Larry Fitzgerald helps Cardinals survive Aaron Rodgers’ game-tying Hail Mary

Are they good or are they lucky?

Bruce Arians and the Arizona Cardinals won’t care which it is after surviving their NFC Divisional Round game against the Green Bay Packers with a 26-20 overtime win.

Despite scoring 13 points in a row to turn a 13-7 deficit into a 20-13 lead with minutes left, Arizona found itself going to overtime when Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers connected with receiver Jeff Janis on a 41-yard Hail Mary touchdown with no time left on the clock.

That close pic.twitter.com/UTyDGMG4gb

— The Cauldron (@TheCauldron) January 17, 2016

But leave it to Larry Fitzgerald to will the Cardinals to victory.

The veteran wide receiver ripped off a 75-yard reception on the first possession of the overtime and won the game on a 5-yard shovel pass from quarterback Carson Palmer.

Larry Fitzgerald man… #HOF https://t.co/LnFJRv55J1

— Best of Football (@BestsofFootball) January 17, 2016

What set up the Cardinals to that point saw luck go their way.

With his team trailing 13-10 with less than four minutes to play, Carson Palmer was gun-slinging — and that’s a nice way to put it.

The Cards quarterback had thrown a few questionable passes earlier in the game that were intercepted, and he had just thrown what looked like a sure pick near the goal line that was dropped by Packers safety Sam Shields. After threading the needle for a key first down to running back David Johnson, Palmer threw another scary pass.

Targeting Larry Fitzgerald on an in-route, Palmer’s pass was deflected by former Arizona State corner and rookie Damarious Randall. The ball popped up in the air at the goal line and fell right into the hands of Arizona receiver Michael Floyd, who made his second incredible touchdown grab of the day.

Carson Palmer just skippin’ stone cold touchdowns right now #GBvsAZ https://t.co/mIIjudB9Uv

— Laurie Horesh (@LaurieHoresh) January 17, 2016

Arizona tacked on a Chandler Catanzaro field goal late to go ahead by seven points, and even after the Rodgers-Janis connection won an initially-botched coin toss heading into overtime.

Now, the Cardinals can finally breathe. Their sixth prime time win in as many tries earns them a ticket to the NFC Championship game next week.

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