Sunday, January 31, 2016

Entertainment and Sport

ESPN, though not the broadcasting network for Saturday’s NFL Divisional Playoff Round Game, undeniable entertainment and sport was placed on stage. A game that kicked off at 7:15 pm at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona and ended in final overtime at roughly 10:30 pm was definitely one to remember. This read is to cover for those who may have went to sleep early or missed a game that will be talked about throughout the remainder of this playoff journey. The last five minutes [including overtime] created madness that would define the fate of two teams.
To state that opportunities weren’t left on the field Saturday night for both the Green Bay Packers and the winners of last night’s bout, the Arizona Cardinals, would be the setting to start this bedtime story. Just a little under a month ago, Arizona blew out Green Bay in a 38-8 final. 26-20 would be the final in this one. Both games between the two teams this season would have the same result.
Yet, every opportunity had some degree of apparent madness related to it in this one.
The madness began when, down 3, Carson Palmer threw an interception. The Cardinals later fall into two circumstances where the chains were brought out to measure the distance to a first down, and each time the Cardinals picked up the 1st down by the degree of a single chain length. The Cardinals’ continue to keep the drive moving on a controversial catch or non-catch [don’t let the Dallas fans decide] that got them into the redzone.
Arizona scores off a miracle deflection landing in the hands of Michael Floyd to take the lead, 17-13. Green Bay is left with 3:44 in the game, and faces a must convert 4th down against one of best pass defenses in the league. Green Bay fails to convert and all Arizona has to do is run the ball and run out the clock. Yet, as the madness continues, the Cardinals would throw a fade route well covered by the Packers and leave an opportunity yet again for Green Bay.
https://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/D7hwatKQ-Btf2OQS8B0RrForclc=/0x0:3403x2269/1310x873/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48580533/GettyImages-505321574.0.jpgSeconds remain and what’s madness without lightning. Yes, lightning would seem to strike twice on the same game tying drive as Rodgers would throw one 60 yard pass completion for Janis on a 4th and 20, and a Hail Mary touchdown pass to head into overtime.
The madness didn’t stop at the end of regulation and, gravity would also play its part in this one, a coin toss without a flip would start overtime. How often do you see that? I mean, I’ve know how to flip a coin since the 1st grade. Some would yell conspiracy, and others would state claim to pure entertainment and sport.1
https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/LdHxI_Ww8MtoCH3SX1bVY43bt6E=/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/5911685/noflip.0.gifConspiracy or bad luck, the Arizona Cardinals move on to the NFC Championship Game in what may go down as one of the craziest playoff games to ever take place.2




1Seifert, K., & Wilde, J. (2016, January 17). Coin toss, catch controversy heighten drama of Cardinals' win. Retrieved January 17, 2016, from http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2014/story/_/id/14587101/green-bay-packers-left-scratching-heads-coin-toss-catch-ruling-loss-arizona-cardinals


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