Week 1 brings a reset for both the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers, but the two teams enter Sunday’s mid-afternoon matchup on very different footing. Los Angeles is trying to turn long-running promise into something more tangible, while Arizona is again staring at a rebuild under new head coach Mike LaFleur.
For the Chargers, the biggest storyline is the debut of a new offense under Mike McDaniel, who replaces Greg Roman as offensive coordinator. Justin Herbert has already been a steady presence at quarterback, but the hope in Los Angeles is that this setup finally gives him a system built to move fast and keep him upright.
The Chargers spent the offseason working to fix an offensive line that allowed the second-most sacks in the league last year, and the approach up front is already drawing notice. Pro Bowler Joe Alt said the way they’ve handled the run game has "been much different."
That line will matter immediately. McDaniel is known for a pace-and-space style that leans into quick ball movement and a stronger run game, and the Chargers are hoping Herbert can thrive with more help around him.
The team did add pieces to the offensive line, but CBS Sports gave Los Angeles a C- for its free-agent work, saying the club didn’t make the most of its cap space. Center Tyler Biadasz was one of the notable additions, though a major knee injury sent him to injured reserve.
That leaves rookie Jake Slaughter next in line at center, while the good news is that tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt are both healthy after missing time last season.
Arizona comes in with a very different kind of attention. CBS Sports has the Cardinals finishing last in a strong division and even pegged them as a candidate for the worst record in the league, though Miami might have something to say about that.
The Cardinals went 3-14 last season, finishing with the worst record in the NFC and tied for the worst mark in the NFL. They held the third overall pick in this year’s draft and used it on a running back, a choice that drew plenty of skepticism because of the number of holes on the roster.
The Cardinals also made sweeping changes on the sideline, but kept defensive coordinator Nick Rallis despite the struggles on that side of the ball in 2025. That defense had a rough preseason and finished last year giving up the ninth-most passing yards (4,128), the fifth-most passing touchdowns (31), the eighth-most rushing yards (2,158) and the fifth-most rushing touchdowns (19). It also allowed 30 or more points in two preseason games and in four of its last five regular-season games, which is not the kind of backdrop you want when facing a Chargers offense trying to play fast.
Arizona’s quarterback situation is just as unsettled. The Cardinals released former first overall pick Kyler Murray this offseason, signed veteran Gardner Minshew and drafted Carson Beck in the third round.
Jacoby Brissett won the QB1 job and got a deal that raised his 2026 base salary by nearly $5 million. His first year in Arizona was rough, with just one win in 12 starts, and that leaves little doubt that the leash is short.
If things go sideways early, a quarterback change could come quickly, and the possibility of a bigger move by the trade deadline is still on the table.
The matchup sets up with Los Angeles as the clearer side. The expectation is that Herbert and the Chargers’ new-look offense will post numbers, with Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston positioned to be heavily involved. CBS Sports’ experts are aligned there too, all picking the Chargers straight up.
In Other News...
Cardinals Enter Mike LaFleur Era With Pressure Building At Quarterback
The Cardinals are heading into 2026 with a new voice on the sideline in Mike LaFleur, and the early feel around the roster is equal parts hope and uncertainty. There is enough offensive talent to make the season interesting, with Jacoby Brissett and Trey McBride giving the group a workable foundation, while the defense enters the year with expectations of its own under the coordinator in place.
The bigger question is still the quarterback room, where Gardner Minshew and rookie Carson Beck give Arizona very different paths to consider. How the Cardinals handle that position will shape everything from the weekly game plan to any roster moves they might explore once the season starts, and it is the kind of situation that could define LaFleurs first year before the schedule even settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Head Into Chargers Opener With A Worrying Week 1 Problem
The Cardinals are carrying some early-season uncertainty into their opener against the Chargers after releasing their final injury report for Week 1. Arizona will be without starting right guard Isaiah Adams, slot cornerback Garrett Williams and safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, three absences that trim some depth on both sides of the ball before the first snap of the regular season.
Rookie running back Jeremiyah Love is listed as questionable, though the expectation is that he will be available. The Chargers have injury questions of their own, with cornerback Deane Leonard already ruled out and outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu still in the questionable column, but for Arizona the bigger concern is how quickly the offense and secondary can settle in while starting the year shorthanded. [Read more 🡒]