Packers in stunning Hail Mary victory
Rodgers’ boys steal the show as Green Bay come back to edge Detroit in cliffhanger
>> LOS ANGELES: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw a 61-yard desperation touchdown pass on the final play of the game as the Green Bay Packers pulled off one of the most stunning comebacks in franchise history on Thursday.
Rodgers dropped back, scrambled to the right and then took off for the scrimmage line and launched a bomb into the end zone where Packers’ tight end Richard Rodgers made a leaping, two-handed grab to give Green Bay a stunning 27-23 win over Detroit.
The Lions appeared to have the game won but a facemask penalty against Detroit on the previous play gave the Rodgers boys one last chance to hook up at Detroit’s Ford Field stadium.
“It is the greatest game I been part of except the Super Bowl,” said Aaron Rodgers, who released the ball from his own 35-yard line. “It felt good like it was going to be in the end zone.
“I got a nice run up to throw it. I didn’t see Richard until the last second. When he caught it I blacked out. It is the greatest feeling on football field in a long time.”
Richard Rodgers caught eight passes for 162 yards for Green Bay, who had their 56-game streak of scoring in the first half snapped as they rallied from a 20-point deficit.
“When I jumped I expected someone to hit me or grab my arm but it never happened,” said Richard Rodgers. “Once I saw it in the air I realised I could get it so I just jumped for it.”
Two-time l eague MVP Aaron Rodgers passed for 273 yards and two touchdowns and also scored on a 17-yard run as Green Bay improved to 8-4.
The Packers’ fourth quarter rally and Rodgers’ desperation touchdown pass brought back memories of other noteworthy “Hail Mary” victories. In 1974, Dallas Cowboys rookie quarterback Clint Longley slung a 50-yard touchdown pass to Drew Pearson on US Thanksgiving Day in 1974.
The Cowboys trailed 16-3 in the third quarter but won it on Dallas’
Wild final play of the game with 28 seconds left as the ball was caught right down the middle of the field by Pearson for a 24-23 win.
In the US college ranks, Boston College Eagles’ quarterback Doug Flutie found Gerard Phelan on the final play of a 1984 game against the University of Miami in 1984 for the winning score. The play has been dubbed The Miracle In Miami.
Matthew Stafford threw two early touchdown passes for the Lions, who dropped to 4-8.
“No lead is safe in this league particularly with a guy like that on the other end,” said Lions coach Jim Caldwell.
Calvin Johnson caught his 15th career touchdown pass against Green Bay, a record for a Packers’ opponent, while Matt Prater added three field goals.
Prater’s 34-yard field goal with 8:54 minutes left in the third quarter gave Detroit a 20-0 lead.
The Packers needed good fortune to finally break through during their next possession. Running back James Starks fumbled at the Lions five-yardline but the ball bounced forward and wide receiver Randall Cobb landed on it in the end zone.
Green Bay scored again with just over four minutes left in the quarter after forcing a turnover.
The Packers didn’t get the ball back until 23 seconds remained. But the Detroit facemask penalty extended the game and the Packers pulled off the miracle.
“I never had a completed Hail Mary before. Good time for it,” said Aaron Rodgers. “You live for days like this.”
COLDPLAY AT SUPER BOWL
British rock band Coldplay will be the headline act performing at Super Bowl 50 in February in San Jose, California, the NFL announced on Thursday.
The four-man group is expected to join several other international artists for the annual entertainment extravaganza on Feb 7 at Levi’s Stadium.
Coldplay had a new album come out yesterday called, A Head Full of Dreams.
Returning to the Super Bowl stage again will be Bruno Mars, who performed with the Red Hot Chili Peppers at half-time of last season’s Super Bowl.