Hail Mary or Hail Aaron?
On December 28, 1975 Roger Staubach altered the course of history as we know it. On this day, Staubach led the Cowboys to a come from behind victory in frigid Minnesota during the NFC Divisional Round Playoff game. With 32 seconds left on the clock and the Cowboys marching from the 50-yard line, the “Hail Mary” was born. Staubach took the snap from the shotgun, dropped back, pumped left and then heaved a 50-yard bomb to Drew Pearson on the right sideline of the end zone for a miracle touchdown. This gave the Cowboys the lead and ultimately the victory to escape the Vikings Fran Tarkenton and the frozen tundra of Minnesota.
This awe inspiring play was dubbed the “Hail Mary” when, during a post game interview Staubach said, “I closed my eyes and said a Hail Mary”, before the snap of the ball. The name and concept of the “Hail Mary” caught fire in the league and became a staple of football lingo for all who attempt a low percentage shot, fully leaning on the strength of a prayer. It’s arguably the most exciting play in football. You remember growing up playing football in the yard and having to throw up a desperation heave on the last play to try and win the game. It’s an exhilarating feeling when you launch a hopeless pass and it hits the target. Momentum is changed through the works of a Hail Mary. All thanks to a tradition started in 1975 by none other than America’s Team. In today’s game it is well noted that Roger Staubach may have invented the “Hail Mary”, but as any fan can see, Aaron Rodgers is the king.
Wild Card Weekend 2017 produced nothing but mediocre games at best. Considering what has come to be expected from NFL playoff games, it was a disappointing showing featuring multiple blowouts and uninteresting story lines. It highlighted some of the most lopsided point spreads since Tim Tebow and friends traveled to Foxborough to take on Bill Belichick and the Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round of 2011. With spreads of 8 (Seattle over Detroit) and 10 points (Pittsburgh over Miami) the weekend reeked of games that would be over early. Giants-Packers needed to save the weekend. What could be better than a red hot Packers team taking on Playoff Eli Manning and defense of the Giants? The game was interesting until the Hail Mary King Aaron Rodgers delivered again. Seriously, he did it again! For his latest miracle, during the final few seconds of the first half, he tossed a 42-yard Hail Mary to Randall Cobb in the back of the end zone. At this point, time had expired, the Packers were up 8 points, momentum was theirs going into the break, and they would be receiving the second half kickoff. The game was all but over.
He has now completed 3 of them in a little over one calendar year. That’s insane. Many quarterbacks throw it as much as him but none have Rodgers’ level of success during critical moments of games. We see it often throughout the league today, attempts to replicate Staubach’s 1975 pass. The only other tandem that you could possibly compare to Rodgers and his receiver’s heroic moments would be the deathly combination of Andy Dalton to A.J. Green. Oh wait, no, that last second one handed juggling catch happened against the Browns. Surely, I can’t count that.
Rodgers is a prolific passer in the NFL. He’s a two-time MVP. His “luck” is no coincidence, the man can put the football wherever he wants. Not only does he possess the ability to throw the ball incredibly far down field with ample hang time, he also has the uncanny ability to keep the play alive and escape pass rushers to give his receivers enough time to get to the end zone.
Aaron Rodgers and his arsenal of receivers have perfected what Roger Staubach once dubbed as the Hail Mary. If Rodgers keeps this level of heroism up, we’ll be calling it the Hail Aaron. Probably sooner than you think.
