Larry Fitzgerald blows up Vikings safety to help Michael Floyd score
Dec 10, 2015, 8:41 PM | Updated: 8:53 pm
Did someone order pancakes? @LarryFitzgerald is dishing 'em out. #MINvsAZ pic.twitter.com/Gr4sYZwCJ3
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) December 11, 2015
Yeah, yeah, yeah — Larry Fitzgerald extended his streak of games with a catch to 176 straight.
But as much production that the veteran receiver has given Carson Palmer and the Arizona Cardinals’ in that respect this year, it’s his blocking that has been under-appreciated. Fairly, regular watchers of the Cardinals have given him his due — we’ve brought this up before.
Nonetheless, blocking is a facet of football that doesn’t always appear on the TV screen. And when it is caught on camera, a strong block is usually a sidenote to the primary action (What is happening with the player who has the ball?).
Not on this touchdown catch-and-run by Michael Floyd in the Cardinals’ Thursday showdown against the Minnesota Vikings.
Everyone knew exactly the highlight of the play.
With respect to Floyd, it wasn’t about him.
For some reason, Minnesota’s defensive backs left both Fitzgerald and Floyd wide open on the right side of the field. Palmer connected with Floyd and Fitzgerald, who was behind his teammate, turned upfield ready to block. He performed what we’d call an expertly-executed pancake block by getting some leverage on Vikings safety Anthony Harris.
Floyd scored on the 42-yard completion, which also happened to give Palmer his 31st touchdown pass of the season, breaking Kurt Warner’s franchise record.
The play puts Arizona ahead 17-10 with 8:31 to go in the third quarter.
