5 Plays To Remember During The Cardinals' 2009 Playoff Run

The Cardinals made a name for themselves during the 2009 postseason. Of the fourteen touchdowns the team scored during their magical run to the Super Bowl, five of them stood out and were truly amazing.

1. Kurt Warner’s 42-yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald in the Wild Card victory over the Atlanta Falcons is number one. Fresh off a Ralph Brown interception of Falcons rookie quarterback Matt Ryan, the Cardinals faced a 2nd and four from Atlanta’s 42-yard line. Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley had called three straight running plays before, and had appeared to have called a fourth when RB Edgerrin James, out of the Ace formation, took the Warner handoff and started straight up the gut. Little did the Falcons know, it was a flee-flicker, and Fitzgerald had sprung free towards the end zone. Warner, with plenty of time, fired the ball deep into the corner of the end zone, and Fitzgerald out jumped the two Falcons defenders for the touchdown, giving the Cardinals an early 7-0 lead.

2. Antrel Rolle’s 27-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the Wild Card victory over the Atlanta Falcons is number two. The Falcons had seized the lead right before halftime, and were looking to extend it. Early in their first drive of the third quarter, Atlanta was faced with a 2nd and four. The Cardinals lined up with four down-lineman, and blitzed. DE Darnell Dockett had already blown by Falcons RG Harvey Dahl, and was in the backfield when Matt Ryan handed the ball off to Michael Turner. Docket knocked the ball free, and it immediately bounced into the hands of Antrel Rolle, who was blitzing on the play. Rolle ran right into the end zone, giving the Cardinals a lead that they would never relinquish.

3. Kurt Warner’s 29-yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald in the Divisional Round victory over the Carolina Panthers is number three. The Cardinals had seized control of the game after forcing three Jake Delhomme first half turnovers. After taking a 14-7 lead, the Cardinals had been relegated to field goals on their next two possessions, leaving it at just a two-possession game. On 2nd and nine from the Panthers' 29, the Cardinals lined up in the ace formation with twins right. Fitzgerald lined up alone to the left, James as the single-setback, and TE Stephen Spach on the right side of the formation. With the play clock running down, Warner dropped straight back, found Fitzgerald on a crossing pattern, and he caught it inside the 10 and dove for the goal line. He was in giving the Cardinals a commanding 27-7 lead.

4. Kurt Warner’s 62-yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald in the NFC Championship victory over the Eagles is the number four. Up 7-3 early in the first quarter, and fresh of a David Akers missed field goal, the Cardinals put their trickery to the test once again on 1st and 10 from their own 28. Lining up out of the offset eye formation, with two tight ends, FB Terrelle Smith to the right of the formation, and Larry Fitzgerald as the single receiver split out right, Warner pitched it to JJ Arrington who ran slowly to the right. Warner repositions himself on the left side of the field as Arrington fired a backwards lateral from the opposite side. Warner then heaved it downfield where Fitzgerald was all alone. He caught it at the 10, and ran easily into the end-zone giving the Cardinals a 14-3 lead.

5. Kurt Warner’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Tim Hightower in the NFC Championship victory over the Eagles is number five. Trailing 25-24 late in the forth quarter, with a trip to Super Bowl XXXIII hanging in the balance, the Cardinals were faced with 3rd and goal from the Eagles’ nine. Arizona lines up in a shotgun formation with two receivers to either side, and Tim Hightower lined up in the backfield with Warner. Steve Breaston motioned from left to right as the ball was snapped. Three Eagles defenders flew towards Warner as he set up the screen to Hightower, who caught the pass at the 12. He got several blocks before getting inside the five. Two Eagles defenders hit him as he dove for the goal line, but it didn’t matter. Hightower gave the Cardinals a 30-25 lead. A two-point conversion would help bury Philadelphia as the Cardinals won, and would represent the NFC in Super Bowl XXXIII.