National Football League

Aaron Rodgers and Dan Marino have more in common than the fake spike

Published Oct. 12, 2014 7:31 p.m. ET

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Alex Marvez

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers joked that he spotted Dan Marino at halftime of Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins.

Little did anyone know -- Rodgers included --“ that he would be deploying the legendary quarterback's renowned "fake spike" to help defeat the team that made it famous.

Almost two decades after Marino used the same chicanery to fool the New York Jets before throwing for a game-winning score, Rodgers unveiled his own version against a sleeping Dolphins defense. His 12-yard completion to rookie wide receiver Davante Adams put Rodgers in position to fire a four-yard touchdown pass to tight end Andrew Quarless with three seconds remaining, giving Green Bay a 27-24 comeback win at Sun Life Stadium.

The two plays capped a 60-yard drive Rodgers directed without timeouts (although the Dolphins took two of them trying --“ and ultimately failing --€“ to ensure their defensive personnel was in the right place). Rodgers also had to convert on a fourth-and-10 by hitting wide receiver Jordy Nelson for 18 yards despite having Dolphins linebacker Olivier Vernon in his face on a fierce pass rush.

Rodgers was sacked three times and pummeled so many times that his back was covered with welts and bruises. He still completed 24 of 42 passes for 264 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions as Green Bay (4-2) won its third straight game.

"He's orchestrating the way he does every week," Adams said of Rodgers on Green Bay's final series. "He was calm, cool and collected but demanding of us, too. I think that's what brings out the best in us."

The "clock play" is an example of that, particularly when it pertains to Adams. The second-round draft pick had missed an important pre-snap signal from Rodgers during a Week 3 loss to Detroit.

Adams made sure not to disappoint his quarterback twice.

Most Packers players on the field expected Rodgers to spike the football with about 15 seconds remaining. Rodgers added to the subterfuge by yelling "clock" while noticing that Dolphins cornerback Cortland Finnegan was "way off" Adams on the right sideline.

Rodgers subtly got Adams' attention before engaging in some of what he playfully described as "freestyling."

"Davante wasn't looking at me initially," Rodgers said. "But after he saw me moving he looked and I threw it. I was hoping he knew to just get a couple (yards) and get out of bounds but he almost ended up scoring."

Dolphins cornerback Cortland Finnegan awoke from his stupor in time to push Adams out of bounds, but not before the damage was done.

"That's usually how it is when you see the other team about to spike the ball," said Adams, who had the savvy not to turn inside to try to score knowing time would expire if he was tackled inbounds. "You're not going to be all tense.

"[Finnegan] was a little off. I wouldn't say he was lackadaisical because most people would do the same thing. That's why we took advantage of it."

The next Dolphins defender to get victimized was linebacker Phillip Wheeler, who got matched in coverage against Wheeler as the outside target in a four-receiver set. Rodgers took the snap and immediately rifled the football to Quarless, who was given ample cushion by Wheeler to make the catch uncontested.

"Once I turned my head the ball was there," Quarless said. "I was the second option if (Rodgers) didn't audible. I'm going to stay in his ear saying, 'Let's work these linebackers.' Once we saw they had a linebacker on us, the rest is history."

Rodgers made some personal history in his 100th career NFL start. It was not only his first road start against the Dolphins but Rodgers cracked it was the first time he had won a start in the state of Florida after three 2008 and 2009 losses to Tampa Bay and Jacksonville.

"I would like to play at least another hundred," a smiling Rodgers said.

Those aren't the words an opposing defense should want to hear as Rodgers continues to build a resume that will allow him to someday join Marino in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

When it's time, of course.

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