 seconds left and no timeouts. Down 20-13, Aaron Rodgers throws a Hail Mary pass to receiver Jeff Janis for 60 yards. It gave them a chance to try another Hail Mary throw, which also found its way into the hands of Janis for a 41-yard TD pass to send the game into overtime.
It was the Miracle in Motown — but twice as big.
The Packers had a fresh start, leaving behind the missed opportunities and pass interference calls which weren’t made.
But then the coin flip wasn’t a flip at all, and when the simple task was done a second time, the Cardinals won, got the ball and never looked back.
Rodgers finished the game 24-of-44 for 261 yards with 2 touchdowns and one interception. Janis caught 7 balls for 145 yards and both of those scores.
Eddie Lacy ran 12 times for 89 yards, and Mason Crosby kicked a pair of field goals in the losing effort.
Get a full recap of the 2015 Packers season with Mark Daniels and Matt Z on the 5th Quarter, Monday at 5 p.m. exclusively on 1360/97.5 WTAQ News Talk Sports.
