Larry Fitzgerald takes the Arizona Cardinals home in OT against Packers
Not bad for an old man, huh?
Larry Fitzgerald is in his 12th season at wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals. But he had plenty of energy in overtime Saturday, running 75 yards with a catch to set up his own 5-yard touchdown reception to beat the Green Bay Packers 26-20 in an NFC divisional round game.
The Cardinals will either travel to Charlotte to play the top-seeded Carolina Panthers in the NFC championship game or host the Seattle Seahawks. The Panthers host the Seahawks Sunday at 1 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium.
Fitzgerald finished this game with eight catches for 176 yards.
The Cardinals seemingly had this game won in regulation when Michael Floyd caught a deflected touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Carson Palmer’s pass was intended for Fitzgerald, but richocheted into the hands of Floyd.
But Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers made two miraculous throws to wide receiver Jeff Janis that together covered the length of the field to force overtime. Janis hauled in a 41-yard catch at the end of the fourth quarter and the ensuing extra point forced overtime.
Palmer threw across the field in the one drive of overtime, finding Fitzgerald all alone in the flat. Fitzgerald broke two tackles on his way to the 5-yard line. Two plays later he hauled in Palmer’s shovel pass and crossed the goal line for the game-winner.
Three who mattered
Rodgers: With so many of Green Bay’s skill-position players hurt, his scrambling was essential to keeping the Packers viable to win this game.
Fitzgerald: He kept moving the sticks with catch after catch.
Damarious Randall: His fourth-quarter interception in the end zone temporarily held off the Cardinals taking back the lead.
Observations
▪ It’s been quite a week for University of Phoenix Stadium. Monday night Clemson and Alabama played there for the national championship. Then Saturday night Cardinals-Packers.
▪ Floyd’s touchdown catch in the first quarter was exceptionally athletic. The ball was high so he had to stretch for it, then get down two feet in the very back corner of the end zone.
▪ That was an absurdly fortunate roll Arizona punter Drew Butler got in the first quarter, with the ball bouncing out of bounds at the 5.
▪ Rodgers started out completing one of four passes, but he was burned by a drop by Randall Cobb and an illegal shift that negated a long completion.
▪ Former Carolina Panther Julius Peppers had an “I still got it” sack of Palmer in the second quarter.
Worth mentioning
▪ The Packers lost Cobb for the second half with a chest injury.
▪ These two teams combined for just 67 rushing yards in the first half.
▪ Green Bay safety Micah Hyde was knocked out of the game with a hip injury.
Rick Bonnell: 704-358-5129, @rick_bonnell
Green Bay | 0 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 0 | — | 20 |
Arizona | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 6 | — | 26 |
First Quarter
Ari—Floyd 8 pass from Palmer (Catanzaro kick), 6:48.
Second Quarter
GB—FG Crosby 28, 11:22.
GB—FG Crosby 34, :57.
Third Quarter
GB—Janis 8 pass from A.Rodgers (Crosby kick), 10:17.
Ari—FG Catanzaro 28, 5:05.
Fourth Quarter
Ari—Floyd 9 pass from Palmer (Catanzaro kick), 3:44.
Ari—FG Catanzaro 36, 1:55.
GB—Janis 41 pass from A.Rodgers (Crosby kick), :00.
Overtime
Ari—Fitzgerald 5 pass from Palmer, 13:55.
A—65,089.
GB | Ari | |
First downs | 18 | 20 |
Total Net Yards | 386 | 368 |
Rushes-yards | 22-135 | 19-40 |
Passing | 251 | 328 |
Punt Returns | 1-0 | 1-12 |
Kickoff Returns | 3-77 | 2-37 |
Interceptions Ret. | 2-0 | 1-1 |
Comp-Att-Int | 24-44-1 | 25-41-2 |
Sacked-Yards Lost | 1-10 | 3-21 |
Punts | 4-35.8 | 3-49.0 |
Fumbles-Lost | 0-0 | 1-0 |
Penalties-Yards | 8-55 | 3-26 |
Time of Possession | 30:14 | 30:51 |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Green Bay, Lacy 12-89, Starks 7-23, A.Rodgers 2-21, Kuhn 1-2. Arizona, D.Johnson 15-35, Ellington 3-3, Jo.Brown 1-2.
PASSING—Green Bay, A.Rodgers 24-44-1-261. Arizona, Palmer 25-41-2-349.
RECEIVING—Green Bay, Janis 7-145, R.Rodgers 5-45, Abbrederis 4-55, Starks 4-4, Kuhn 2-10, Lacy 2-2. Arizona, Fitzgerald 8-176, D.Johnson 6-43, Jo.Brown 5-82, Floyd 3-26, Fells 2-14, Nelson 1-8.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.
This story was originally published January 16, 2016 at 11:56 PM with the headline "Larry Fitzgerald takes the Arizona Cardinals home in OT against Packers."