- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
With Larry Fitzgerald running in the winning touchdown in overtime, Arizona have stolen an extraordinary 26-20 NFL playoff victory over Green Bay.
The Packers forced overtime in scarcely believable fashion. On fourth down and 20 at their own 4-yard line, with no time outs left in the final minute of regulation time, quarterback Aaron Rodgers found a receiver to keep the game alive.
Then with time expiring, Rodgers sent a speculative 41-yard pass into the crowded end zone, where Jeff Janis took the catch to make it 20-19 and the conversion tied it.
Arizona had every right to feel deflated but found victory on the first drive of overtime.
Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer spun away from a tackle and made a cross-field pass to a wide open Fitzgerald who eluded a series of tackles before being brought down just short of the end zone for a 75-yard gain.
Two plays later, Palmer tossed short to Fitzgerald, who had an open path.
Arizona advanced to the NFC championship game against the winner of Sunday’s game between Carolina and Seattle.
New England also advanced after a 27-20 victory over Kansas City.
Quarterback Tom Brady hit Rob Gronkowski with two touchdown passes and reached over the goal line for another score to lead the Patriots into the AFC championship game.
It’s the fifth straight trip to the conference title game for the defending Super Bowl champions.
The Patriots will meet Sunday’s winner between Pittsburgh and Denver for a spot in Super Bowl 50 as they try to become the first repeat NFL champs since they did it in 2003-04.
After spending the past two weeks recovering from knee and back injuries, Gronkowski caught seven passes for 83 yards, including touchdowns from 8 and 16 yards out.
Julian Edelman returned from a broken foot to catch 10 passes for 100 yards for New England, whoh had been below their best in the closing weeks of the regular season but again showed their playoff pedigree.
Alex Smith completed 29 of 50 passes for 246 yards and one touchdown for Kansas City (12-6).
The Chiefs had won 11 consecutive games, including a 30-0 victory over Houston in the wild-card round last week for their first playoff victory since 1993.
Brady led New England to a score on the opening drive, throwing 11 straight passes and completing eight – the last an 8-yard score to Gronkowski. The Chiefs then made it to the Patriots 16 but settled for a field goal.
After trading punts twice, the Patriots started on their when punt returner Danny Amendola was flagged for a helmet-first hit to coverage man Jamell Fleming.
The drive was in danger of stalling at the Kansas City 35 when Chiefs linebacker Dezman Moses hit Brady late and was called for roughing the passer.
Four plays later, unable to find an open receiver, Brady sprinted – at least his version of a sprint – for the corner of the end zone.
The Chiefs managed to keep him out but only for one more play. On the next snap, Brady leaned forward and reached into the end zone to make it 14-3.
Watch more sports videos at The Roar TV.
Download the app NOW to make sure you never miss a must-see sporting moment.
The Roar TV – it’s your sports video.
Hey, supercoach? Choose your own ultimate NFL team and compete with other players for cash prizes in daily competitions on any match. If you’re after the best odds on the NFL, PlayUp is your best bet. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.