Play of the game
Aaron Rodgers launches 42-yard TD to Cobb
THE FORMATION:
The Packers are in a three-receiver set with Randall Cobb (18) and Davante Adams (17) to the left and Jeff Janis (83) to the right. Tight end Jared Cook (89) is flexed to the left. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) is in the shotgun with running back Ty Montgomery (88) to his left.
THE REACTION:
The Giants have six defensive backs and a linebacker set up in the secondary to defend the Hail Mary. They are rushing four with end Olivier Vernon (54) chipping Cook before he rushes the passer. With three safeties spread across the goal line and two corners on the edges following the outside receivers they have players in position to both knock down the ball and to prevent the Packers from catching a deflection.
THE AFTERMATH:
Adams is the guy who is set up to make the catch. He is the “jumper”. Cobb and Janis are there to catch any deflections as is Cook, who is trailing the play and covering the middle. Just like the Hail Mary in Detroit last year,Adams is positioned for the catch, but there is so much grabbing going on he can’t really get up for the ball because cornerback
Eli Apple (24) won’t let him. “I was getting pulled down,” Adams said. The ball seems to carry farther than anyone is expecting. Apple is alongside Adams, linebacker Kennan
Robinson (57) is in front of him and safety Landon Collins (21) is hanging all over Janis. Cornerback
Coty Sensabaugh (30) and safety Leon Hall (25) are trailing to make sure any deflection is not caught. “The high arc is definitely by design,” Rodgers said. “I want to make sure those guys get a chance to get down and jump. That’s how you draw it up as far as you have a jumper, you have a guy behind and a guy in front.” Cobb tracks the ball, but he’s mainly there to catch a deflection. He clears a little bit of room by pushing Hall in the back. “My job on that play is to kind of box out and give our jumper a little space to jump,” Cobb said. “But I got behind the defense and was able to nudge a guy and make the catch.” The fact no one touched it before Cobb caught it is extremely unusual.