Whisenhunt, Warner Win Wild Wildcard

It took 96 points and an extra session, but the Arizona Cardinals advanced to the NFC divisional round of the playoffs. The Cardinals bested the Green Bay Packers 51-45 in overtime on linebacker, Karlos Dansby’s 17 yard fumble recovery for a touchdown. The ball bounced of the foot of Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers and fell into Dansby’s hands to send the reigning NFC champions home winners of the highest scoring playoff game ever. The previous high for combined points in a post-season game was 95 in Philadelphia’s win over Detroit fifteen years ago. Green Bay rallied from a 21 point deficit in the second half to tie the game twice. Arizona kicker, Neil Rackers, missed a 34 yard field goal at the end of regulation to send the game into overtime. The Cardinals, who received criticism for falling to the Packers 33-7 a week ago, looked impressive on offense. Arizona was embarrassed in their own building by this same Packers team earlier in the season. They attained and conquered vengeance in an awesome way. It was an emotional quest, however. Both team defensives exhibited dismal tackling and lackadaisical deep coverage. Ironically, it was the defense that won the game for the Cardinals.
The 11-6 Cardinals got on board early and often in their home dome. Packers’ quarterback Rodgers was picked off on his first playoff drive. Cornerback, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie intercepted a poorly thrown pass at the Packers’ 21 yard on the game’s first play. Kurt Warner’s handoff to running back, Tim Hightower put the Cardinals up by seven points three minutes into the contest. Warner, the veteran Arizona signal caller, had more touchdown passes than incompletions. His passer rating was close to perfect in the win. Warner’s offense got the ball back following a Donald Driver fumble on Green Bay’s ensuing possession. Former Ohio State rusher, Beanie Wells, displayed his Buckeye best legs with a seven yard scamper to set up Warner’s 15 yard touchdown pass to Early Doucet. The rookie receiver finished Sunday with 77 yards and a pair of scores. Rackers’ 34 yard boot through the uprights with 34 seconds remaining in the first quarter padded Arizona’s lead to 17-0.
Rodgers plodded into the end zone from one yard to complete a 6 play drive and tally the first Green Bay touchdown in the second quarter. Warner and the potent Arizona offense responded with an 8 play, 79 yard drive to again extend the home lead to 17 points. Doucet hauled in his second touchdown, another 15-yard reception. Warner’s 379 yards were topped by Rodgers’ 422 through the air. The Green Bay quarterback completed 28 of 42 passes and tossed four touchdowns in the defeat. He also set a team record for post-season yards. The former California Bear was pressured up front and his offensive line was a detriment in the first half. The Packers settled for Mason Crosby’s 20 yard field goal as time expired in the first half to cut the deficit to 24-10. The Cardinals scored touchdowns on six of ten offensive possessions. It seemed like they never punted. Arizona came out of the locker room to start the third quarter on the right foot—the one in the end zone. Standout receiver, Larry Fitzgerald, caught a 33 yard pass and plowed into the end zone untouched for a 31-10 Cardinals edge.
Jermichael Finley, the fierce Texas tight end, led the Packers with 159 yards on 6 catches. He looked virtually unstopple as Rodgers’ favorite target. Finley didn’t reach the end zone, but helped establish the offense and set the tone in the second half. Greg Jennings’ six yard grab from Rodgers was followed by Jordy Nelson’s 10 yard touchdown to give Green Bay back-to-back scores within three minutes of each other in the third quarter. Fitzgerald caught his second touchdown to complete the 28 combined point third. The receiver’s 11 yard reception came after a Wells outburst of 42 yards. The Packers gambled successfully on a fourth-and-five at the Arizona 30 yard line to begin the final quarter. James Jones’ 30 yard swipe cut Arizona’s lead to one touchdown. The second best defense in the league finally stepped up to shut down Warner on the ensuing kickoff, and the Packers took advantage of good field possession. Rodgers found Finley for 38 yards in addition to Driver’s 28 to set up a one yard game-tying touchdown by John Kuhn. Thirty-eight year old Warner maneuvered and mastered a five minute drive as the Cardinals reclaimed the lead on Steve Breaston’s 17 yard touchdown catch. The see-saw fourth quarter continued. Rodgers pegged Spencer Hevner immediately after the two minute warning to tie the score at 45. With plenty of time on the clock, Warner deftly moved the Cardinals into field goal range. Rackers’ 34 yard kick attempt missed to the left, leaving a stunned Arizona crowd disappointed. It was more unsettling when Green Bay was awarded the coin toss to begin overtime. The visitors entered overtime scoring on their seven previous possessions. Green Bay was roasting the Redbird defense. The Packers were poised to escape the desert with a wildcard win when Arizona’s defense woke up. The defense that yielded 301 yards in the second half and allowed the Packers to post 35 points made the game’s biggest play. Rodgers’ shotgun snap on third down somehow landed in Dansby’s hands, and the linebacker carried the ball the other way for the six point victory. The Cardinals will play Saturday at the New Orleans Saints. It will be hard to top one of the more memorable and exhilarating playoff games ever played. That’s just what last night was in Glendale.

Parting Points: Kansas goes down for the first time and Texas takes over the number one spot in college basketball.

Pete Carroll is off to Seattle, which is only slightly more surprising than Mark McGwire admitting to a decade-long steroid use.

Song of the day- “How to Save a Life” by the Frey