Down 24-20, Aaron Rodgers leads the Green Bay Packers to a fourth quarter comeback. The Miami Dolphins, with their back to the wall, couldn’t stop A-Rod’s passing attack.
With no timeouts, Rodgers drove the length of the field in a two-minute drill. They survived a sack strip in which T.J. Lang recovered the fumble essentially saving the game. They converted a fourth-and-ten at midfield with Rodgers facing an all-out blitz. Jordy Nelson caught the prayer and almost went the distance, but stepped out of bounds at the Miami 30 with a minute left.
Facing immense pressure, Rodgers can’t connect with a receiver. Another clutch third down conversion is made as James Starks catches a checkdown and lunges for ten yards with half a minute to go.
Struggling in the Miami heat, Rodgers’ offense was running out of time.
He throws a short hitch to Randall Cobb but he falls in bounds leaving the clock ticking. The Packers hustle to the line as Rodgers signals to everyone for the quick setup and spike to stop the clock.
Davante Adams runs through Cortland Finnegan.Rodgers takes the snap and surprises everyone in Sun Life Stadium when he rolls out and throws to rookie Davante Adams. The defense is stunned by the fake spike in Dan Marino’s house of all places.
Adams is one-on-one with cornerback Cortland Finnegan. The clock counts down 10, 9, 8… He stiff arms Finnegan and fights for 12 yards and smartly gets out of bounds at the four-yard line with six seconds left.
The Packers quickly lineup to take advantage of the Dolphins’ confusion, but Miami calls their final timeout to regroup from the chaos. Both teams gameplan on the sideline and break the huddle.
With six seconds left, A-Rod stands in the shotgun. He calls out the protection for what could be the final play of the game. He signals to his right noticing a mismatch with tight end Andrew Quarless.
A-Rod looks and throws a rocket right on Quarless’ numbers.
Andrew Quarless celebrates after the game winner.Cheesheads in the stands go wild and so do the Packers’ sideline as they steal one in South Beach 27-24.
The highlight of the game and weekend is also seen as high risk-high reward, being the surprise fake spike. Nobody knew including Rodgers’ own teammates. Rodgers said Davante Adams wasn’t even looking until Rodgers rolled out of the pocket. Of course it takes guts to throw that ball down four, no timeouts, and the clock running out in the redzone. But what a heads up play not only catching the screen, but stiff arming the defender and getting all he could. If not for Adams’ run after the catch, this could’ve been a whole different story.
But that’s what wins games. As Rodgers put it, “That was a bit of freestylin”.
The winning touchdown in the closing seconds improves the Packers' record to (4-2) tied for the NFC North lead.