We can indeed confirm that Aaron Rodgers has once more been 'at it'.
There's an argument to be made that 33-year-old Green Bay Packers quarterback is the greatest natural talent ever to throw a football; the two-time MVP and 2010 Super Bowl winner has the highest QB rating in NFL history, and might be the most precise passer we've ever witnessed.
The New York Giants, sporting the NFL's meanest defence, dominated Rodgers for 25 minutes of last night's Wild Card playoff tie. After over a quarter, the California graduate and the Green Bay offence had amassed -18 yards total, and the Packers' chances looked bleak as they trailed 6-zip.
In the end, Rodgers had thrown for four touchdowns and 362 yards - without his leading receiver - as the Packers tore the Giants asunder on a scoreline of 38-13.
It was on the stroke of half-time, however, when the Giants might have guessed their goose was cooked. Trailing 7-6 despite having dominated much of the half, the Packers got the ball just inside their own half with six seconds remaining. There was an inevitability to the scenes which followed.
Aaron Rodgers Hail Mary vs the Giants
It was almost an exact replica, second for second, of Eli Manning's heave to Hakeem Nicks on the same ground during the Giants' Super Bowl run back in 2011.
Such is Rodgers' propensity to land a Hail Mary throws - he has now scored touchdowns with four attempts since 2010, three since last season alone - there were understandable calls to scrap the term 'Hail Mary' altogether. Surely even Mary herself wouldn't protest with much fervour, at this stage.
JUST IN: The Hail Mary has been renamed the Aaron Rodgers.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) January 8, 2017
Let me say it again: The Hail Mary should be part of the Green Bay base offense.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) January 8, 2017
Seen that before.
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) January 8, 2017
Hail Mary
[noun]
1. A very long pass made in a desperate attempt to score
2. Otherwise known as an Aaron Rodgershttps://t.co/rEBL4wBR2p— BigSport (@BigSportGB) January 8, 2017
True. pic.twitter.com/O1lRsLlwUm
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 8, 2017
Rodgers told after the game of how he and his receivers now believe that each time he flings a ball from deep with seconds remaining, they will go up and grab the ball.
For further context, here's Rodgers' Hail Mary Aaron Rodgers trilogy from the past two seasons.
The Aaron Rodgers Hail Mary TD Trilogy. #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/SYfIM3vuim
— NFL (@NFL) January 8, 2017
Incredibly, it wasn't even Rodgers' most spectacular play of the game.
With his side trailing by 6 approaching half-time, prior to his Aaron Rodgers, Rodgers - with the help of magnificent pass protection - produced a Galapagos sea iguana-like manoeuvre, spending eight seconds in the pocket before firing a millimetre-perfect ball to Davante Adams to claw his side back into the game.
In his last seven games, Rodgers has thrown for 2,391 yards, 22 touchdowns and no interceptions (ESPN).
Somebody, stop this man.
