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TEMPE, Ariz. -- So far, the Arizona Cardinals offense is nowhere near the dynamic, big-play outfit it was a year ago. The defense, though, might be better.Arizona has not allowed a touchdown in its last two games -- a 28-3 victory over the New York Jets and that strange 6-6 overtime tie with the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night. Actually, it is nine consecutive quarters if you count the 15-minute overtime period.With the addition of outside linebacker Chandler Jones and the return of Tyrann Mathieu from knee surgery, this defense was supposed to surely be improved. The Cardinals sputtered in the season-opening loss to Tom Brady-less New England and were embarrassed in a 33-18 loss at Buffalo.Things went from better in a win in San Francisco to dominant against the Jets and Seahawks.I think were just starting to groove, defensive tackle Calais Campbell said, developing the confidence, developing the swagger. We have a lot of talent. We knew that going in. Were on the same page now.Through seven games, Arizona ranks second in the NFL in total defense -- allowing an average of 289.6 yards. They are third against the pass, 13th against the run.Now its on to Carolina (1-4) to face a team thats an even puzzle than the Cardinals are at 3-3-1.Arizona Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson, a critical member of the defense, said he will be fine to play despite sore ribs that prevented him from practicing Wednesday. He was limited Thursday.For the most part I felt pretty good and Ill be ready to go Sunday, Peterson said. Probably the most challenging thing about it is trusting it will be OK in the game when I have to press.Arizona relies on Peterson to defend the opponents best receiver. He said he expects to be defending wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin most of the time SundayBruce Arians said Sundays game was the best defensive performance by the Cardinals since hes been their coach. Arizonas defense stuffed the Seahawks in regulation. Seattle got past midfield once in those four quarters, and that came on a blocked punt. The Cardinals outgained Seattle 443 yards to 257.We came in on Monday to watch the tape and, for me, as the coordinator, it was just the passion and energy our guys played with, defensive coordinator James Boettcher said. We played extremely hard. Our guys were ready to play and prepared really well during the course of the week.Jones had a strip sack against Seattle and has been the disruptive force as advertised. The other outside linebacker Markus Golden has been equally successful getting pressure. Golden has six sacks, Jones five. Arizona has 20 sacks overall. Only Denver and Buffalo have more.Arizona is tied for second in takeaways (14) and interceptions (9).jThe secondary has vastly improved from early season problems with a few personnel changes. Safety Tony Jefferson is second on the team with 20 tackles. He also has eight tackles for loss, a sack, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Safety D.J. Swearinger has two interceptions. Cornerback Marcus Cooper, acquired in a trade with Kansas City just before the season started, has three interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns in a blowout win over Tampa Bay.Then theres Mathieu. Coming back from his second knee surgery in three seasons, he was eased into the fray at strong safety in the early games. Finally, against the Jets, he was moved into his old do everything nickel defense role when he plays all over the field. He got his first interception in that game. But he pronounces himself at 85 or 90 percent of normal and wont be fully himself until the knee brace comes off, which he hopes is soon.You can tell that hes a little frustrated that hes not The Honey Badger, because he still has that brace on, Peterson said. Hes still kind of playing second-guess football and not truly trusting it. But I trust him enough that hell get back in the groove. Hes still making those plays, hes just not making. Hes just not making those plays all game like we were accustomed to seeing him make throughout (last) season.Peterson is playing as well as ever but he knows the secondary is not the strength of this defense.Give the credit to the front four, Peterson said. Those guys are really hunting up there.Cheap Nike Shoes Black Friday . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Nike Shoes Black Friday Sale . The visitors took a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area. http://www.nikeshoesblackfriday.com/ . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. Nike Shoes Black Friday Online . Those lessons were more than enough to overwhelm the Utah Jazz. Lou Williams scored 25 points and the Hawks continued their offensive upswing as they rolled to an easy 118-85 victory over the Jazz on Friday night, winning their third straight and for the fourth time in five games. Nike Shoes Black Friday 2019 . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night.LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Malik Monk scored 23 points and DeAaron Fox added 16 to propel No. 1 Kentucky to a 101-70 rout of Cleveland State on Wednesday.With leading scorer Isaiah Briscoe sidelined by a back injury, the freshman duo picked up the slack and did it quickly, helping Kentucky (5-0) roll to a 16-2 lead that was never threatened. They combined for 31 first-half points alone, with 19 from Monk, whose 4-for-4 start from long range and 8-of-12 shooting overall helped him match his career scoring best.Bam Adebayo added 14 points and seveen rebounds while Mychal Mulder matched a career high with 13 for Kentucky, which shot a season-best 52 percent from the field in the second of three games in the Bluegrass Showcase.ddddddddddddRob Edwards 28 points on 12-of-21 shooting led Cleveland State (1-3), which couldnt keep up with the Wildcats on either end and trailed 56-35 at the break.---More AP college basketball at: www.collegebasketball.ap.org ' ' '