It wasn’t a first half to remember for the Arizona Cardinals as a team, but it was for defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche.

Nkemdiche accounted for 2 1/2 sacks against the Los Angeles Chargers and quarterback Philip Rivers in the first 30 minutes on Sunday.

Make it 2.5 sacks in the FIRST HALF for @Thelegendmerlyn! pic.twitter.com/VkaLIyzZtm — Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) November 25, 2018

The former first-round draft pick, in his third NFL season, entered the game with two career sacks.

The career performance came out of nowhere.

Nkemdiche hadn’t played in the Cardinals’ previous two games and hadn’t recorded a sack since the third week of the season.

All of Nkemdiche’s 4 1/2 career sacks have come this season.

Follow @DannyShapiro13