The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers last met in the playoffs after the 2009 season. That was a wild 51–45 overtime win for the Cardinals, but it had nothing on this latest matchup. This one featured a 100-yard interception return and a 51-yard, one-handed acrobatic grab that both didn’t count due to penalties. And then things got really crazy. The Cardinals took a 20–13 lead with just 2 minutes, 34 seconds left in the game. But the Packers weren’t done.
On fourth an 20, Green Bay completed a 60-yard pass play to reach the Arizona 36-yard line. With time for just one more play, quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed his second “Hail Mary” touchdown of the season. This time he found Jeff Janis in the end zone for a miracle tying score with no time on the clock. Overtime.
In this game, even the coin toss went awry as on the first attempt the coin never flipped. The coin was tossed again, and the Cardinals won and chose to receive. On the very first play, Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer found wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald uncovered. Fitzgerald then broke several tackles on a 75-yard gain to the Packers’ 5-yard line. Fitzgerald then caught the game-winning touchdown pass two plays later. Arizona goes on to face the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship Game.
Read more about the Cardinals’ thrilling win over the Packers.
