"The Drive"

[Bert]

I posted last week about how I've always dreamed of our boys playing in one of these NFC Championship games. The games you see on ESPN Classic sometimes where they show Joe Montana throwing an epic TD pass, Adam V. making an epic field goal, or some other legendary player doing something heroic in a Championship game. They are the moments in Championship games that are even bigger than the game. They are the moments that define players, teams, seasons and memories. They are part of NFL History...

I never thought it would happen to us.

Today we were all in the moment so it may not have set in right away, but make no mistake my friends, we just witnessed a little nugget of football history that will be talked about for a long time. The Drive that put the ARIZONA CARDINALS, into the Super Bowl for the first time ever.

Forever etched in my memory will be when, in the face of defeat, Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Tim Hightower and the rest of the Arizona Cardinals, after giving up 3 straight TD's and losing what seemed like an insurmountable lead, took the ball on a 14 play, 72 yard drive that ate 7:52 off the clock and sealed the game.

The drive had everything; runs, passes, gutsy calls, 4th down conversions and most of all, it had HEART.

Watching Kurt lead us down the field, I couldn't help but have an out-of-body experience. There was no doubt in my mind what was going to happen. After being totally flustered and dominated in the 3rd quarter, the offense suddenly settled, a quiet confidence came over them, I could see it in the huddle. They were determined, they were not going to be denied.

I have never been so proud of this team or this city. I cant wait to sit my kids down and my grandkids someday and tell them the story of this magical season, and ofcourse, about "The Drive".

Thank you Cardinals. Words cannot describe how long I've dreamt of this moment, and I will NEVER forget it.

Arizona Cardinals at 10:45 2-D.Akers kicks 71 yards from PHI 30 to ARI -1. 15-S.Breaston to ARI 28 for 29 yards (39-Q.Demps).
1-10-ARI 28 (10:39) 32-E.James left tackle to ARI 27 for -1 yards (97-B.Bunkley).
2-11-ARI 27 (10:00) 13-K.Warner pass short left to 11-L.Fitzgerald to ARI 42 for 15 yards (21-J.Hanson).
1-10-ARI 42 (9:24) 13-K.Warner pass short right to 82-L.Pope to PHI 49 for 9 yards (55-S.Bradley).
2-1-PHI 49 (8:47) 32-E.James up the middle to 50 for -1 yards (57-C.Gocong).
3-2- (8:03) 34-T.Hightower left tackle to PHI 49 for 1 yard (56-A.Jordan).
4-1-PHI 49 (7:57) 34-T.Hightower right end pushed ob at PHI 43 for 6 yards (20-B.Dawkins).
1-10-PHI 43 (7:21) 32-E.James up the middle to PHI 41 for 2 yards (98-M.Patterson).
2-8-PHI 41 (6:36) 13-K.Warner pass short right to 11-L.Fitzgerald to PHI 23 for 18 yards (22-A.Samuel).
1-10-PHI 23 (5:52) 32-E.James right tackle to PHI 20 for 3 yards (56-A.Jordan, 93-T.Laws).
2-7-PHI 20 (5:13) 13-K.Warner pass short left to 11-L.Fitzgerald to PHI 14 for 6 yards (22-A.Samuel, 39-Q.Demps).
3-1-PHI 14 (4:26) 34-T.Hightower right tackle to PHI 9 for 5 yards (20-B.Dawkins, 39-Q.Demps).
1-9-PHI 9 (3:44) 32-E.James up the middle to PHI 9 for no gain (93-T.Laws).
2-9-PHI 9 (3:06) 34-T.Hightower left tackle to PHI 8 for 1 yard (90-D.Howard). Timeout #2 by PHI at 02:59.
3-8-PHI 8 (2:59) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short left to 34-T.Hightower for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
(Run formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 13-K.Warner pass to 89-B.Patrick is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
PHI 25 ARZ 32 Plays: 14 Possession: 7:52

 

[Gambit]

We need to come up with a special name for it; maybe The Migration

 

[D-Dogg]

Great, great drive man.

 

[Bert]

How bout, "The Exorcism"?

 

[Evil Ash]

We need to come up with a special name for it; maybe The Migration

Bickley suggested "Haley's Comet" but that doesn't sound like the name of a drive. The Migration isn't bad

That was an amazing drive

 

[Preacher]

It WAS a heck of a drive.

and you're right... its moments like that which turn around histories of franchises. . . the immaculate reception did it for us.

Hopefully, this is a welcome to the club (though I prefer you get yours next year... ! "

 

[Perfectionist]

To me it will always be THE DRIVE. Only name I need!!

 

[RugbyMuffin]

How bout, "The Exorcism"?

Second.

 

[Spielman]

Kind of odd... watching the drive I felt like it was more due to running than passing because it chewed so much clock, but I see looking at the play-by-play data that there were no incompletions and 56 of the 72 yards came through the air. Interesting.

 

[stewdog1]

Second.

Third!

 

[CtCardinals78]

I still get nervous when I watch the replays and and see Hightower bust it to the outside on the 4th and Inches

 

[Mulli]

I still get nervous when I watch the replays and and see Hightower bust it to the outside on the 4th and Inches

Totally!!!

And the final touchdown was a screen? Are you kidding me?

 

[Bufalay]

I still get nervous when I watch the replays and and see Hightower bust it to the outside on the 4th and Inches

haha it felt like it took him 10 minutes to get back to the line of scrimmage.

 

[Mulli]

haha it felt like it took him 10 minutes to get back to the line of scrimmage.

Yet another play for the Cards that worked yesterday for the first time ever.

 

[Carddan]

I have to vote for exorcism. That's what it was, the demons are gone. So much pain and suffering as a fan was ripped from my soul yesterday.

 

[TucsonDevil]

I still get nervous when I watch the replays and and see Hightower bust it to the outside on the 4th and Inches

wow, I am the same way. My stomach tightens every time I see the replay. ESPN is calling it "The Drive '09".

BTW, how many loved the celebration Fitz gave after the Hightower screen pass TD? That was my favorite part of the game. Fitz knew it was over at that point.

 

[Mulli]

wow, I am the same way. My stomach tightens every time I see the replay. ESPN is calling it "The Drive '09".

BTW, how many loved the celebration Fitz gave after the Hightower screen pass TD? That was my favorite part of the game. Fitz knew it was over at that point.

I didn't.