Cardinals outscore Packers in overtime shootout
Jonathon Smith
The Cardinals have been in cruise control for most of the season. With the rest of the NFC West struggling, the Cardinals were virtually assured a playoff spot as NFC West Champions.
The Green Bay Packers, on the other hand, had to win seven of their final eight games just to advance into the postseason. A team on the bubble the entire year, the Packers were hoping to float a little bit higher after the game at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals managed to pop their bubble though.
In one of the greatest offensive battles in NFL history, nobody excpected defense to win the game. When the Packers won the coin toss in overtime, the Cardinal’s fate was all but sealed.
The Cardinals gave up 35 points in the second half, and struggled to find anything that worked on defense.
Aaron Rodgers had his way with the Cardinals secondary, and on the first play of overtime, he threw deep to a wide open Greg Jennings. Fortunately for the Cardinals, the ball was overthrown.
Just two plays later, Michael Adams made up for his lack of consistency throughout the game by making the game winning sack on Rodgers. Rodgers fumbled the ball, Karlos Dansby scooped it up and ran into the end-zone for the game winning touchdown.
No one saw it coming. Surely a game which featured 90 points in regulation, only two punts, and over a 1000 yards of total offense couldn’t end like that. Right? Well it did, and the Arizona Cardinals advance to the divisional round of the playoffs for the second year in a row.
The game set all kinds of offensive records. It was the most points scored in a playoff game. Warner had the highest ever quarterback rating in a playoff game (154.1).
Larry Fitzgerald recored his ninth touchdown reception in just five postseason games, becoming the quickest ever to reach the mark. There were 13 total touchdowns, again the most ever in a playoff game.
“Beanie” Wells had a huge game for the Cardinals, gaining 91 yards on just 14 carries. His run of 41 yards in the second half set up an important touchdown that helped to slow the bleeding after the Packers trimmed a 31-10 halftime lead to just seven points.
Despite the victory, the Cardinals have some holes to fix, primarily in the secondary on defense.
It was dissapointing for a defense that sent three players to the Pro Bowl (Darnell Dockett, Adrian Wilson, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie) to collapse in the second half after coming out so strong in the first half.
The game was entertaining to say the least, but one the Cardinals almost let slip away. The defense is going to have to play much better next week against the Saints or it could be an early exit out of the playoffs for the defending NFC champions.
