On This Date in Sports January 10, 2010: Desert Shootout
In the highest-scoring game in NFL postseason history, the Arizona Cardinals stun the Green Bay Packers 51-45 in sudden death overtime. The Packers spent the entire game trying to come from behind as they fell behind 17-0 in the first quarter and trailed 31-10 in the third. With all the momentum, the Packers won the overtime coin toss, but on the third play from scrimmage, Aaron Rodgers fumbled, allowing Karlos Dansby to take the ball and score the winning touchdown.
Just two years after the departure of Brett Favre, the Green Bay Packers were back in the playoffs as Aaron Rodgers was starting to prove himself every bit as worthy as the Hall of Famer. In his second year as a starter, Rodgers was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career, passing for 4,434 yards with 30 touchdowns as Green Bay made the postseason as a Wild Card with a record of 11-5.
Aaron Rodgers’ first postseason pass was intercepted by Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, setting Arizona up to take the early lead as Tim Hightower scored from the one. The Packers’ second possession also ended in a turnover as Karlos Dansby stripped Donald Driver at the 30. Two plays later, the Cardinals had a 14-0 lead on a 15-yard pass from Warner to Early Doucet. The Cardinals then added a 23-yard field goal from Neil Rackers to build a 17-0 lead in the first quarter. The Packers were able to drive into Cardinals territory at the start of the second quarter but continued to go sideways as Mason Crosby missed a 54-yard field goal attempt. Just as it seemed Arizona was poised to turn out the lights on Green Bay, Clay Matthews Jr. made a big play, forcing a fumble by Larry Fitzgerald. The Packers took full advantage and went on a 48-yard drive that ended with a one-yard sneak by Rodgers into the end zone. The Cardinals, however, answered right away as Warner connected with Doucet again, this time for 15 yards. The Packers would add a Crosby field goal by trailing 24-10 at the end of the half.
The Cardinals, looking to keep their foot on the Packers' throat, started the third quarter with the ball and marched down the field with Kurt Warner completing his third touchdown pass of the game for 33 yards to Larry Fitzgerald to stretch the lead to 31-10 at University of Phoenix Stadium. Green Bay began to play like a desperate team down three touchdowns, as Aaron Rodgers led a successful 80-yard drive that ended with a six-yard touchdown reception by Greg Jennings. Looking to flip the game’s momentum, the Packers completed a surprise on-side kick and got the ball right back. Rodgers would parlay the extra possession into seven, as he connected with Jordy Nelson from the 11 to slash the Cardinals, lead to 31-24. By now, the game was taking on the makings of a classic quarterback shootout as Kurt Warner answered again with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Fitzgerald.
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Tied 45-45 at the end of regulation, the coin toss seemed crucial as both offenses were burning up the field in Arizona. Kurt Warner completed 29 of 33 passes for 379 yards, scoring five touchdowns, while Aaron Rodgers overcame a rough first quarter to pass for 423 yards with four scores. The Packers would win the toss, putting Arizona on edge as they started the sudden death overtime with the ball on their own 20. On the second play, the Packers had a 14-yard play wiped out on a holding call. After getting some yards back, Rodgers stepped back on third-and-six from the 24 and needed to get to the 30 to continue the drive. Instead, he was stripped by Michael Adams at the 17, with the ball landing in the arms of Karlos Dansby, who would run it in for a touchdown to win the game 51-45.
The Cardinals’ hopes for a second straight Super Bowl ended a week later, with a 45-14 loss to the eventual champion New Orleans Saints. The Packers, meanwhile, would recover and win the Super Bowl XLV a year then.