THERE WAS A FOOTBALL GAME, THERE WAS A FOOTBALL GAME

where there was no defense played at all. Until the last play of the game. Which led to a Cardinals' victory over the up and coming Packers.

The emotions of playoff football in the NFL ran the gamut in Sunday's thrilling 51-45 win for the good guys. From early indications of a cakewalk for the Cardinals to impending doom when Rackers choked on a field goal attempt, to certain loss when the coin toss fell the way of the Green Bayers.

Like those advertisements of the poor little kids with cleft pallets leaving them with a hideous appearance, I had to look though I knew what I was seeing in OT would be ugly. It was only a matter of time until Rodgers hit a wide open receiver, their guy kicked a field goal and AZ was history.

Then I flashed back on a St. Louis Ram overtime playoff loss against the teal clad Panthers when Steven Smith caught one of the first passes in overtime and took it to the house ending a great Ram season. It was a painful car ride back to MTV after that catch. Well the GB qb had a wide open receiver running the exact same route on the same side of the field that Smith had done half a decade ago. But Rodgers choked this time and hurled the sphere way out of reach.

And then little Mike Adams makes the play of his life. Rushing, sacking, and yeah face-masking the qb who coughed up the ball, kicked it hackey sack style into the waiting arms of Karlos Dansby, Number 58 of the Cardinals who pranced into the end zone for the victory.

The guttural sound, long and loud, that emanated from my being came from some part of my diaphragm that I've never used. It was so sweet--the win, certainly not the sound.

I was exhausted as if I had tried to cover the Green Bay wide outs. I watched some of the after-game analyses, but not many. But I had to see a Warner interview. Can you imagine throwing 5 touchdown passes and only 4 incompletions out of 33 balls tossed all afternoon? Wow!

As I looked in the mirror at my flushed face I was reminded of when an MTV physics teacher drank about a sixth of a jar of pickle juice in front of me one time.

Oh well, it was worth it. I flicked off a little popcorn salt from my Warner jersey. I get to wear it proudly again Saturday in the next round of the playoffs.