Hail Larry trumps Hail Mary as Cardinals beat Packers in overtime

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) looks for a pass interference call against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz.

Rodgers, who went 24 for 44 for 261 yards that included an earlier eight-yard touchdown throw to Janis, failed on a fourth-down pass and the Packers surrendered the ball deep in their own territory, setting up a Cardinals field goal that produced a 20-13 lead and set the stage for the closing spectacle. It’s the first time all season that Fitzgerald had his number called on that play. After the Packers picked “tails”, the first coin toss was called off because the coin never flipped in the air. Rodgers and the rest of the puzzled Packers said they wanted tails again, and this time, it was heads, landing in Arizona’s favor.

“It was just tossed in the air and did not turn over at all and landed on the ground”, he said. Obviously it didn’t end with a win, but Rodgers can’t play defense or control coin flips unfortunately-thanks asinine National Football League overtime rules.

Fitzgerald appeared just as at ease when he caught the ball from Palmer in overtime and then took off. As everything turned into a jumble on Saturday, Aaron Rodgers and Larry Fitzgerald made the game slow down.

And, as time expired, Rodgers forced overtime in incredible fashion, again escaping the Arizona pass rush and heaving a “Hail Mary” pass into the end zone for Janis to make a leaping grab, with the extra point tying the game up at 20-20.

Janis leaped between Arizona’s Patrick Peterson and Rashad Johnson to pull down the pass, injuring himself on the play but holding onto the ball by pinning it to his hip. Sure, but the odds they face Sunday aren’t as insurmountable as many think they are and especially not as insurmountable as the Packers faced Saturday night in Arizona. The Cardinals defense buckled down and the Packers suffered a missed opportunity as they had to punt the ball back after only picking up one first down.

Injuries played a big part in the troubles that the Green Bay Packers had this season, and after their hot start, things just began to fall apart.

Janis hadn’t had a TD catch in his career until he had two Saturday night. Did he regret it?

“Probably caused a big traffic jam”, Arians said. “I never regret a call…. On the first play of overtime, Palmer rolled to his right, then threw across his body and across the field to Fitzgerald, who was alone on the left side.

Two plays later, Fitzgerald clinched the win with a five-yard touchdown reception on a shovel pass from Palmer. He scored on a 9 yard touchdown pass from Carson Palmer, and just like that the Cardinals had the lead late in 4th quarter up 17-13.

With the Cardinals off to the NFC Championship Game, McCarthy was left to deal with an overtime elimination from the postseason for the second straight season. My eyes lit up in the huddle.” The stadium rocked with chants of “Lar-ry! Depending on Seahawks-Panthers, the NFC Championship will either be in Carolina or Arizona. The Cardinals would have won either toss. Starting from the Packers’ 42-yard line following a 37-yard kick, Palmer and Arizona’s top-ranked offense deked and dunked their way toward the end zone with Palmer capping the 11-play drive on an 8-yard pass to Floyd in the corner of the end zone.

In the second quarter, Peterson’s 100-yard interception return was negated by a penalty.