Top 30 plays in NFL history
29. Aaron Rodgers to Jeff Janis
Aaron Rodgers the best Hail Mary quarterback in NFL history. 2015 was the season in which he really earned that moniker.
The Packers beat the Lions earlier in the season on a Hail Mary, and Rodgers had a few more tricks up his sleeve in the playoffs. The 2015 Divisional Round game between the Cardinals and Packers is one of the best playoff games of all time, and has one of the best finishes of all time.
On Green Bay’s final drive, they had their backs against the wall on multiple occasions. Facing a fourth and long, Rodgers launched a pass to Jeff Janis, who came down with the pass and a gain of 60. Two plays later as regulation expired, Rodgers launched a Hail Mary to the end zone. Janis got back and it became a jump ball between the Packers wide receiver and Patrick Peterson. Janis came down with the ball, his second huge reception of the drive, and it sent the game to overtime.
The Packers wouldn’t see the ball again, though, as the Cardinals and Larry Fitzgerald won with a touch-pass touchdown from inside the five yard line. Regardless of the outcome, Rodgers’ heroics took the game into overtime, and almost helped Green Bay escape with a win.