Arians says ‘heart still racing’ following win
Jan 17, 2016, 2:56 PM | Updated: Jan 18, 2016, 7:09 am
Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians celebrates after an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 26-20 in overtime. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
About 14 hours after a thrilling 26-20 overtime win over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Round, Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said his heart is still racing.
Arians spoke with Fox NFL Sunday’s Curt Menefee, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Michael Strahan and Jimmy Johnson at halftime of the NFC’s other Divisional Round game between the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks.
“I have been in some up and down games before but the last seven minutes of that game was something else,” Arians said on Fox. “(My heart) is still racing pretty good.”
Arians was asked what his message to the team was following the the game — a game that wasn’t the typical dominating, high-scoring victory that Cardinals fans have grown accustomed to this season.
“We can learn so much from that game,” he said. “It wasn’t our best, but it’s great to be working next week and practicing.”
Arians was asked about the play of Larry Fitzgerald, especially his 75-yard catch on the first play from scrimmage in overtime that got University of Phoenix Stadium rocking. The play followed a jaw-dropping Hail Mary by the Packers that tied the game at the end of regulation.
Two players later, Fitzgerald followed by catching a 5-yard shovel pass for the game-winner.
“We know that when he gets the ball in his hands the stadium goes crazy,” Arians said.
At the time of the interview, the Panthers were leading the Seahawks 31-0 at halftime. Seattle made things interesting by scoring 24 unanswered points, but the game would ultimately be decided by an onside kick that the Panthers recovered.
The Cardinals will play the Panthers in next week’s NFC Championship Game for the right to represent the NFC in Super Bowl 50 on Feb. 7 in Santa Clara, California.
As it turns out, Arians is not going to be playing the team he would have preferred.
“I would rather play Seattle in Seattle,” he joked. Of course, if Seattle would have won, the Seahawks would have traveled to Glendale for the conference title game.
