Here’s a look at the first half of the season for the Arizona Cardinals (3-4-1) and a preview of what to expect in the second half:

Grade: C: Cardinals coach Bruce Arians was fair when he gave his team the same grade. They’ve won games they should’ve and lost games they shouldn’t have. The first half of the Cardinals’ season was utterly underwhelming when compared to the sky-high expectations entering the season. They were expected to return to the NFC Championship Game and predicted to win it. In some circles, the Cards were thought to be favorites to win the Super Bowl. Instead, Arizona’s offense has been figured out, and the Cardinals have spent the first half of the season trying to counter the counters. Arians has had to move away from the deep-ball game he loves so much in favor of an intermediate passing game that has been effective.

Midseason MVP: David Johnson. Without the running back, the offense would have been left for dead as defenses figured out how to take away the deep ball. The Cardinals offense looked lost without that weapon early in the season. Fortunately for them, Johnson has lived up to the hype. He leads the NFL in total yards from scrimmage and is third overall in rushing. But his impact on the Cardinals can’t be compared. His 1,112 total yards are 37.1 percent of the Cardinals’ total, and Johnson has accounted for eight of the offense’s 21 touchdowns.

Best moment: Regulation of the Cardinals’ 6-6 overtime tie with the Seattle Seahawks. When the Seahawks came to Glendale for the Week 7 matchup, their offense was hyped as being on the verge of busting loose. Instead, the Cardinals defense shut down the Seahawks during regulation time, not allowing the offense to cross midfield on its own accord. The Cardinals didn't allow a touchdown or yield 100 total yards of offense until the fourth quarter. That was the game, on national TV no less, in which the Cardinals’ defense showed it has been carrying this team thus far -- not the offense.

Worst moment: Kicker Chandler Catanzaro missing a 24-yard field goal in overtime against the Seahawks. Catanzaro was handed a shot at redemption from missing a winning field goal in Week 1, and he missed it. A win would’ve moved Arizona to 4-3 and a game closer to Seattle. Instead, Arizona now has a tie on its record and has been exhausted since playing a full five quarters.

Player to watch: Johnson. Watching him every week has become must-see TV. He could have 100 yards rushing or 100 yards receiving. He has become the heart and soul of the Cardinals offense this season. In just his second season, Johnson has become one of the most dynamic players in the NFL. His moves -- his sidestep, stiff arm and lowered shoulder -- have become staples on highlight reels.

Second-half outlook: The second half doesn’t look much easier. They have five of eight on the road, including two East Coast trips -- which haven’t treated the Cards well this season -- and a long flight to Minnesota the week before Thanksgiving. Even when they’re home, life isn’t easy with the Washington Redskins and New Orleans Saints coming to Arizona, aside from San Francisco this week. It won’t be a surprise if the Cardinals catch fire and rattle off a winning streak that puts them in first place or in command of a wild-card bid. But that's not likely, especially with the inconsistency they’ve shown.