Monday 11 January 2010

Spectacular, Spectacular, End to Wild-Card Weekend

The American Football wildcard weekend was looking like producing a number of lopsided results.

First up the New York Jets picked up a 10 point lead they never looked like surrendering winning 24-14. Then later on Saturday the Dallas Cowboys picked up where they left off from the week before and again trounced divisional rivals the Philadelphia Eagles 34 -14. Sunday afternoon saw Baltimore Ravens put another nail in the coffin of the recently proud New England Patriots as not even Tom Brady could step up to prevent a 33-14 drubbing.

However, the last game of the weekend turned into an epic. The highest scoring postseason NFL game on record. Pushing the game to overtime. But it didn't always look like this game too would not just end up a one-sided battle. The Green Bay Packers were trailing 24-10 at the half and seemed incapable of stopping Arizona Cardinals QB Kurt Warner and his offence. The fact that Arizona first punted the ball away in the 48th minute shows how with one exception until then, a fumble, they had got to the end zone apart from one field goal.

Green Bay had to come out in the second half to mix things up a little. This they did with an early onside kick in the third quarter, after they scored their touchdown, going for the onside kick. It caught the Cards napping. However it was one of the five consecutive plays started in the 3rd that ended in TDs.

The punt early in the 4th by the Cards lead to a three play 56 second drive to a Packers tying TD at 38-38, but with 10:57 remaining on the game clock there was still plenty of action to come. Both sides exchanged another TD to bring it to 3:03 remaining and 45-45.

The Cardinals had to start on their own 20 after the kick off, but moved the ball and the chains to within field goal range. Getting to the Green Bay 16 yard line, before using their last timeout to stop the clock with 9 seconds remaining. However, Rackers pushed his 34 yard attempt wide left. So overtime beckoned.

Arizona however had to kick off, giving the ball to the Green Bay offence. However, on 3 and six of the first possession they was a sack on the quarterback and the subsequent fumble was recovered by Arizona's Danesby and run in to the end zone for the winning score. A spectacular way to end a spectacular game.

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