The Arizona Cardinals trailed the Las Vegas Raiders 20-0 and looked like they were on their way to a second consecutive blowout loss. There were fears of what this team was going to be this season after an 0-2 start.
They looked bad both on offense and on defense, and then suddenly things changed.
After being unable to move the ball or get stops, they were able to do both.
Then, they made clutch big plays, forced overtime and then got the game-winning defensive touchdown to complete the comeback and win the game.
The numbers were crazy.
First-half vs. second-half offensive numbers
In the first half, the Cardinals ran 19 offensive plays and had 86 total yards of offense. They had five first downs.
Quarterback Kyler Murray was 6-for-9 passing for 53 yards and an interception.
They went 1-for-4 on third down.
In the second half, it was like a switch flipped.
After halftime and up until regulation, they had 284 yards of offense on 51 offensive plays. They rushed for 96 yards. Murray went 20-for-34 passing for 188 yards and a touchdown pass.
Then, in overtime, they added another 43 yards.
After an 86-yard first half, they rolled up 327 yards of offense between the second half and overtime. Murray had 224 passing yards, 28 rushing yards, a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown. He threw for a two-point conversion and ran for another.
But the turnaround wasn’t just on offense.
First-half vs. second-half defensive numbers
In the first half, the defense allowed 258 yards and 20 points. The Raiders had 15 first downs and were 5-of-6 on third down. They did not punt.
In the second half in regulation, they held the Raiders to 48 yards and three points. The Raiders did not convert on a third down. They had only 18 offensive plays from halftime to overtime.
In overtime, they allowed 18 yards and a third-down conversion but then took the ball away.
From 258 yards and 20 points allowed in the first half to 66 yards and three points in the second half and overtime, the defense finally clicked.
If both the offense and defense can look something similar to that starting at the beginning of a game, then the Cardinals will be back on track to doing what they expected to do.
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