Cardinals' Karlos Dansby Finishes Packers' Season With OT Touchdown

by Undrafteds on Jan 10, 2010 11:17 PM MST

Karlos Dansby set the tone on the first play of the game by breaking up a pass that was intercepted and eventually converted into seven points, stripped veteran Donald Driver on the Packer's third play from scrimmage that was recovered by Alan Branch and also converted into seven points, and ended the contest with a fumble recovery for a touchdown in overtime to seal the deal 51-45 in a wild one.

Michael Adams, the 5'8" reserve defensive back who had been picked on repeatedly in coverage by Aaron Rodgers the past two weeks, initiated the game winning play by causing a fumble while sacking Rodgers.

The DB had been much maligned in games and in fan forums for being a hair late or an inch shy. Michael Adams kept bringing the heat and battled through a long string of near-misses. Several times in the contest he had been very close to making many plays and fell short.

On the final play of the game, his persistence and determination paid off in a big way—as he made the biggest play of his life and the game deciding play of one of the best playoff games in NFL history.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie intercepted Dansby's tipped pass on the first play of the game, but surprisingly lost yardage on the return and he slid to avoid contact or a potential fumble. It was a smart play since he had the awareness and vision to see he didn't have much running room, and he avoided the dreaded double turnover, but it also might given an indication that DRC is not completely healthy.

The best qb rating possible is 158.3. Kurt Warner produced a 154.1 rating by completing 29 of his 33 passes for a whopping 379 yards and 5 touchdowns without a turnover.

With Anquan Boldin being declared inactive for the contest, the entire receiving corps stepped up. Larry Fitzgerald did his usual damage with 2 TDs on 6 catches for 82 yards including a dramatic one-handed diving snare.

Wide receivers Steve Breaston, Early Doucet and Tight End Ben Patrick had their best games of the year, Breaston with the team-high seven receptions and 125 yards and a TD. He also ran for 28 yards on one carry.

Second year receiver Doucet spelled Boldin more directly, and played like him Boldin 2.0. The second-year pro caught 6 balls for 77 yards and 2 TDs. Patrick caught all 3 of the balls thrown his way for 42 yards.

There were a high number of incredible catches tonight. Greg Jennings, Breaston and Fitzgerald in particular had multiple highlight reel receptions.

Beanie Wells broke off a season-long 42-yarder and thundered for 91 tough yards with a 6.5 YPC. Don't you get the feeling we are still just getting a preview?

Jermmichael Finley had 6 catches for 159 yards—and he is a tight end. Finley is going to be a superstar.

I'd like to give a shout out to little known Spencer Havner who scored a TD today for the Packers. He is turning into my own personal more modern version of Jermaine Wiggins, a TE with the Patriots who came out of obscurity to become a vital part of their first Patriots' Brady-led Super Bowl Champion teams.

Things were looking like almost sure defeat when Neil Rackers reverted to his Cincinnati Bengal form and badly shanked a 34-yarder at the end of regulation that would have won it, and then the Packers won the toss to begin overtime.

And then it was Adams and Dansby.

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Couple of thoughts

I’m not gonna lie I’m no Cardinals fan, just a causal observer of the team. I’m more a fan of that offense than anything.

Warner is just unreal. I have never seen a QB play better in a big game like that. His accuracy, touch, and pocket presence is just phenomenal.

I honestly didn’t think the defense played that bad. In the first have they played very well and made a lot of plays and had opportunities to put the game away. They held tough in the red zone and just couldn’t get off the field on third down. Adams non sack prevents the game from being a rout in my opinion. The Packers were on the verge of quitting. Even in the second half they got the Packers in some third and fourth down situations and almost came up with the play. Also the Packers made some sick catches as well. I can’t believe they didn’t adjust to the constant hitches and outs that Packers ran. Why they didn’t sit on those routes is beyond me? Thats the first adjustment you do. They didn’t really burn the Cardinals down the middle like Warner did. It was mostly hitches and outs along with some corner routes.

The Packers defense was atrocious. How they were ranked number is mind boggling? Must have played shitty offenses most of the year ‘cause when I saw them play the got ripped up by Favre twice and Big Ben. Its a big problem if you can’t get an offense off the field on third down its another problem when you can’t get them into third down. I think the Cardinals were in third down like 5 times the entire game. The Cardinals played an absolutely perfect offensive game in my opinion. I don’t think they could have played better. If my memory serves me correctly I think the Cards were stopped three times the whole game? The Fitz fumble, Woodson tip on third down, and the field goal in the first half. Unbelievable performance.

