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Cardinals Upset Chargers 26-14 in Week 1 at SoFi Stadium

The result forces a rethink of Los Angeles’s offense under Mike McDaniel.

Overview

  • Arizona defeated Los Angeles 26-14, handing the Chargers a surprising home loss and ending Jim Harbaugh’s 6-0 run in season openers.
  • Rookie running back Jeremiyah Love returned from a preseason high‑ankle sprain to play a limited role and score his first NFL touchdown on a 5-yard run.
  • The Cardinals controlled the game, holding the ball 37:31 and outgaining the Chargers 393 yards to 268 through steady play from Jacoby Brissett and a breakout day from tight end Trey McBride.
  • Special teams and turnovers swung the game as a blocked Chargers punt set up a late Arizona touchdown and a Justin Herbert interception sealed the upset.
  • Los Angeles’s new offense under coordinator Mike McDaniel struggled to find rhythm, Herbert was sacked three times, and the Chargers lost receiver Ladd McConkey to a chest injury that will be monitored this week.