GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Cardinals were looking to deliver the final blow.

Already up 27-9 in the fourth quarter, it looked like Arizona was on the verge of shutting the door on this one in Week 2. But the Panthers had another punch in them. It was third-and-3, sitting at the Panthers' 12-yard line, one of four trips they made there on the day.

Kyler Murray danced in the pocket, as he is apt to do, until Bobby Brown III pushed him out. From there, Patrick Jones II chased him down towards the sideline. With Jones bearing down, Murray tried to make some of his typical magical plays. But Jones hit the QB as the ball came out, causing it to float through the air.

"I had a bonus hook," explained D.J. Wonnum, "and I saw Pat, my dog, my countermate, get pressure on the quarterback. He just threw it up. I'm like, 'Oh, let me go get this.'"

So he did. While he waited on what he called "Ocho Island," the ball seemed to hang in the air, with Wonnum waiting for it to flutter down. At least, that's what it looked like to the naked eye. Wonnum saw it a little differently.

"Took me back to my tight end days when I catch a lot of footballs," laughed Wonnum. "I went and got it."

It's a well-worn adage that a defense can make its money on tips and overthrows. This particular ball, though, they call something a little different.

"He got the tip, I mean, or what was it," Princely Umanmielen began, turning to Nic Scourton for the assist.

"Affected throws," he exclaimed after he and Scourton remembered their coach's phrase. "Yeah, he got the affected throw, you know, Pat affected the quarterback and (D.J.) was right there and able to get the interception."

Regardless of how you want to classify it, though, the play was a pivotal moment.

Wonnum didn't return it for any gain, but it helped swing momentum for the Panthers to attempt a rally. Dave Canales preaches turnovers all the time and the importance of winning that margin. The Cardinals were leading by 16 at that point. Another touchdown would've effectively ended any chance of a comeback. With the interception, though, the Panthers took back possession and drove downfield, capping the drive with a touchdown to make it 27-15.

After the defense forced a three-and-out on the next drive, Bryce Young connected with Hunter Renfrow for the second time that day, making it 27-22 and a lot more interesting in the final minutes. It was proof positive for Canales of how vital turnovers are in each game.

"I know there's more to it than just going turnover for turnover to kind of even out the game, but that is how things balance out, and that was such a great play by him," praised Canales.

"A great rush to force the quarterback to throw off his back foot, you know, and really securing that ball right there, which did give us a chance."

The turnover stat was also a consolation prize for Wonnum, who twice had Murray wrapped up behind the line, but the quarterback was already considered a rusher on that play, so it went down as a tackle for loss instead of a sack.

"It's early," Wonnum said, waving off the lost sacks. "We're going to keep going. I've been a part of a season where I ain't get no sacks till three or four games in and end up with eight, so I'm not worried about the sacks. They're going to come with me."

For now, though, the Panthers' play of the day —the hinge on which the whole game swung —was a poignant reminder of what they can be as a defense and as a team when everyone is doing their job.

"All week we worked on trying to keep Kyler away from being able to run," said defensive lineman Derrick Brown. "I mean, he got outside the pocket on that play. Pat closed quickly, balls in the air, D.J. there, I mean that just shows you, you know, how we work in unison, you know, everybody does their job, puts in the extra effort, and you know good things happen on the back end."