If Boldin is back next week I don’t really know how you slow down this offense. If Arizona adds a legitimate tight end like Finley next year and keeps Warner and those wide receivers its the St. Louis rams of 2001 all over again and maybe better. Awesome offense. You can’t blitz Warner he is too good. The only way is if you have a ferocious offensive line and then you drop everybody back. Really fun offense to watch. With that running game and those receivers its pick your poison and you almost have to hope that Warner just doesn’t play well and makes some bad throws.

If you guys win next week you should root mightily for the Vikings. The Cowboys are a much tougher match up in my opinion. They have a really ferocious pass rush that can trouble Arizona and a solid secondary. Their passing game isn’t as good as the Vikings but I think Arizona would have a hard time slowing down that running game. The Vikings are a great match up for the Cardinals. Their o-line sucks and their secondary has not been able to cover anybody lately. Some scrub receiver from the Bears lit em up . Also their running is just not that good. I don’t know if its AP, the line or a combination of both. I would like Arizona’s chances a lot of if they played the Vikings.

As for next week’s game against the Saints, I have no idea who to pick. You have to believe that NO will have a better defensive game than Green Bay and you have to believe that Peyton won’t let the game turn into a shootout and will try to get in front of the Cardinals by running the ball. I think how Arizona’s defense plays determines the outcome. If they play like they did the first quarter today I really like Arizona to win, but that is a big if.

There was a firefight!!!!

by ThePhenomenon on Jan 11, 2010 12:31 AM MST reply actions

Some more thoughts...

The Packers defense was atrocious. How they were ranked number is mind boggling?

I’m a Packer fan just looking around. I agree, we were ranked absurdly high. Our run defense isn’t too bad, but our secondary lacks depth. Beyond our starters there is a huge drop off in skill. It’s been a problem, but it doesn’t seem to be too noticeable until we play a team with a top tier qb (Vikings, Steelers, and the Cards in the playoffs). Facing the Lions twice, Jay Cutler twice (6 INTs), the Browns, the Rams, and the Seahawks this season has been kind to us.

The good thing is that we’re better than last year and hopefully that trend will continue.

I think next week will be another shootout. I’m not sold on NO’s defense.

Congrats to all you Cardinal fans. I’ll be rooting for your team for the remainder. I’d like to see Warner go out on top.

by Mark Y on Jan 11, 2010 3:05 AM MST up reply actions

Well just wanted to say thanks for beating the peckers.

I say that because I have a severe dislike for that team, not because I think you guys are not a good team. I was hoping dallas would get a 2nd chance at GB to avenge a loss they handed to the team. But denying rodgers his 1st playoff win is just as good. Your next game is going to go over a 100 pts in combined scoring, that I think is a safe bet.

Ignore the Mainstream Media, EMBRACE THE HATE!!!!

by cowboy78 on Jan 11, 2010 3:57 AM MST reply actions

Its fitting that a former Bengal shanked the kick that badly

When the day before this game the current Bengals kicker did the same damn thing against the Jets.

He is still a great kicker, but he chokes too much when he needs to make the kick.

Also, it is insane that Warner can have more touchdowns than incompletions. He is a lock for the Hall of Fame. And I have a lot of respect for Rodgers after how he brought them back.

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.

I can't stand band-wagoner fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.

by JoeCB1991 on Jan 11, 2010 7:04 AM MST reply actions

2 of 7

I’ve been wracking my brain for game winning FG situations for Rackers with the Cards and I’m coming up with a two for seven number, with several of those misses coming against the 49ers over the years? Anyone have the time/energy to look up Rackers “Choke Rating”?

Don't waste time or Time will waste you.

by Hawkwind on Jan 11, 2010 7:17 AM MST reply actions

Its a really a shame because aside from that he is a fantastic player

but he didn’t just miss it, the kick was off from the first step he took into his windup. His nerves were so shot he looked drunk walking up to the ball. it was like seeing someone shoot a free throw for a million dollars.

http://undrafteds.com/

by Undrafteds on Jan 11, 2010 7:32 AM MST up reply actions