Fitzgerald’s heroics push Cardinals into NFC title game

The Cardinals won the game on Palmer’s 5-yard touchdown shovel pass to Larry Fitzgerald that was set up by Fitzgerald’s 75-yard catch and run. Fitzgerald had 176 yards in receiving.

The Arizona Cardinals now advance to the NFC Championship game, to face either the Seattle Seahawks or the Carolina Panthers and here are a few key numbers that show how they got there. Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer earned the first playoff victory of his National Football League career with a 26-20 overtime win over Green Bay.

Notes: The Packers had all of their five starting offensive linemen for the first time since November 22 at Minnesota, a 30-13 victory for Green Bay….

Jeff Janis, a 6-foot-3 receiver pressed into extended duty because Green Bay’s top two receivers were hurt, outjumped defenders Patrick Peterson and Rashad Johnson and clutched the ball to his chest as he fell to the turf in the silence of University of Phoenix Stadium, except for the Packers fans, who went nuts.

“I told the defensive back guys, I had a dream that I was scoring against someone with yellow trousers on”, Peterson said. “I just tried to put some air on it to give him a chance”.

Overtime produced drama even before it started as the first attempted coin flip failed, forcing a repeat that ended up giving Arizona the ball and setting up their response to Rodgers’ miracle. The 41-yard reception and Mason Crosby’s extra point tied the game at 20.

“It comes down to a coin flip sometimes after a long, hard-fought game”, Rodgers said, “Back and forth, freaky plays made by both teams and unfortunately it comes down to that”.

Janis, who caught seven passes for 145 yards after having just two receptions all year, was hurt on his big catch and was helped out of the end zone.

We had seen this before on a Thursday night in Detroit when Rodgers found his tight end Richard Rodgers for a game winning hail mary, but there’s no way it works twice in one season.

Earlier, the New England Patriots defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 27-20 as Tom Brady took advantage of his fit again receivers Rob Gronkowski (83 yards, 2 TDs) and Julian Edelman (100yards), and rushed for a touchdown of his own. They would score a touchdown and take a 17-13 lead in that drive.

How is it that Aaron Rodgers can scramble with the season about to end, turn to the most awkward throwing position he could and heave a touchdown pass half the length of a football field? “I think he was trying to avoid the embarrassment of what happened – flip it quickly”. “He’s got a lot of raw ability and he made some huge, huge plays tonight”.

“That may be one of the great throws ever made!”

“My damn jaw was on the ground”.

On the season, Aaron Rodgers completed 60.7 percent of his passes for 3,821 yards and 31 touchdowns against eight interceptions. “We’ll have to go back and look at it. I’m sure with pressure on the quarterback that coverage softened up a bit, but I don’t know for sure”.

– Coach Mike McCarthy said he was thoroughly impressed with the way receivers Jeff Janis and Jared Abbrederis stepped up in the wake of losing Cobb and also playing without injured fellow receiver Davante Adams (knee). “We didn’t play well”. We’re about to find out. The Packers lost S Micah Hyde to a hip injury in the third quarter. Just days from considering retirement, the 35-year old pass rusher instead compiled eight sacks in just 11 games for Arizona.

Packers RB Eddie Lacy breaks a tackle to pick up 62 yards on the rush against the Arizona Cardinals Saturday night.