Fox
With 12 seconds to go in the divisional playoff game between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys, Aaron Rodgers threw the playbook out the window and went old school.
The Packers were facing a seemingly insurmountable third-and-20 after taking a sack and throwing an incomplete pass. They needed about 15 yards for a realistic shot at a Hail Mary or about 30 yards to have any hope at a game-winning field goal.
After Fox showed a replay of the incompletion on second down, they briefly showed Rodgers in the huddle. Instead of calling a specific play, he appeared to be designing a play from scratch. Rodgers seemed to be telling his receivers exactly what routes to run, as if he was playing a game in the backyard with his buddies.
Robert Klemko of The MMQB confirmed the suspicions after the game through Randall Cobb. Rodgers indeed just made the play up on the fly.
Of course, the play Rodgers designed worked perfectly. As Rodgers rolled towards the sideline, Cook came across the field and found an open spot behind one defensive back where Rodgers hit him right on the sideline.
The Packers needed at least 30 yards. They got 36.
Here is the route Rodgers designed for Cook, who was in the slot on the right side of the formation.
Cobb said the final play was not an actual playcall. Rodgers just told each receiver what to do, like a kid drawing in the dirt. Seriously.
- Robert Klemko (@RobertKlemko) January 16, 2017