Second half is when Arizona Cardinals’ defense really comes to play

Oct 7, 2013, 11:48 PM | Updated: 11:48 pm

TEMPE, Ariz. — They’ve all been beaten by the Arizona Cardinals, but that’s not the only thing the Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers have in common.

Neither one of their offenses scored any points in the second half against Arizona. Each went into the half with the lead, and each finished the game with a loss.

So, why does defensive coordinator Todd Bowles’ group seem to undergo a transformation during the 12-minute break?

“We’ve just got to wait for Todd to talk [expletive] to us,” linebacker John Abraham joked.

Whatever it is that Bowles and his staff do, it’s working.

In Sunday’s game against the Panthers, Carolina quarterback Cam Newton completed 14-of-21 passes for 215 yards in the first half, finding open receivers with great precision. In fact, had his wideouts not dropped some very catchable passes, his numbers would have looked significantly better.

Things changed after the half, though, as Newton completed just 7-of-18 passes for 93 yards with three interceptions over the final two quarters.

Newton, along with Mike Glennon and Matthew Stafford, combined to complete 45-of-65 first-half passes for 540 yards and three touchdowns for a quarterback rating of 109.78, but completed just 24-of-53 passes for 239 yards with five interceptions for a rating of 19.30 in the second half of the Cardinals’ three wins.

Not that the defense has been bad in the first half, but it has certainly been great in the second.

“I think great adjustments by the players and the coaches,” head coach Bruce Arians said. “Having seen pretty much what is going on in the first half of a ballgame, there’s not a lot of change usually in the second half.”

Cornerback Patrick Peterson echoed those sentiments, saying offense generally don’t change much from the first half to the second. So, as long as the Cardinals can adjust, they can match up.

“We’ve got a pretty good eye in the sky with [defensive backs coach Nick Kapone] and those guys up in the box taking great notes and coming into halftime making those minor adjustments,” Peterson said. That, he added, allows the players to go out and play fast. And by the looks of it, when the Cardinals defense plays fast, it plays well.

Then again, it can’t just be about coaching. After all, the opponents have coaches too, all of whom are watching the Cardinals looking for weaknesses to expose. But so far it is the Cardinals who have been able to use the intermission to their advantage, meaning the team is not out of any game as long as it is still in it after 30 minutes of play.

“We start off slow just because you’ve got to get comfortable; you’ve got to see what they’re doing,” Abraham said. “Any time you play a team you go through practice, you see a lot of plays, but then you’ve got to kind of get into it.

“You can’t just come off firing sometimes, you’ve got kind of see what they’re going to do and play off that.”

It’s kind of a “punch/counter-punch” scenario, as Abraham said the Cardinals may need to feel their opponent out a bit before going for the knockout blow.

“We know what they’ve got to give and we’re ready to go.”

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) throws against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Carolina Panthers wide receiver Brandon LaFell (11) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington (58) during the first half of a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals running back Rashard Mendenhall (28) is tackled by Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Thomas Davis (58)during the first half of a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) is pressured by Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Thomas Davis, right, and Greg Hardy (76) during the first half of a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) looks to throw under pressure from Arizona Cardinals nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu, right, during the first half of a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith (89) escapes the reach of Arizona Cardinals defensive end Matt Shaughnessy (91) and John Abraham during the first half of a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) is sacked by Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Karlos Dansby (56) during the first half of a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals running back Andre Ellington (38) looks to run as Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Colin Cole (92) defends during the first half of a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) pulls in a pass as Carolina Panthers cornerback Drayton Florence (29) and Mike Mitchell defends during the first half of a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) intercepts a pass as Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith (89) defends during the first half of a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Ted Ginn (19) tries to break away from Arizona Cardinals defensive back Tony Jefferson (22) during the first half of a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) signals first down against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams (34) escapes the tackle of Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Karlos Dansby (56) during the first half of a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals' Daryl Washington, right, gets blocks by Carolina Panthers' DeAngelo Williams, middle, as Panthers quarterback Cam Newton looks to throw the ball in the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals' Tyrann Mathieu, left, sacks Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton (1) in the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals' Jay Feely (4) connects for a field goal against the Carolina Panthers with the help of holder Dave Zastudil (9) in the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals' Patrick Peterson (21) intercepts a ball intended for Carolina Panthers' Steve Smith (89) in the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals running back Rashard Mendenhall (28) scores a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) makes a catch as Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Thomas (22) defends during the second half of a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams (34) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Karlos Dansby (56) during the second half of a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) is sacked by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Wawhington (58) during the second half of a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) is sacked in the end zone for a safety by Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell (93) during the second half of a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith (89) is knocked down by Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams (34) tries to escape Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) and Daryl Washington during the second half of a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) intercepts a pass as Arizona Cardinals running back Andre Ellington (38) defends during the second half of a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd, right, is tackled by Carolina Panthers strong safety Robert Lester during the second half of a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Karlos Dansby (56) celebrates after a NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 22-6. Cardinals' Tyrann Mathieu (32)looks on. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals' Jim Dray (81) celebrates his touchdown catch against the Carolina Panthers with teammate Lyle Sendlein (63) in the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Panthers 22-6. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals tight end Jim Dray (81) celebrates his touchdown with Larry Fitzgerald during the second half of a NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 22-6. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals' Jay Feely (4) pumps his fist after kicking a field goal as Carolina Panthers' Armond Smith (36) looks for the ball in the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Panthers 22-6. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith (89) leaves his pink cleats at midfield after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 22-6. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, left, and Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera meet after a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 22-6. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

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