posted by Zebra Man on Jan 10
The zebras played a large role in the advancement of the Arizona Cardinals in their home wildcard game against the Green Bay Packers on January 10th, 2010. The game ended up being the highest scoring game in NFL playoff history with the help of two scores by Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald that took place when Offensive Pass Interference should have been called.
With 11:24 remaining in the 3rd quarter and Arizona leading by a score of 24 to 10, Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner scrambles after play action to his rookie running back Beanie Wells and completes a pass to a wide open Fitzgerald over the middle. Fitzgerald runs into the endzone for a touchdown.
Fitzgerald is an elite receiver, but he is being covered by Packers Cornerback Charles Woodson; one of the best in the game. Replays show that to get wide open, Fitzgerald throws Woodson to the ground as he breaks off his pattern, nearly falls, and then runs to the open spot on the field.
At 2:43 remaining in the 3rd quarter and Arizona on the Green Bay 11 yard line with the Cardinals leading by a score of 31 to 24, Larry Fitzgerald makes a great catch for a score. Again, replays show that Offensive Pass Interference should have been called on the play.
In a trips left shotgun formation, Fitzgerald lines up as the furtherest receiver on the left. At the snap, he runs directly at Woodson, throws a shoulder into him, and knocks him to the ground. Warner throws the ball to Fitzgerald as he runs free in the end zone and he snags it out of the air.
The Packers refused to give up hope and tied the game at 45 points to force overtime after Cardinals kicker Neil Rackers missed a short field goal just before the end of regulation. Charles Woodson called the coin toss in overtime and correctly predicted tails. On the third play of overtime, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers drops back to pass, has the ball knocked out of his hands, and into the arms of Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby. Dansby runs the ball into the end zone for the game winning touchdown.
Replays reveal two issues with the play. During the sack and strip of the football, Cardinals Cornerback Michael Adams grabs the facemask of Rodgers. Also, the arm of Rodgers looks like it is bringing the football back into his body after a pump when the ball is knocked free; this brings the Tuck Rule into play. The result of the play should have been a 15 yard penalty on Adams and a first down for the Packers.
January 14th, 2010 at 9:29 am
You are an idiot…the “off pass interference” call was an entanglement between both players, if anything it’s defensive with him running right in the path of Fitz and he had his arms around him.
Contact is legal the first five yards of a play…if the receiver runs a guy over, it’s his stupid fault for getting run over. You’re supposed to cover, not expact to be a blocker.
The “tuck rule” can’t apply since the ball was CAUGHT. It’s not incomplete. It went right into the hands of the defender. No ground was involved thus it is an interception more than anything. The facemask was there but the ball was already loose. Yes, it could’ve changed the game but most likely wouldn’t have seeing how neither defense showed up. The best that could happen for GB is the Cards would have the ball at like the 32.
Learn things. Just so you know, I’m not a Cards fan. I couldn’t care less who won that game.
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:20 am
You are not creative! Thanks for your reply despite the name calling… The video speaks for itself in both cases. Entanglement vs interference sounds like semantics.
In regard to the tuck rule, …upon further review…, the ball never hits the ground, so it was an interception (which should have been negated by the non-called facemask penalty). But I agree that the tuck rule does not really come into play in this case.