By Darin The Day Scoring Records Were Obliterated
January 10, 2010, was more than just a date for the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers; it was a detonation of offensive firepower that permanently reshaped the NFL record books. The NFC Wild Card matchup, hosted in Glendale, Arizona, became—and remains—the highest-scoring game in NFL playoff history. If you love high-stakes, dizzying offense, and late-game heroics, this 96-point overtime thriller is the standard by which all playoff shootouts are measured.
The game pitted veteran future Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, leading the Cardinals, against a young, ascending Aaron Rodgers for the Packers. The drama began immediately. Arizona raced out to a commanding 17-0 lead, but the Packers, under Rodgers’ steady hand, clawed their way back. The scoring was relentless, totaling 89 points by the end of regulation, an almost unimaginable total for a playoff contest. The Cardinals appeared to put the game away with a late touchdown, but Rodgers led a miraculous drive in the final minutes, culminating in a game-tying touchdown pass to send the score to 45-45.
Article from Jan 11, 2010 The Reporter (Fond du Lac, Wisconsin)
As the game moved into overtime, the tension was palpable. The first possession would likely decide the contest, and it did so in spectacular, devastating fashion. On Green Bay’s first possession, Rodgers was sacked, fumbling the ball. Arizona linebacker Karlos Dansby scooped up the loose ball and returned it for a game-winning touchdown, ending the instant classic with a final score of 51-45.
Both quarterbacks delivered historic performances: Rodgers threw for 423 yards and four touchdowns, while Warner threw for 379 yards and five scores in what would prove to be his final NFL game, making the shootout even more poignant. This game wasn’t just a win for Arizona; it was an unforgettable, chaotic spectacle that showed the limitless potential of modern NFL offenses.
Conclusion: A Record That May Never Be Broken
The 2009 NFC Wild Card game set an almost untouchable benchmark for playoff offense. The combined 96 points cemented the Cardinals’ 51-45 victory as an all-time classic, a chaotic masterpiece featuring two legendary quarterbacks trading blows until the final, dramatic fumble. This game remains a powerful reminder of the thrills and unpredictability that define NFL playoff football.
