The Arizona Cardinals head into Sunday’s opener against the Los Angeles Chargers as clear underdogs, but Week 1 has a way of throwing expectations out the window. Arizona’s offense is thought to be the stronger side of the ball. The defense, on the other hand, comes with a lot more uncertainty.
If the Cardinals are going to spring the upset, they’ll need the game to tilt in a few very specific ways.
First, Arizona has to get on the board early. That matters even more because the Chargers are expected to have a strong offense under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, and the Cardinals’ defensive questions could turn ugly fast if they’re forced to chase the game. A quick two-score deficit would put them right back in the same kind of spot they kept finding themselves in last season.
The other big piece is making Justin Herbert uncomfortable. That’s easier said than done.
Arizona doesn’t bring much pass rush beyond Josh Sweat, and the Chargers’ tackle duo of Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt is a problem. But there is a path if Walter Nolen and Dante Stills can generate pressure from the middle and collapse the pocket enough to rattle Herbert.
The Cardinals also have to bottle up the Chargers’ ground game. McDaniel brings one of the league’s better run schemes, and Los Angeles has Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal in the backfield mix. If Arizona can slow that run attack, it can force longer third downs and create more chances to get after Herbert.
And none of that works if Jacoby Brissett doesn’t have time to operate. He’s a rugged quarterback, but he absorbs punishment. With Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu and rookie Akheem Mesidor coming off the edge, the Cardinals need their protection to hold up long enough for Brissett to get the ball out cleanly.
In Other News...
Chargers Already Face An Ugly Harbaugh Backlash After Week 1
The Chargers season opener was supposed to be a clean first step under Jim Harbaugh, but instead it ended with a 26-14 home loss to the Cardinals and an immediate round of soul-searching. Harbaugh did not hide his frustration afterward, singling out the defense for its shortcomings, and the tone around the team changed fast once the final whistle blew.
Breiden Fehoko added another layer to the aftermath by going after Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz on social media, turning a bad Week 1 into an early referendum on the roster-building process. With Las Vegas next on the schedule, the Chargers do not have much time to settle the noise before they have to show whether this was a one-off stumble or the start of a much bigger problem. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Sent A Message In Week 1 Few Fans Expected
The Cardinals opened the season with a road win that looked much sharper than plenty of people expected, handling the Chargers 26-14 behind a defense that kept turning momentum their way. A blocked punt helped set up a touchdown, Andrew Wingard came up with a key interception, and Dante Stills delivered a sack on fourth and goal as Arizona kept stacking stops and never really let Los Angeles settle in.
Jeremiyah Love got Arizona on the board early with a touchdown, and from there the Cardinals did enough on both sides to stay in command. It was the kind of Week 1 performance that can change how a team is viewed, especially when it comes away from a tough road environment with a result like this, even if the larger test of what it means for the season is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks QB Situation Just Changed Arizonas Next NFC West Test
Seattles quarterback picture shifted ahead of a game that matters to Arizonas early NFC West climb. Sam Darnold is expected to miss Week 2 against the Cardinals because of a glute injury, which means Drew Lock will be under center when the Seahawks come to town. Its the kind of mid-September adjustment that can quietly change the feel of a division matchup, especially when both teams are still trying to sort out who they are.
For Arizona, it adds another layer to a stretch that already demands attention in the division race. Darnolds injury is not considered major, and a return as soon as Week 4 remains possible, but his Week 3 status is also up in the air, leaving Seattles quarterback situation unsettled for the immediate future. The Cardinals will prepare for Lock, but theyll also have one eye on how much longer this version of the Seahawks offense might look different. [Read more 🡒]