Cardinals Beat Packers in Playoff Game for The Ages
For the second time this season, Green Bay Packer QB Aaron Rodgers threw a Hail Mary pass into the end zone at the end of a game. For the second time, it resulted in a touchdown. The first time won a game against the Detroit Lions; this time it tied Green Bay’s Divisional Playoff Game against the Arizona Cardinals, sending it into overtime.
But the happy ending for this one belongs to the Cardinals. The Cardinals got the ball to start overtime, and on the first play from scrimmage, Carson Palmer threw a short pass to Larry Fitzgerald, who ran it all the way down to the Green Bay five yard line. Then Palmer completed a shovel pass to Fitzgerald for the touchdown and it was over with Arizona winning 26-20 and advancing to the NFC Championship game.
The game had gone back and forth, with all kinds of crazy plays, like the pass intended for Fitzgerald that was deflected by Green Bay’s Damarious Randall, but then falling into the hands of Michael Floyd for a touchdown. Or Green Bay WR Jeff Janis, who spent most of the season on special teams, pressed into service when Randall Cobb was injured, and scoring two touchdowns, including the Hail Mary. Cobb was injured after making a spectacular catch that was called back due to a penalty. Green Bay getting a first down on 4th and 20. And on and on.
Click for Larry Fitzgerald’s Game Highlights
There was one thing that could have made this an even more memorable game. By rule, in overtime, if a team takes the opening kickoff and scores a field goal, the other team gets one possession to either tie or win. If they tie it, the game continues until the next score, at which time the game is over. But, if the team that takes the opening kickoff scores a touchdown, they win the game and the other team does not get a possession. We believe that both teams should have at least one possession. The current touchdown wins format is like a baseball team hitting a home run in the top of the tenth inning and being declared the winner and the game over. Doesn’t happen that way, the other team, of course, gets to bat in the bottom of the inning. Imagine the excitement if Green Bay and Arizona had gone back and forth trading scores a couple of times in overtime. Instead, this game came down to a large degree as to who won a coin flip, (with a coin that didn’t flip, another first). This great game would have been even greater if both teams had a possession in overtime.
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At this point, almost the half, the Seahawks face a deficit only Frank Reich has ever overcome.
The Seahawks certainly made a game of it, they just dug too deep a hole for themselves in the first half.
Janis pulled a Max McGee.
Yes, Green Bay has been unlucky two years in a row with coin flips. I actually thought, going up 12-7 in the third, that they should have gone for two. Then, one way or the other, perhaps the coin flip doesn’t (eventually) happen.
In all fairness, the NFL did change the OT rule, making an opening drive FG not necessarily a game winner.
In this game, a 75 yard play proved substantial. Of course, it should. Although I agree that GB should be given a chance with the ball (just for shakes and giggles, I wonder if there should be onside possibilities), their chances for scoring a TD were slim. There is a lot more to it than a coin flip. Still, lol, it would have been nice to call a +275 shot.