The plan started on a private plane, sent by the Cardinals Tuesday to pick up Adrian Peterson in New Orleans and bring him back to Arizona. Running backs coach Freddie Kitchens was on board, so that the return trip to Arizona could be spent on a crash course about the Cardinals' offense.

"It sounded like Chinese," Peterson said Sunday, after that five-day tutorial turned into a 134-yard rushing debut.

Peterson said Kitchens walked him through what he needed to learn, calling him at home just to go over things. By the time Peterson got to Sunday, he felt prepared, and he played that way.

Kitchens downplayed his role, saying only that he helped get Peterson in the building. And there is little question Peterson, motivated as he was to do well, had the talent if he knew what was called.

"It was the terminology of the plays," wide receiver/Peterson landlord Larry Fitzgerald said. "You don't tell a great back where to run."

Fitz is going to gush about Peterson. They are friends. But Peterson deserves the praise. Not just for his production, but for the intangible vibe that surrounded this team right about the time Peterson and Kitchens were flying back from Louisiana.

"I wish he'd have been here 11 years from the beginning," Fitzgerald said. "I'd have a Super Bowl ring already. But having him here, his leadership, his demeanor in the huddle, I think it's reinvigorating everybody."

-- I can't lie. I did not expect Peterson to make that kind of impact. I thought the Cards would be better. Not that much better. But when he ripped off two eight-yard runs on his first two carries, I quickly reconsidered.

-- Chandler Jones got his sixth sack in six games and got a couple tackles for loss. That doesn't do his game justice, especially early. He's had a very good season.

-- Still, you want to see the defense finish better. It'll be interesting to see if Tramon Williams gets more playing time at cornerback.

-- And not because of Patrick Peterson's quad problem. If P2 is down, the Cards will feel it, although Peterson insisted he will be ready to play against the Rams next week. That was a big part of the fourth-quarter problems Sunday. No Patrick. Adrian isn't the only necessary Peterson.

-- The offensive line was better. It wasn't perfect, but the return of left tackle D.J. Humphries and left guard Alex Boone, along with Earl Watford taking over at right guard clearly made a difference. There was a lot of emotion Sunday with Adrian Peterson and the crowd and that adrenaline helps. But if this group can stay healthy and together — that was the fifth different offensive line in six games — the Cards should be OK.

-- Fitzgerald said it was kicker Phil Dawson who told him to waste some time on the onside kick recovery at the end, to make sure the clock ticked under the two-minute mark (and stoppage at the two-minute warning) so the Cards could kneel three times and be done. "That was Phil all the way," Fitz said.

-- Ryan Fitzpatrick likes putting a scare into Bruce Arians. First it was 2013 in Tennessee, then Sunday.

-- Arians took the blame for Palmer's interception, saying he insisted on throwing it deep there to go for the throat. But Arians said he needs to stay greedy. "There's no lead big enough in the National Football League," Arians said.

-- Palmer is expecting both David Johnson and T.J. Logan to come off injured reserve, apparently, since he mentioned both running backs playing with Peterson later this season.

"I can't help but think what B.A. will come up with when we get T.J. Logan back and Dave back," Palmer said. "I can't wait to see that."

-- That would be interesting. Just like the Cards were Sunday. Tomorrow, a flight to London.