Analysis: Arizona Cardinals' find rhythm after ugly 1st half in win over Carolina Panthers

Analysis

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It was sloppy, ugly, miserable and dank Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.

Oh, the weather here was perfectly fine. The Cardinals’ performance during a good portion of their game against the Carolina Panthers, however, was anything but.

It was so bad, especially in the first half, that you almost wished there had been a heavy downpour of rain to wash away the putrid smell Arizona left out on the field.

But as the Cardinals know from their past two seasons, it isn’t always how you start but how you finish. And this time, as messy and unmanageable as things began and were allowed to fester, things started to click just enough for the Cardinals to overcome themselves and the Panthers to snatch a 26-16 victory from the jaws of defeat.

“Another slow start and it wasn’t a feel about the aura around the team, it wasn’t any of that,” said quarterback Kyler Murray, who passed for two touchdowns and ran for another. “On the road, it felt great. (On) just third downs, we didn’t execute well early and we came back at halftime and nobody was down, nobody was pressing or anything like that after I threw a pick six.

“I knew we’d be fine. I thought our defense played a hell of a game, a hell of a game. They had our backs all day and we finally kicked it in gear in the second half and found our rhythm, which is part of the problem. There’s no rhythm at the beginning of the games. We’re sleepwalking out there. That’s what it feels like.”

The offense hadn’t found the end zone for six consecutive quarters until Murray connected with tight end Zach Ertz on a 2-yard touchdown strike during Arizona’s first possession of the second half. That tied the score at 10 and after a second Matt Prater field goal, the game flipped on a dime.

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Naturally, J.J. Watt had a hand in it, too. Breaking his own news earlier in the day, the veteran defensive lineman revealed on Twitter that his heart went into atrial fibrillation or “A-Fib” on Wednesday and needed to be shocked back into rhythm. Though arrhythmia can lead to blood clots in the heart and increase the risks of a stroke or heart failure, multiple physicians assured Watt he would be able to play Sunday and play he did.

Not only did he provide a consistent pass rush along with Zach Allen and Dennis Gardeck, but he tipped two Baker Mayfield passes, including one that led to an interception and 24-yard return by Gardeck just under four minutes into the fourth quarter. Two plays later, Murray scored on a 4-yard run and the Cardinals led 20-10 and never looked back.

Though Prater reaggravated a hip issue and wasn’t able to kick off or, in the end, even attempt the point after, the Cardinals padded their lead when Murray hit good buddy Marquise “Hollywood” Brown down the right sideline for an over-the-shoulder, 23-yard scoring grab.

Arizona scored 23 unanswered points and as bad as it started, it was over.

“I don’t think you can put a price tag on playing with somebody in the past or having that relationship off the field,” Murray said of his chemistry with Brown, his former college teammate at Oklahoma who has caught 20 passes for 228 yards the past two weeks. “There’s just this connection where we see things the same way.”

But it started with Watt’s deflection and the defense, which forced three turnovers on the day and made up for Arizona’s inept offense, which for a fourth straight week failed to score in the first quarter and found itself trailing at halftime.

“The boys played a great game,” Watt said afterward, fighting back tears as he described his emotions over the past few days. “I’m thankful to be out there with them. … It was a great game. We needed it on the road, and we needed to put together a great performance.”

Once again, the Cardinals couldn’t trust their offense in the early going, a sickening trend. They could produce nothing on their first five possessions other then two three and outs, a Murray interception that Frankie Luvu returned for a touchdown and two drives that stalled when coach Kliff Kingsbury went for it on fourth down.

“Yeah, it wasn’t pretty,” Kingsbury said. “We talked about it at the beginning of the week, ‘Hey, it doesn’t matter at this point. Whatever it takes to get to 2-2.’ That was the mantra. Whatever it takes to get to 2-2 this first quarter (of four games) with all we’ve had going on, the injuries and different things.

“That was the mission. The defense played their tails off, kept us in it in the first half. The offense was really struggling once again. But I thought the second half, we came together, all played at a high level and found a way to get it done.”

Allen, who played one of his best games as a pro with three pass deflections, six tackles, a sack, two quarterback hits and a tackle for loss, said “everybody on the defense was making plays.”

“Obviously, guys are really happy, but it’s Week 4 of a 17-week season or 18-week season with a bye,” he added. “On the outside, everybody is like, ‘Oh my God, the sky is falling.’ … But you can’t ride the (emotional) roller coaster.”

The Cardinals might have to, though, considering they have a visit looming next Sunday against the only remaining undefeated team in the NFL at State Farm Stadium – the 4-0 Philadelphia Eagles. The Cardinals are expected to get some reinforcements back from injured reserve this week, but a handful of players got banged up on Sunday, making Week 5 even more captivating.

“We know we haven’t played to our full potential,” Kingsbury said, adding, “There’s no better time to try and take a big step than going against these guys. They look like they have no weaknesses, watching them. Tremendous offense, defense, a great roster.

“It’ll be a great time to see where we’re at right now.”

Where they’re at is still really anyone’s guess. But just like the Cardinals discovered themselves the past two seasons, it isn’t always how you start but how you finish. Isn’t that right, Kyler Murray?

“It matters to me,” Murray said. “But it’s a much better feeling, leaving here with a win, I can tell you that much. We haven’t beaten this team here since 2002. Everything’s better when you win.”

Have an opinion on the Arizona Cardinals? Reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic.com and follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac. Listen to him live on Fox Sports 910-AM every Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 on Calling All Sports with Roc and Manuch.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Analysis: Arizona Cardinals' find rhythm after ugly 1st half in win over Carolina Panthers