Cardinals edge Packers in OT thriller

But on that first play of overtime – which Fitzgerald turned into a 75-yard rumble to the Packers’ 5 – and the third play, the shovel-pass he caught for the winning touchdown, he reminded the world that he was not about to be overshadowed by anybody was still alive and kicking in the playoffs.

Already deemed one of the best playoff games in recent memory, the Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals just gave fans three-plus hours of gridiron insanity, as the two teams traded plays for the ages in their fight to advance to the NFC Championship Game.

“It’s tough. We’ve lost a few of these over the years where you don’t touch the ball in overtime”, said Rodgers, who never got the ball in extra time of last season’s NFC Championship Game, which abruptly ended with Russell Wilson’s touchdown pass to Jermaine Kearse. Jeff Janis, a second-year player from Saginaw Valley State, caught a pair of touchdown passes and might have been the hero of the game if not for Fitzgerald’s overtime dramatics. On that play, Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant had seemingly made a catch to set up first-and-goal at the Green Bay 1, but McCarthy successfully challenged the call and the 31-yard completion was overturned. In what will go down as one of the greatest games ever played, here are five takeaways from the 26-20 Cardinals thrilling overtime victory.

Randall made another good defensive play late in the fourth quarter, sticking his arm out to deflect a Palmer pass away from his receiver.

Instead of running the ball to run the clock down, Arizona threw incomplete on a shot play to Fitzgerald and with the Packers burning timeouts, Catanzaro hit a 36 yard field goal just inside the 2 minute warning to put the Cards up by 7. Peterson sprinted 100 yards down the home sideline, but the score was nullified by an illegal-use-of-the-hands call on Arizona’s Frostee Rucker. Alex Smith completed 29-of-50 passes for 246 yards and one touchdown. Palmer, in his first playoff victory (in three tries) was 25 of 41 yards for 349 yards and three scores with two interceptions.

Arizona will play the victor of today’s Seahawks-Panthers game.

After the game, Rodgers said he didn’t really know exactly who was in the end zone or where the ball would land when he threw it. This is probably an exaggeration.

Cobb, meanwhile, would leave game with a chest injury and he did not return.

Fitzgerald had 176 yards on eight receptions and the game-winning touchdown. The Cardinals would have won either toss.

Reid said the problem occurred in the first half between the coaching staff and the radio in quarterback Alex Smith’s helmet. He should be back and ready to go when the Packers take the field next season.

Fitzgerald appeared just as at ease when he caught the ball from Carson Palmer in overtime and then took off. It was nearly as if he was faster in overtime than he had been for the entire 60 minutes before. Green Bay responded with two field goals.

Green Bay also lost backup cornerback Micah Hyde for the rest of the game because of a hip injury. Arizona was 5-0 in primetime games this season entering Saturday night’s game against Green Bay.