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NFL Playoffs: Top 10 Wild Card games in NFL history

By Russell S. Baxter

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 04: Quarterback Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates a fourth quarter touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during a Wild Card Playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 4, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 04: Quarterback Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates a fourth quarter touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during a Wild Card Playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 4, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby grabs the ball and scores the game winning touchdown in overtime during a wild card playoff game against the Green Bay Packers (Photo by Gene Lower/Getty Images)
Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby grabs the ball and scores the game winning touchdown in overtime during a wild card playoff game against the Green Bay Packers (Photo by Gene Lower/Getty Images) /

3. Cardinals 51, Packers 45 (OT) (NFC: 2009)

In a game that featured 1,024 yards of total offense and a NFL postseason-record 13 combined touchdowns, the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers teamed for 96 points in what remains the highest-scoring game in playoff history.

The then-defending NFC champion Cardinals got a great performance from quarterback Kurt Warner, who would throw for 379 yards and five scores. Ken Whisenhunt’s club took advantage of some early Green Bay turnovers and opened up a 31-10 third-quarter lead.

However, Packers would score five touchdowns in the second half, the final with 1:52 remaining to tie the score at 45-45l. Arizona would drive for a winning field goal attempt but kicker Neil Rackers missed a 34-yard attempt in the final seconds and the teams were headed into overtime.

Talk about the most unlikely of endings? Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers (making his NFL playoff debut as a starter) wound up throwing for 423 yards and four touchdowns (1 interception) and also ran for another score. He was sacked in the extra session and fumbled. The ball was kicked in the air by Rodgers and wound up in the hands of Cardinals’ linebacker Karlos Dansby, who returned the prize 17 yards for the game-winning score.

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