Where to begin.

Let's start here: I can't recall a crazier ending for the Cardinals. Ever. That playoff win against the Packers back in the 2009 season was back-and-forth too, wild swings of emotion, but that was simply offensive football played at an incredibly high level. I'm not sure exactly what Saturday night was.

There was one guy playing at a high level. It was Larry Fitzgerald, and that's the best place to start. I think Fitz had already made a strong Hall of Fame case. But what he did Saturday, basically jump-starting a moribund Cardinals offense by himself, and then making that play in overtime to race 75 yards and set up the (well, his) game-winning touchdown. I know there isn't much more to be said about Fitz that hasn't already been said, but Saturday night? That's how legends are made. They are made with epic playoff performances like Fitz had in the 2008 Super Bowl run, and they are made with 176 yards on eight catches in a dramatic overtime win against the Packers to put your team in the NFC Championship.

-- Next, Carson Palmer. It wasn't Palmer's best game. During the game there were plenty in the Twitterverse that blamed Palmer's issues with his Bengals background. There is no question Palmer was off at times and that end zone interception was, in a word, terrible. You can't do that in that situation.

But Palmer bounced back as Bruce Arians always says he does. He was under more pressure than the Cardinals can afford to let him be under — the Packers had the better pass rush this time around. And the way Palmer miraculously spun out of what should have been a sack and somehow found Fitz on the 75-yard play was as critical and clutch as Fitzgerald's effort on the other end.

-- Palmer gets his first playoff win. It wasn't perfect, but who cares? Not Palmer, that's for sure.

-- The first person in the end zone after Fitz's TD to congratulate Fitz was former teammate-turned-scout Adrian Wilson. A great moment.

-- Speaking of Wilson, he stood next to Justin Bethel tucked in Bethel's locker after the game, quietly talking to the cornerback for a long time. I would guess it was words of encouragement after some tough moments for Bethel, not the least of which being Jeff Janis getting behind him to convert that fourth-and-20 play at the end of the game.

-- The game was so nuts that the touchdown pass to Michael Floyd that was intended for Fitz, deflected high into the air and toward the back of the end zone, over the head of another Packer and Jaron Brown, is a footnote.

-- Floyd, about that play: "I think God was on our side on that one."

-- Here's a new one: Patrick Peterson was sitting on the floor in the locker room having athletic trainer Michael Blankenship remove tape off his ankle, when a reporter wandered over to ask him a question. Soon, Peterson was surrounded by media — so he sat on the floor, outstretched legs in front of him, propped up by his arms, doing his entire media session.

-- Linebacker Kevin Minter, on watching Fitz tonight: "That's that guy I watched growing up."

-- The Cardinals blitzed Aaron Rodgers on the Hail Mary. They did it from his right so he couldn't roll into his power. And he still escaped and flung a great pass so his guy would have a chance. Sometimes, you have to tip your cap to the other guy. I'm guessing the Packers — after the hurt wears off — will do that with Fitz. And you have to do it to Rodgers.

-- Sure, the Cardinals could have run the ball on second down, right before the two-minute warning and their final field goal. They could've burned up another 35 or 40 seconds. But Arians went for the kill. "I play to win," Arians said. No risk it, no biscuit. I'm sure there are those who have issues with the call, but folks, if you are following/rooting for this team, this is what you signed up for.

-- I could write more, but it's time to go home. Got to get some sleep so that I'm up in time for Seattle-Carolina. It's on to the NFC Championship.