The Cardinals didn’t just steal a Week 1 win in Los Angeles - they built it one swing play at a time.
Arizona walked into SoFi Stadium as one of the league’s bigger underdogs to open the 2026 season and walked out with a 26-14 upset of the Chargers, a result that looked shaky at points but was sealed by a handful of defining moments. New head coach Mike LaFleur got an early glimpse of what his offense can be when it catches a rhythm, and when the clock finally hit zero, the Cardinals were 1-0.
The opening drive set the tone. Arizona scored a touchdown on its first possession, something the team managed only twice on opening drives all last season. That fast start mattered not just because it put the Cardinals ahead early, but because it gave rookie Jeremiyah Love an immediate NFL moment with his first touchdown.
The Chargers had chances to answer, but one drive in the second quarter went sideways in a hurry. Hampton collided with his own teammate and fumbled deep in Arizona territory, wiping away a potential scoring chance for Los Angeles. That sequence didn’t just erase points; it helped the Cardinals eventually turn the possession into three free points after narrowly missing a field goal on the previous drive.
Arizona also got a major stop at the end of the first half. Rather than settle for a tying field goal, the Cardinals stayed aggressive and went for it on 4th and goal from the three-yard line. Dante Stills broke through and stopped Herbert for Arizona’s first sack and quarterback hit of the afternoon, denying the Chargers a chance to take the lead before halftime and keeping the Cardinals in front heading into the break.
Justin Herbert did help Los Angeles claw back into it later. A questionable pass interference call on Max Melton, who left with an injury after the play, moved the Chargers 48 yards deep into Arizona territory. Three plays later, Herbert hit Ladd McConkey for a touchdown to trim the margin to two points.
But Arizona answered with the kind of momentum-killing play that changes road games. After sacking Herbert in a two-point contest, the Cardinals blocked the Chargers’ punt and recovered it at the three-yard line. Two plays later, Jacoby Brissett found Trey McBride in the end zone, pushing the lead back to two possessions and putting real pressure on Los Angeles to chase the game.
Herbert tried to force something deep to Derius Davis, but Andrew Wingard was there in double coverage and came down with the interception. Arizona then kept the ball moving, picked up another first down two plays later, and bled more clock out of the game.
The final blow came after Los Angeles got the ball back on a punt and still couldn’t build any traction. Faced with 3rd-and-30, the Chargers couldn’t dig out of the hole, and Arizona took over on downs with just minutes left. Chad Ryland added a 49-yard field goal with 2:33 remaining to stretch the lead to 12 and finish off the upset.
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 🡒]
Seahawks QB Situation Just Changed Arizonas Next NFC West Test
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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 🡒]
Trey McBride Is Giving Cardinals Fans A Huge New Reason To Dream
Trey McBride keeps giving Arizona a steady reason to believe its offense has a real centerpiece, and the latest reminder came on the road against the Chargers. The tight end continued a run of high-volume production that has become part of his weekly profile, turning into the kind of reliable target every quarterback covets and every defense has to account for.
McBrides rise has already included an NFL record for receptions by a tight end last season, plus first-team All-Pro recognition, a Pro Bowl nod and a fresh four-year contract extension with the Cardinals. The question now is how high that ceiling can go if this level of consistency keeps showing up away from home, where he has been doing something no tight end in league history had managed before. [Read more 🡒]