Packers: Top 5 playoff heartbreaks in Aaron Rodgers era

2. Packers lose overtime thriller to Cardinals (2009)

So far, we’ve had two losses to the 49ers, and now two against the Cardinals. Brutal.

We go all the way back to 2009. It was Aaron Rodgers’ second season as the starting quarterback and his first playoff run.

We were entertained by a truly wild game that had it all.

Rodgers’ first-ever postseason pass was intercepted. But he and the offense fought back from deficits of 17-0, 24-7, and 31-10. It just felt like this was the Packers’ day.

Rodgers threw touchdown passes to Greg Jennings, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, and Spencer Havner. We saw a successful Green Bay onside kick — a great call by Mike McCarthy.

With the game tied at 45-45, the Cardinals seemingly had it in the bag with a chance to kick a 34-yard field goal in the final seconds. But Neil Rackers missed, sending the game to overtime.

After a huge piece of luck, the Packers got some more by winning the coin toss.

Unfortunately, it set up for a heartbreaking finale.

On the first play of overtime, Rodgers barely missed a wide-open Greg Jennings for what almost certainly would have been an 80-yard game-winning touchdown. At worst, it would have set the Packers up deep in Cardinals territory.

Just two plays later, Rodgers was sacked and fumbled. Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby recovered the fumble and returned it for a touchdown.

Season over. Just like that.