The Arizona Cardinals playoff hopes may have ended a few months ago, but that doesn’t mean there is a reason to not reminisce over the good times.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!With the calendar flipping to the 16th of January, today is a day eight years ago that is has significant meaning in the history of the Cardinals.
Jan. 16, 2016
Making the playoffs, Arizona finished the 2015 season with a record of 13-3, good for the second seed in the NFC.
After having an automatic bye week by clinching a top-two spot in the conference, the Cardinals had a date set with the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round.
The Cardinals were trailing 13-10 through three quarters with a pair of field goals from Packers kicker Mason Crosby and a touchdown from Jeff Janis for eight yards.
1/16/16 – After a bye, the Cardinals opened the playoffs with a 26-20 OT win over the Green Bay Packers which included two Aaron Rogers Hail Mary's. Larry Fitzgerald caught a 75yd pass in OT and then the 5yd game-winning TD – Carson Palmer's first career playoff win. #BirdGang pic.twitter.com/RlWi89GDyP
— Arizona Sports History (@AZSportsHistory) January 16, 2024
It took former Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer until 3:44 left in the fourth quarter to target a receiver and score.
Michael Floyd caught a 9-yard pass from Palmer to lift the roof off of then-University of Phoenix Stadium, giving Arizona a 17-13 lead.
With already one field goal earlier, Chandler Catanzaro converted on another with 1:55 remaining in the game.
Desperate Times = Desperate Measures
Down 20-13, the Packers needed some late-game heroics with their season on the line.
Stepping back, Aaron Rodgers launched a Hail Mary with no time left on the clock.
The ball was soaring up in the air as one misstep would crush the Packers.
Then, Janis was able capture the ball from 41 yards and score, tying the game for Green Bay 20-20.
Immediately after, the Cards’ fans were in disbelief as that last ditch effort by Rodgers and the Packers worked.
Not over yet, Arizona would win the eventual coin toss for overtime, giving them possession and the opportunity for something special.
Fitz-Magic
In only three plays, the Cardinals sent the Packers home 1:05 into the extra quarter.
Along with Ex Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, Palmer constructed the perfect plan involving Larry Fitzgerald.
Evading a potential sack, Palmer threw to Fitzgerald before Arizona’s iconic receiver cut left to right, found a pocket of space through Green Bay’s defense, stiff armed a couple Packers and ran for a 75-yard reception. Fitzgerald finished the drive with a 5-yard touchdown for a 26-20 Arizona victory.
Known as one of the most famous catches in Cardinals history, it still is memorable to this day despite the current state of where the franchise is at today.
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Alec Cipollini is a reporter of the Arizona Coyotes and Cardinals for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account @AlecCipollini
