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SPORTS A21
Monday 18 January 2016
NFL Playoff Roundup:
Cardinals beat Packers in OT, Patriots also advance
GLENDALE, Arizona (AP) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) scores the game-winning touchdown against down passes and reached
— Arizona’s Larry Fitzger- the Green Bay Packers during overtime of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. over the goal line for an-
ald ran in for the winning 16, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 26-20 in overtime. other score to lead the Pa-
touchdown in overtime to triots into the AFC champi-
give the Cardinals a 26-20 (Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic via AP) onship game.
victory over Green Bay on It’s the fifth straight trip to
Sunday, capping an ex- the conversion sent the tossed short to Fitzgerald, ability of Green Bay’s two the conference title game
traordinary finish to an NFL game to overtime. who had an open path to main receivers — on that for the defending Super
playoff game that will be Arizona had every right to the winning touchdown. final drive impressed even Bowl champions.
remembered as one of the feel deflated, but came Fitzgerald caught eight their opponents. The Patriots will meet the
classics. up with the victory on the passes for 176 yards. “That’s Aaron Rodgers,” winner of Sunday’s game
The Cardinals advanced first drive of overtime. Car- “As an elder statesman on Arizona linebacker Kevin between Pittsburgh and
to the NFC championship dinals quarterback Carson this team I just try to elevate Minter said. “It was No. 83 Denver for a spot in Super
game against the winner Palmer spun away from my game and make plays (Janis). Man, he made a Bowl 50 as they try to be-
of Sunday’s clash between pressure and made a cross- for my teammates,” he play, didn’t he? It looked come the first repeat NFL
Carolina and Seattle, while field pass to a wide open said. like they batted it down champs since they did it in
New England booked its Fitzgerald, and he eluded It was a brave effort by the and he just made a great 2003-04.
place in the AFC decider a series of tackles before Packers just to force over- play. My jaw was on the After spending the last two
with a 27-20 victory over being brought down just time, and the performance ground.” weeks recovering from
Kansas City. The Patriots short of the end zone for a of Rodgers and the unher- New England quarter- knee and back injuries,
will play either Pittsburgh or 75-yard gain. alded Janis — forced to back Tom Brady hit Rob Gronkowski had touch-
Denver. Two plays later, Palmer step up due to the unavail- Gronkowski with two touch- down catches from 8 and
As close as the Patriots vic- 16 yards. The tight end had
tory over the Chiefs was, it seven receptions for 82
was outdone for drama by yards.
the remarkable finish in Ari- After spending the last two
zona. weeks recovering from
Green Bay forced over- knee and back injuries,
time in scarcely believable Gronkowski caught seven
fashion. On fourth down passes for 83 yards, includ-
and 20 at their own 4-yard ing touchdowns from 8
line, with no time outs left, and 16 yards out.
and in the final minute of Gronkowski also recovered
regulation time, the Pack- an onside kick after Kansas
ers looked finished, but City cut the deficit to 27-20
quarterback Aaron Rodg- with just over one minute
ers found Jeff Janis for a left.
60-yard reception to keep Julian Edelman returned
the game alive. from a broken foot to
Then with time expiring, an catch 10 passes for 100
off-balance Rodgers sent yards for New England,
a speculative 41-yard ‘Hail which had been below its
Mary’ pass into the crowd- best in the closing weeks
ed end zone, where it was of the regular season but
Janis again who took the again showed its playoff
catch to make it 20-19 and pedigree.q
