Aaron Rodgers will return to action as the Packers' starting quarterback on Sunday against the Cardinals in their first playoff game. It was a wild-card game played at what is now called State Farm Stadium, and Rodgers narrowly fought Kurt Warner in the perennial playoff shootout.
That day was January 10, 2010, five weeks after Rodgers turned 26, and Rodgers remembers almost everything about the impact of that moment. 51-45 overtime loss.
“The first play I threw a pick, and then I fumbled my way, like the second or third play, and then it was kind of lights out after that,” Rodgers told the Post.
“Unfortunately, some of my memories are really negative, like Kurt Warner having five touchdown passes and four missed passes.
“Or we went into overtime and called probably my favorite play of all time, and it was too flat and not high enough for Greg Jennings. It might have been a walk-off touchdown. I don't know.
“Otherwise, if I fumbled and got it returned for a touchdown, we lost the game 51-45.”
Rodgers (423 yards, 4 TDs) was stripped by Michael Adams, and Carlos Dansby returned a fumble from 17 yards to Rodgers' feet for the win.
“I remember it was a great atmosphere,” Rodgers said. “But I threw it across my body on the first play of the game for a pick, and after that I calmed down and played pretty well.”
It was Dominic Rodgers-Cromartie who intercepted the short right pass to Jordy Nelson.
“I'm always proud to play in a fun game. It's unfortunate that I threw a pick on the first play and took Greg out in overtime,” Rodgers said. “We felt good about our team. From our first season under coach Dom Capers, our defense was playing well. We have two first-round picks, B.J. We had Raji and Clay Matthews and they played really well. We couldn't stop them and then they turned the ball over twice and it came back and got us.”
Rodgers also lost in overtime in the playoffs at Arizona following the 2015 season. The game is famous for Rodgers essentially making two Hail Marys to tie the game. One went all the way to midfield, and the other went 41 yards on the final play to Jeff Janis to tie the game. Larry Fitzgerald had a 75-yard catch-and-run, but two plays later he scored a 5-yard touchdown to quickly end the game at 26-20 in OT.
Rodgers has won at Arizona in the regular season, comfortably winning 33-7 in 2010 and losing 38-8 in 2015. In their most recent outing, Rasul Douglas intercepted Kyler Murray in the end zone with 12 seconds left in 2021, resulting in a 24-21 win.
“This is the best meme of all time to me and I can't shake it,” Rogers said. “The one who threw the touchdown was [Randall Cobb]my face mask was here and my chinstrap was here. This is my most searched meme of all time. ”
Rodgers is looking to lead the Jets to 4-6 after a 21-13 win over the Texans.
“We have to build momentum,” he said. “If you want to be a great team, you have to practice like a great team. I think we practiced a lot better the last few weeks.
“But we still have the standard that we need to go another level and once we achieve that, I'm sure we will and I think the consistency will show on game day. .
“But you don't just roll out of bed. That's a misnomer, but you don't just roll out of bed and play great. You have to practice the right way.”
The extra rest after Thursday night's game rejuvenated the 40-year-old's body. “I feel like a hare,” he joked. “I got so much energy.”
Wednesday's practice was not ideal, with guards Aliyah Berra-Tucker and John Simpson idle.
“I want more reps,” Rodgers said. “But I understand that this is what it is. We have to make the most of our walk-through reps, so we challenge them on every play with cues, adjustments, little reminders and give them It provides stimulation and allows you to focus on walk-through reps instead of throwaway reps.”
He was encouraged by his performance in the second half against the Texans and by the fact that he missed so many games.
“That was probably the best play I've ever played,” Rodgers said. “Obviously, we couldn’t go anywhere but go up in the second half.”
Rodgers knows it's time for a fight.
“I think the weight has been lifted, but there's a baseline level of energy and enthusiasm that I had during training camp and wasn't necessarily there the whole time,” he said. “So we've got to find a way to deliver that every day. The key for young players to learn is that consistency starts from the moment you walk into the building, that every action has to be intentional, and that means conversations, It starts with the time you go to work, the way you do it. We're starting to do some things right, but it's still a work in progress.”
Troll Arizona for Aaron Rodgers.
