Cardinals Stun Chargers 26-14 as 9.5-Point Underdogs in Mike LaFleur's Coaching Debut

The Arizona Cardinals opened their season by blowing out the Los Angeles Chargers 26-14 at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, a result that had almost nothing going for it on paper. Arizona came in as a 9.5-point underdog, playing under a rookie head coach, coming off a three-win season. They didn't just cover — they dominated.

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett threw for 277 yards on 27-of-37 passing, and tight end Trey McBride was the story of the game: nine catches for 95 yards and a touchdown, scoring two plays after a blocked punt handed Arizona the ball at the Chargers' 3-yard line. Kicker Chad Ryland added four field goals — from 27, 44, 34 and 49 yards out — to put the game away.

Justin Herbert and the Chargers managed 209 yards passing with a touchdown and an interception, and running back Omarion Hampton scored on an 8-yard run, but Los Angeles never found the rhythm to match Arizona's balance.

The win marked a winning coaching debut for Arizona's new head coach, Mike LaFleur, and flipped the expected script for a team picked to struggle again this season. For the Chargers, under Jim Harbaugh, it was a rough way to open a year with real playoff expectations — an 0-1 start at home, against a team most had circled as a likely win.