Two touchdown favorites against a two win opponent with snow swirling about Lambeau Field in December with playoff hopes still flickering.
Thud!
The Packers lost to the Arizona Cardinals 20-17 in a game that brought the Mike McCarthy era to a stunning close. One month shy of completing his 13th season at the helm, McCarthy became the first in-season coaching dismissal in franchise history.
Team President and CEO Mark Murphy fired McCarthy less than three hours after Mason Crosby's game tying 49 yard field goal sailed wide right at the gun.
Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin was named interim Head Coach for the final month.
After a listless first quarter by both teams, the Packers got a spark from Jaire Alexander's 24 yard punt return, the longest of the season. Five plays later, Davante Adams pulled in his league leading 12th touchdown catch of the year, a fantastic toe tapping grab at the back of the end zone from 13 yards to put Green Bay in front 7-0.
Arizona, ranked dead last in offense, converted a pair of third and sevens on the ensuing drive to get it back even with Chase Edmonds going over from six yards out.
On his 35th birthday, Aaron Rodgers drove the packers to a first and 10 at the Arizona 15 in the final minute of the first half but he was sacked by Chandler Jones on second and three and Mason Crosby had to come on to kick a 32 yard field goal to give the Packers a 10-7 lead at the half.
Another common issue for the Packer offense resurfaced in the third quarter when they failed on two straight third down opportunities.
The Cardinals then got speedy Christian Kirk involved with a 23 yard jet sweep followed by a 37 yard go route past Alexander leading to a Zane Gonzalez 44 yard field goal that tied the game at 10.
Another third down failure, on third and one, brought out boos from the crowd which got even louder when Josh Rosen scrambled his way through the defense for a 33 yard gain. That set up a second TD run by Edmonds from 8 yards out to put Arizona on top 17-10 heading to the 4th quarter.
The mistakes kept coming for the Packers. When they finally converted a third and 11 with Randall Cobb pulling down a 35 yard catch, the play came back on a Jason Spriggs holding penalty. Spriggs had to jump in at right tackle this week when Byran Bulaga suffered a knee injury that knocked him out of the game. Byron Bell also departed with a knee injury that forced Justin McCray in at right guard.
The defense got a stop and the Packers got the game even but probably should have scored a touchdown sooner on a Marquez Valdes-Scantling reverse. It appeared to break wide open around the right side until he tripped on his own at the 35 yard line. What could have been a 78 yard score turned into a 21 yard run.
It took a remarkable sideline catch by Adams for 19 yards to keep the drive alive and Aaron Jones cashed in an 8 yard run to make it 17 all with 5:26 to play.
After the touchback, Dean Lowry sacked Rosen for a loss of 8. On second and 18, Rosen was flushed out of the pocket and threw a pass that newly signed safety Eddie Pleasant had fall right in his hands but he dropped what could have been a game deciding interception. After a delay of game penalty, the Cardinals were looking at third and 23 and again Rosen had to make a play on the move. Rolling right he lofted a ball that future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald cradled just before it hit the ground for a 32 yard catch.
Arizona picked up two more first downs, all on the ground to set up a second Gonzalez 44 yard field goal to make it 20-17 with only 1:41 left.
With one timeout remaining, Rodgers drove the Packers from the 25 to the Arizona 31. On third and one he took a shot in the end zone but overthrew Valdes-Scantling. With :03 to play, Crosby came on for a 49 yard attempt but the kick moved right and stayed right of the post and the upset was complete.
After the game, McCarthy opened what would be his final news conference as Head Coach this way:
(Audio: Mike McCarthy)
The Packer locker room cleared out remarkably fast, players like Adams and Clay Matthews did not speak to reporters. Several others were asked how they'd finish the final month, not knowing what was in store for their boss.
The season long ills of injury, poor execution, inexperience youth and new coordinators on both sides of the ball fell onto the head of the Head Coach and McCarthy could not survive.