It was an interesting night against the Bengals for Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer.

"The first half, probably has poorly as he's played here in three years," coach Bruce Arians said Monday. "In the second half, probably has good as he's played in three years.

"That's the type of guy he is. He can have rough moments, shake them off and just come on back. He's like a really good pitcher who can't find the plate, and then all of a sudden, he gets in a groove."

Palmer only completed 7-of-12 passes for 81 yards in the first half against the Bengals, and that's including an 18-yard scoring strike to tight end Darren Fells. He also threw two poor interceptions. In the second half, Palmer was 13-for-19 for 236 yards and three touchdowns.

Arians said he thought Palmer was pressing against his former team.

"I think he wanted to get after these guys a little too much early and then he settled down and got into rhythm," Arians said.

Palmer admitted he was out of sync, but the second half he went back to his MVP-type ways.

"I just made some bad plays, but I think that's the sign of a really good team win," Palmer said. "When one guy is struggling or one side of the ball is struggling, you pick up the slack for the guys around you. We picked it up in the second half."

PETERSON, RUCKER BOTH DAY-TO-DAY

Arians had yet to see MRI results on the ankle injury to cornerback Patrick Peterson but he noted that Peterson tweeted out he was fine.

"He's sore," Arians said. "He ran a little bit in the pool."

Defensive tackle Frostee Rucker, who also hurt his ankle Sunday, is also day-to-day.

Arians said he is hoping starting right guard Jonathan Cooper (knee) can return this week, but if Cooper is limited in any way, Ted Larsen could remain in the starting lineup. Defensive tackle Cory Redding (high ankle sprain) likely will not play this week in San Francisco. As for wide receiver Michael Floyd, if he can run full speed he will be back but "there's no need to press it," Arians said.

CARDINALS GAVE OFFICIALS A HEADS-UP

There continued to be back-and-forth about the Bengals' final unsportsmanlike penalty prior to Chandler Catanzaro's game-winning field goal Sunday night. Defensive tackle Domata Peko was flagged for barking signals to try and cause a false start – which happened when Larsen jumped.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis reiterated in his media briefing Monday the Bengals did not do anything wrong. Arians, however, said the Cardinals "probably" alerted the officials before the play because the Bengals had done similar things earlier in the game.

"They have a history of it," Arians said.

That doesn't mean Arians was happy with Larsen, who nearly cost the Cards a 10-secord runoff and a field-goal try – they had no timeouts left – by jumping before Palmer could spike the ball.

Larsen graded out "very, very well," Arians said. "Other than the almost FUBAR of the year."