Packers coach Mike McCarthy left no doubt about where the teams no-time-left win in Detroit stands for him.
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With that, the Packers won 27-23 and essentially ended any chance the Lions had of sneaking into the playoffs. “Those are the ones that eat at you”. The resilient Packers added a different slogan to one of the most spectacular wins in their 97-year history: Scat Two Rebound Pass. “It is never over in this league”.
“It’s tough to swallow”, Detroit receiver Golden Tate said.
A turning point in the game was the Packers scoring back-to-back touchdowns within 2 minutes in the third quarter, benefiting from two fumbles. But Stafford completed a 29-yard pass to wide receiver TJ Jones on third-and-12 to extend Detroit’s next possession.
To most of us, the Green Bay Packers final play in their 27-23 come-from-behind win over the Detroit Lions is referred to as a “Hail Mary”. It gave the Packers one more play with no-time on the clock.
Welcome to another edition of Highlight of the Week, where we feature videos of heart-stopping sports plays, such as last week’s CFL game-winning touchdown.
It was the kind of play that has been mentioned in the same breath as The Play-especially given the fact that Richard Rodgers II not only went to Cal, but is the son of Richard Rodgers (I), who was actually involved in The Play-having touched the ball twice in the tangled mix of laterals that defeated Stanford in 1982.
Western Michigan’s band performed at halftime of the Packers-Lions game, but it wasn’t on the field at the end of the heart-pounding finish at Ford Field. Richard Rodgers, the eventual recipient of the pass, is at the five yard line and drifting back towards the front of the end zone. “It’s got to come down in the area of a guy to go up and get it or if he can’t get it, you can’t out-jump the team and go out and get the ball, you have players hopefully in the end zone so that if it’s tipped they have a chance to catch it before it hits the ground”.
“I think he’s got me”, the elder Rodgers said, per BlackAndBlueReview.com.
He has now much to Caldwell’s chagrin.
“No, we weren’t in the position to defend that”.
“It is the greatest game I have been part of except the Super Bowl”, said Aaron Rodgers, who released the ball from his own 35-yard line. The game had blowout potential, and the Lions really looked like they were going to run away with it. But they did not score another touchdown in the half, or in the game for that matter, according to The New York Times.
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It wasn’t a big enough cushion. The Packers defense held the Lions to only two field goals in the second half and finally started getting pressure on Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. Lost in the loss will be Johnson’s 17-yard TD catch in the first quarter in which he leaped the catch it with two hands, squeezed the ball with only his right hand as he planted his right foot and dragged his left on the side of the end zone.
