Cardinals vs. Browns: Postgame Grades and Notes for Arizona

It took a furious rally, but the Arizona Cardinals got the job done. The NFC West division leaders went to Cleveland and claimed a 34-20 victory on Sunday afternoon.

After a sloppy first half that saw them trail the home team by 10, the Cardinals dominated the final two quarters, outscoring the Browns 24-0.

A tale of two halves, it was a performance Charles Dickens would've enjoyed.

Arizona opened the scoring with a Troy Niklas touchdown, but a fumble by Chris Johnson on its next drive opened the door for Cleveland. The Browns would respond with 20 unanswered points.

The Cardinals managed a field goal before halftime and then took full control after the break. Michael Floyd hauled in a 60-yard touchdown reception before Niklas gave the Cardinals the lead for good with his second touchdown catch of the day.

The two teams traded turnovers before Johnson could put the game out of reach with a one-yard touchdown run that capped an 80-yard drive.

Arizona enters its bye week with a 6-2 record, one-and-a-half games clear of St. Louis in the NFC West.

Click ahead for the full recap.

Position Grades for Arizona

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QB	A-
RB	D+
WR	A-
TE	B+
OL	C-
DL	A
LB	B
DB	B
Special Teams	B+
Coaching	A

Above everyone else, credit must be given to Arizona's coaching staff for this win. The Cardinals entered halftime headed for a season-derailing loss. Regardless of what you think of the Browns, Arizona didn't dwell on its mistakes and took full control of the game in the second half. Bruce Arians and his staff earned this victory.

On offense, Carson Palmer and his receivers flipped the narrative on Cleveland's defense. Teams are supposed to run all day on the Browns, but the Cardinals could not. So Palmer beat them through the air, without John Brown at his disposal. Floyd came up with a tremendous individual play that changed the tenor of the game.

This won't be a game to remember for Chris Johnson and the rest of Arizona's running backs. He fumbled twice, and beyond a 34-yard reception from David Johnson, the trio didn't do much.

On defense, everything started, as it usually does, with the defensive line. They dominated the line of scrimmage, holding the Browns to just 39 yards on 20 rushing attempts.

Also deserving of mention is the entire special teams unit, which turned in a blemish-free afternoon. Patrick Peterson provided a spark with a 38-yard punt return, Drew Butler boomed a couple of punts and Chandler Catanzaro was steady. 

Second-Half Rally Saves Cardinals

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Admit it, Cardinals fans. There was a moment or two in the first half where you thought, "Maybe this team just isn't that good."

While Cleveland was tallying 20 unanswered points, Arizona looked a lot like the shellshocked team that couldn't find solutions for St. Louis and Pittsburgh earlier in the year. Even the drive that led to a Catanzaro field goal to close the half could shake that image.

And then four things happened, almost in succession: Floyd made a spectacular 60-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown, LaMarr Woodley stuffed Isaiah Crowell for a seven-yard loss, Patrick Peterson broke free for a 38-yard punt return and Jaron Brown pulled down a 39-yard reception. 

Guys made plays all over the field, and Arizona took full control of the game from the overmatched Browns.

The Cardinals' play in the second half was not perfect, nor did it even approach brilliant. They turned the ball over twice, and Cleveland gave them plenty of help.

Still, Arizona made an emphatic statement by turning the game around in such a thorough fashion. And the statement was directed at themselves.

Being the kind of team that can "flip the switch" when needed is often considered both a blessing and a curse, and for good reason. Good teams know where they can find the switch when they need it most.

That's what Arizona did on Sunday. It located its switch.

Second String Steps Up

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Depth was something of a nagging worry on Sunday, with Arizona entering the game missing more faces than it had all season. 

In the end, the injuries just opened the door for other players to make their mark on the team.

Second-year tight end Troy Niklas, healthy at last, scored the first two touchdowns of his career, one in each half. He now has six career receptions, a third of which have come in the end zone.

Rookie receiver J.J. Nelson took advantage of John Brown's absence to notch the first three receptions of his career. He picked up 70 yards on four targets.

It wasn't just the young guys having fun.

Veteran Dwight Freeney picked up his second sack of the season in the third quarter, shutting down Cleveland's first drive after the Cardinals retook the lead.

If Malcolm Butler's game-winning interception in the Super Bowl taught us anything, it's to be thankful when Seattle doesn't run Marshawn Lynch on the goal line. 

If it taught us anything else, it's that teams need everyone on the roster to step up and contribute to advance deep in the playoffs.

Right now, it's beginning to look like Arizona's second string is prepared to do just that. 

Arizona Ends First Half in Great Shape

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Sunday's game against Cleveland marked the end of the first half of Arizona's season. The Cardinals enter their bye week with a 6-2 mark.

Arizona holds a one-and-a-half game advantage over St. Louis in the NFC West, and it remains two games ahead of Seattle, whom they play on the road in Week 10.

Sunday's win also draws them level with Atlanta in the NFC playoff race, with both teams looking up at Green Bay and undefeated Carolina. Those two teams play each other in Week 9, which means Arizona will be in striking distance of a first-round playoff bye when its season resumes.

Perhaps the best news of all, Arizona remains relatively unscathed on the injury front. With two weeks before their next game, John Brown and Alex Okafor should have sufficient time to heal and return to the field. 

While Arizona will be unhappy it let two games get away in the first half, it remains in strong shape in the playoff race. The schedule turns rough in the second half—Seattle twice, Green Bay, Cincinnati and Minnesota—but it's in position to host at least one home playoff game.