CINDERELLA WALKS HOME IN THE SNOW - PACKERS WIN WITH LATE COMEBACK
Anquan Boldin puts a move on Green Bay defender Mark Roman. The Pro Bowler had five catches in the loss.
ARZ
| 7 | 10 | 0 | 3 |
20
GB
| 0 | 10 | 0 | 14 |
24
FIRST QUARTER
ARZ- Drew Henson 7 yard pass to Nathan Hodel (Neil Rackers kick)
SECOND QUARTER
GB- Ryan Longwell 45 yard field goal
ARZ- Josh Scobey 81 yard punt return (Neil Rackers kick)
ARZ- Neil Rackers 40 yard field goal
GB- Brett Favre 64 yard pass to Ahman Green (Ryan Longwell kick)
THIRD QUARTER
None.
FOURTH QUARTER
GB- Ahman Green 1 yard run (Ryan Longwell kick)
GB- Ahman Green 6 yard run (Ryan Longwell kick)
ARZ- Neil Rackers 49 yard field goal
GREEN BAY, WI (AP) - For three quarters it looked like America's Cinderella, the Arizona Cardinals were going to head to their first Super Bowl ever. Then the fourth quarter signaled the clock striking midnight, and the Cardinals' Super Bowl glass slipper didn't fit. Ahman Green went off and when it was all said and done, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 24-20, to clinch a spot in Super Bowl XXXIX. The former Nebraska runningback carried the ball 33 times for 143 yards and two clutch fourth quarter touchdowns. He also had four catches, including one for a 64 yard touchdown.
The Cardinals did have the early momentum as after a missed field goal by Ryan Longwell, Drew Henson went to the air and found Anquan Boldin for 60 yards. The next play he rolled out to his right and found Nathan Hodel for seven yards and the touchdown. Green Bay came right back with a field goal and then after an Arizona three-and-out, Green Bay sustained a ten play drive but it ended on their own 44 yard line. B.J. Sander punted the ball deep to Josh Scobey and with some good blocks, the former Kansas State Wildcat took it 81 yards to the house. Neil Rackers kicked a 40 yard field goal the next Arizona drive, but Green Bay struck back with a Brett Favre shovel pass to Green that went 64 yards to paydirt.
A quiet third quarter led to an explosive Packers fourth quarter. Ahman Green needed just three plays to get into the endzone to tie the game, and then after a Cardinals three-and-out, Green Bay got the ball back at their own 29 yard line. Green carried the ball three times for a first down and then Favre found Frank Sanders and Green en route to another first down. A few Favre passes and William Henderson runs after that led them to the six spot, when Green punched in hihs second rushing touchdown of the game. That run gave Green Bay the lead for good and the chance to play in the Super Bowl.
Arizona finishes the season at 13-6.
PASSING
ARZ- Drew Henson (15-33, 159 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) |
GB- Brett Favre (17-22, 192 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT)
RUSHING
ARZ- Emmitt Smith (16 carries, 31 yards), James Hodgins (3 carries, 13 yards), Erik Bickerstaff (1 carry, 6 yards) |
GB- Ahman Green (33 carries, 143 yards, 2 TD), Najeh Davenport (9 carries, 38 yards), William Henderson (5 carries, 15 yards)
RECEIVING
ARZ- Anquan Boldin (5 catches, 89 yards), Smith (4 catches, 11 yards), Freddie Jones (3 catches, 33 yards) |
GB- Green (4 catches, 78 yards, 1 TD), Robert Ferguson (3 catches, 32 yards), Henderson (3 catches, 9 yards)
TACKLES
ARZ- Dexter Jackson (10), Adrian Wilson (8), Ronald McKinnon (7) |
GB- Mark Roman (5), Na'il Diggs (5), Hannibal Navies (5)
SACKS
ARZ- Wilson, Mike Rumph, Bert Berry (0.5), Coby Reinhart (0.5) |
GB- Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (2), Cletdius Hunt, Grady Jackson
INTERCEPTIONS
ARZ- Raynoch Thompson |
GB- Darren Sharper