Aaron Rodgers and the Packers had no chance at all to win the game. It turned into a bad break; the ball went right to Floyd for a 9-yard score that put the Cardinals up four.
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The 32-year-old Fitzgerald, who had eight catches for 176 yards, left to chants of “Larry!”
The Cardinals took advantage of a poor punt from Green Bay’s Tim Masthay to grab the early lead. On the first play, no one was covering Fitzgerald, who caught and ran through defenders to the 5-yard line. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws for a touchdown with no time on the clock against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, in…
Rodgers, in a play reminiscent of his final-play heave against Detroit this season, took the snap with 5 seconds to go in regulation, scrambled around and heaved it 41 yards to the end zone. If the Cardinals had run the ball on that down, instead of throwing it, it’s likely the Packers wouldn’t have had time to throw that final pass.
These two teams last met in the postseason back in 2009 where Arizona won 51-45 in a thrilling overtime game.
Two plays later, Palmer flipped a shovel pass to Fitzgerald, who streaked from the left and bulled his way into the end zone.
The Packers, already without wide receiver Davonte Adams, lost Randall Cobb in the first quarter to a chest injury.
With 55 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, Green Bay was pushed back into a fourth-and-20 situation at its 4-yard line when Rodgers scrambled and threw 60 yards to Janis at the 36. That game will either be indicative of their flaws or a dose of humility that will have them ready to go against the Packers.
Janis, who caught seven passes for 145 yards after having just two receptions all year, was hurt on his big catch and was helped out of the end zone.
The Arizona Cardinals (13-3) have the rest they needed to prepare for this game.
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Palmer threw for 349 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions on 25-of-41 passing. Starting from the Packers’ 42-yard line following a 37-yard kick, Palmer and Arizona’s top-ranked offense deked and dunked their way toward the end zone, with Palmer capping the 11-play drive on an 8-yard pass to Michael Floyd in the corner of the end zone.
