A defensive play gave the Arizona Cardinals the historic victory over the Green Bay Packers with a score of 51-45 in overtime. This was the defensive play that has defined one of the most spectacular offensive duels in the history of the NFL playoffs in the final game of the wild card round. The defending NFC Champs, The Cardinals, earned their victory along with the record of the highest combined score in the history of play offs: 96 points. The previous high score combined in the playoffs record was 95 points when the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Lions 58-37 in Detroit on December 30th, 1995.

The defining play occurred in overtime wherein cornerback Michael Adams knocked the ball loose from Packer’s quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the blitz. Cardinal Linebacker Karlos Dansby caught the loose ball in the air and ran it back 17 yards for the final touchdown and ending the highest scoring game in finals.

The match was a real battle between two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, Kurt Warner with 5 touchdowns for the Cardinals, and Aaron Rodgers, who had four touchdowns for the Packers.

Arizona opened the game with a 17-0 advantage in the first quarter. In the first offensive play of the game, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was intercepted by Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and seven plays later, Tim Hightower scored on a one-yard touchdown for the Cardinals, to put the score 7-0. In its second offense, the Packers again lost the ball when Donald Driver fumbled and Alan Branch recovered it on Green Bay’s 22-yard line. Two plays later, Early Doucet scored a touchdown on a 15-yard pass by Warner, setting the score 14-0. Later, in the final 34 seconds of the first quarter, Neil Rackers scored a 23 yard field goal to end the period 17-0.

Starting the second quarter, Aaron Rodgers scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak bringing the score to 17-7. But then, Doucet scored his second touchdown of the day with a 15-yard pass from Dominique Rodgers, and Mason Crosby hit a 20 yard field goal for the final play of the first half so the Cardinals could enjoy the locker room with an advantage of 24-10.

In the third quarter, Warner hit a 33-yard pass to Larry Fitzgerald to put the score at 31-10. However, Green Bay earned two more touchdowns on assists by Rodgers in a 6 and a 10-yards pass to Greg Jennings, who made a spectacular catch, and then to Jordy Nelson, respectively; setting the scoreboard at 31-24. Nevertheless at the end of the quarter, Fitzgerald returned to reach the end zone thanks to a delivery of 11 yards of Kurt Warner, which closed the period 38-24, in favor of Arizona.

Starting the fourth quarter, Packers’ James Jones scored immediately with a 30-yard pass from Rodgers, to set the score 31-38. Then, after forcing Arizona to clear the ovoid in four plays, Green Bay managed to tie 38-38 with a one yard run by John Kuhn. But then the locals responded with an 11-play attack to travel 80 yards and recover their lead with the fifth pass touchdown by Warner in a 17 yard- delivery to Steve Breaston.

Wait, the game was not over yet, although tied again at 45-45, after an 11-yard pass from Packers quarterback Rodgers to Spencer Havner.

Arizona could have won in their last offensive of the fourth quarter with 1:46 left as Warner took his team to his own 21-yard to the 16-yard of Green Bay. But with 14 seconds left, Neil Rackers missed a field goal attempt from 34 yards, which then forced them to go into overtime.

Green Bay won the coin toss, but after four plays including a holding punishment against the Packers, Michael Adams hit Rogers causing a decisive fumble. Karlos Darnsby recovered the loose ball and then ran the infamous 17-yard winning touchdown.

At the end of the match, Cardinals quarterback, Kurt Warner, who improved his postseason record to 9-3, completed 29 of 33 pass attempts for 379 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions. On the other hand, Aaron Rodgers completed 28 of 42 pass attempts for 422 yards and four touchdowns.

Now with this triumph, the reigning NFC Champions, the Arizona Cardinals will face the Divisional Playoffs against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on Saturday January 16th.

About the Author

Ally White has been a prominent writer on daily NFL Football Season reviews, sports news and sports betting industry updates for many exceptional sports web sites. You may reprint this article in its full content, please note no modifications to it are accepted.