Aaron Rodgers hopes to reverse some painful fortunes in Arizona with Jets season on line
Aaron Rodgers returns to the site of his first playoff game as Packers starting quarterback on Sunday against the Cardinals.It was one wild wild-card game at what is now called State Farm Stadium, when Rodgers ended up on the short end of a playoff shoot-out for the ages against Kurt Warner. The date was Jan.
10, 2010, five weeks after Rodgers had turned 26, and he recalls virtually everything about that crushing, 51-45 overtime defeat. “I threw a pick on the first play, and then we fumbled on like the second or third play, and then we were kind of lights out after that,” Rodgers told The Post. “Unfortunately, some of my memories are real negative, like how Kurt Warner had five touchdowns passing and four incompletions. “Or how we went to overtime and we called my favorite play, maybe of all time, and I threw it way too flat and not high enough for Greg Jennings.It could have been a walk-off touchdown. “Or that I fumbled to let it return for a touchdown, lose the game 51-45.” Rodgers (423 yards, four TDs) was stripped by Michael Adams, and Karlos Dansby returned the fumble off Rodgers’ foot 17 yards to win it. “I remember it was a great atmosphere,” Rodgers said.
“But I threw across my body on the first play of the game for a pick, and after that I settled in and played pretty damn good.” It was Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie who intercepted a pass short right intended for Jordy Nelson. “A fun game always you’re proud to play in, just disappointed I threw a pick on the first play and missed Greg in overtime,” Rodgers said.“We felt good about the team that we had.
Our defense was coming along in the first season under Dom Capers.We had two first-round picks, B.J.
Raji and Clay Matthews, who were playing really well.We couldn’t stop ’em, and then we turned the ball over twice, and that came back to get us.” Rodgers also lost a playoff overtime battle at Arizona following the 2015 season.
That game is famous for Rodgers b...