Aaron Rodgers is hoping to reverse some painful fortunes in Arizona

Aaron Rodgers returns to the site of his first playoff game as the Packers’ starting quarterback on Sunday against the Cardinals. It was a wild wild card game at what is now State Farm Stadium, with Rodgers coming up short in a playoff shootout for the ages against Kurt Warner.

The date was Jan. 10, 2010, five weeks after Rodgers turned 26, and he remembers virtually everything about that crushing 51-45 overtime loss.

“I threw a pick on the first play of the game, and then we fumbled like the second or third play of the game, and the lights went out after that,” Rodgers told The Post.

“Unfortunately, some of my memories are really negative, like Kurt Warner had five passing touchdowns and four incompletions.

“Or how we went into overtime and called my favorite play, maybe ever, and I threw it way too low and not high enough for Greg Jennings. It could have been a walk-off touchdown.

“Or that I fumbled to have it returned for a touchdown and lost the game 51-45.”

Rodgers (423 yards, four touchdowns) was taken out of the game by Michael Adams, and Karlos Dansby returned the fumble from Rodgers’ foot 17 yards for the win.

“I remember it was a great atmosphere,” Rodgers said. “But I made a throw across my body for a pick on the first play, and after that I settled in and played pretty damn well.”

It was Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie who intercepted a short pass intended for Jordy Nelson.

“It’s a fun game that you’re always proud to play. “I’m just disappointed that I threw a pick on the first play of the game and missed Greg in overtime,” Rodgers said. “We felt good about the team we had. Our defense progressed well in the first season under Dom Capers. We had two first-round picks, BJ Raji and Clay Matthews, who played really well. We couldn’t stop them and then we turned the ball over twice and that came back to get us.”

Rodgers also lost a playoff overtime battle in Arizona after the 2015 season. This game is famous for Rodgers essentially completing two Hail Marys to tie the game – one to get to midfield and another on the final play of the game against Jeff Janis for a 41-yard score. Although Larry Fitzgerald had a 75-yard catch-and-run, a 5-yard touchdown followed two plays later to quickly tie the game at 26-20 with over.

Rodgers won in the regular season at Arizona – easily 33-7 in 2010 – but also lost 38-8 in 2015. He won in his last game – 24:21 in 2021, when Rasul Douglas intercepted Kyler Murray in the end zone with twelve seconds left.

“For me it’s the meme of all time, I can’t get rid of it,” Rodgers said. “I threw a touchdown [Randall Cobb]my face mask was up here, my chin strap was here. For me it’s the most searched meme of all time.”

Now Rodgers is trying to get the Jets to 4-6 after their 21-13 win over the Texans.

“We just have to build on the momentum,” he said. “If you want to be a great team you have to train like a great team and I think the last few weeks we’ve been training a lot better.

“But there is still the expectation that we have to go one step further and if we can do that, and I am confident we can, then I think the consistency will show on match day.”

“But you don’t just roll out of bed – that’s a misnomer – you just don’t roll out of bed and play f***ing great. “You have to practice properly.”

The extra rest after Thursday night’s game rejuvenated his 40-year-old body. “Feel like a bunny, man,” he joked. “I have all this energy.”

It wasn’t the ideal practice Wednesday as guards Alijah Vera-Tucker and John Simpson were idle.

“I want more reps,” Rodgers said. “But I understand that it is so. We have to get the most out of the walk-through reps, so every single play, challenge them with cues, with adjustments, with little reminders and stimulate these guys to get ready for those walk-through reps, none Throwaway reps. ”

His play in the second half against the Texans and the drastic reduction in missed appearances encouraged him.

“Probably the best I’ve ever played,” Rodgers said. “Obviously in the second half we couldn’t help but go up.”

Rodgers knows it’s time to go.

“I think there’s been a lot of weight taken off, but there’s a base level of energy and enthusiasm that we maintained in training camp, and we weren’t necessarily there the whole time,” he said. “So we have to find a way to bring it every day. The key to learning for young players is that continuity starts the minute you walk in the building and everything you do has to be intentional and that starts with the conversation you have, the time that you take to work, the way you go about your work. You take notes. We’re starting to do some of the right things, but we’re still a work in progress.”

Razing Arizona for Aaron Rodgers.