Cardinals knock off Packers 26-20 in NFC playoffs

Fitzgerald’s performance Saturday, with the Cardinals seemingly searching for ways to lose at times, was a refreshing reminder of that.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) celebrates after scoring the winning touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during overtime in a NFC Divisional round playoff game at University of Phoenix Stadium.

“Losing in that fashion, especially with the offense pulling that out, another ‘Hail Mary, ‘ is unbelievable”, Packers linebacker Clay Matthews said.

Unlike the Lions, though, Arizona had the opportunity to bounce back and they did so superbly in OT, with Carson Palmer completing this pass to legendary receiver Larry Fitzgerald that set up the game winning touchdown for Fitzgerald moments later.

Fitzgerald then scored on a 5-yard shovel pass to send the Cardinals to a 26-20 win over the Packers in the NFC divisional playoffs Saturday night. The 6-foot-3 Janis outjumped defenders Patrick Peterson and Rashad Johnson for the ball.

However, following an overtime coin toss done twice after the coin failed to flip first time around, Fitzgerald secured a dramatic victory for Arizona.

Two plays later, Palmer tossed short to Fitzgerald, who had an open path.

The Cardinals (14-3), the No. 2 seed in the NFC West, will play the victor of the Seattle-Carolina game Sunday for the NFC title and a spot in the Super Bowl.

Cobb was injured on a free play where he made one of the best catches of the season. After Catanzaro made the extra point, the Cardinals lead 17-13.

Aaron Rodgers threw a flat footed hail mary pass falling to his left with Markus Golden bearing down on him.

If you went to bed early Saturday night, you missed one of the wildest finishes to an National Football League playoff game ever, an instant classic that kept topping itself with outrageous plays.

You have to hand it to Cardinals coach Bruce Arians-he doesn’t shy away from who he is.

Arizona, a couple minutes later, looked to have the game in the bag, up 20-13 with 53 seconds left and Green Bay facing a 4th-and-20 from its own 4-yard line. Two plays later, Fitz was in the end zone for the game victor.

On the touchdown, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said afterward the Cardinals defence smartly had figured out that Rodgers preferred rolling out right when under duress, and set their defence accordingly. Antonio Brown, unfortunately, will not play for the Steelers Sunday, but that still puts Fitzgerald ahead of Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Martavis Bryant, Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, Julian Edelman, even tight end Rob Gronkowski. Cardinals lead the Packers 7-6 at halftime. An incomplete throw from Carson Palmer stopped the clock, and when Arizona ultimately settled for a field goal, Aaron Rodgers had enough time left for a potential game-tying drive. The ending of the last two seasons has felt particularly cruel. “Just waiting for my opportunity and lo-and-behold, the second round of the playoffs you get your number called on a shovel”. Rodgers found Randall Cobb for a 51-yard gain late in the first quarter but it was wiped off because of an illegal shift on tackle Bryan Bulaga (to add injury to insult, Cobb hurt his chest on the reception and never returned).

– Sure, the Cardinals could have run the ball on second down, right before the two-minute warning and their final field goal.

Left for dead after that 38-8 loss on December 27, the Packers rebooted and came back with the best team and the best effort they could.