Aaron Rodgers threw another regulation-ending Hail Mary on Saturday night, but the Green Bay Packers did not win. Instead, Rodgers’ 41-yard heave to Jeff Janis sent the game into overtime once Mason Crosby converted an extra point.
Unfortunately for the Packers, Rodgers’ second Hail Mary touchdown at the end of a game will not be remembered, nor will a 4th & 20 conversion to Janis that led to the Hail Mary opportunity. Larry Fitzgerald’s 75-yard catch and run to start off overtime, followed by his 5-yard game-winning touchdown off a shovel pass will be the plays that are remembered.
“Arizona made one more big play than we did,” Mike McCarthy told reporters after the team’s 26-20 loss in overtime.
They sure did.
Green Bay lead 13-10 after controlling the majority of the second half, until a ricochet touchdown pass was made from Carson Palmer to Michael Floyd with 3:44 remaining in the game. That play didn’t even end up being near the top of the most memorable plays, and it was ridiculous.
Throw in a crazy coin flip to start overtime, in which the referee Clete Blakeman re-flipped the coin because it “didn’t flip.” After the game, despite flipping the coin a second time, Rodgers said the referee didn’t allow him to call it the second time.
There’s obviously a lot to dissect from this game, including Mike McCarthy’s questionable challenge down the stretch, missed penalty calls, Randall Cobb’s injury, and much more. Give it up for Janis, who came into the game with 95 career receiving yards, caught seven passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Jared Abbrederis, the former Badgers standout, was big early on, reeling in four catches for 55 yards. More notably, despite the terrible coverage in overtime, the offensive line and defense showed up this time against the Cardinals.
But, if there’s anything to take away, it’s that Aaron Rodgers will be remembered for his heroics, down his top four receivers from the season’s beginning and still throwing for 261 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
And even though Rodgers was heroic, it still wasn’t enough.
Photo: Packers.com