Arizona
Cardinals
0-0
35
FINAL
18
Los Angeles
Chargers
0-0
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a commanding season opener, the Arizona Cardinals topped the Los Angeles Chargers 35-18, showcasing their offensive prowess and defensive strength. With both teams eager to make a statement in Week 1 of the 2026 season, the Cardinals emerged victorious, setting a strong tone for the year ahead.
Aaron Rodgers led the charge for Arizona, throwing for 247 yards and three touchdowns, demonstrating that he still has plenty left in the tank. Jeremiyah Love contributed significantly on the ground with 88 rushing yards, while Jeff Caldwell shone in the passing game, racking up 120 receiving yards. The Cardinals' offensive unit clicked well, capitalizing on opportunities and executing plays effectively.
Defensively, the Cardinals made their presence felt, with standout performances from Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, who recorded seven total tackles, and Walter Nolen III, who added a sack. However, it was Max Meltonโs two interceptions that proved pivotal, halting Chargers' drives and giving Arizona crucial momentum. The turning point came late in the second quarter when Melton snagged his second pick, leading to a touchdown that extended the Cardinals' lead and ultimately secured their victory.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | YDS | TD | INT | RTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Rodgers | QB | 17 | 12 | 247 | 3 | 1 | 128.0 |
| Justin Herbert | QB | 22 | 14 | 147 | 0 | 3 | 43.3 |
| Trey Lance | QB | 7 | 5 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 88.3 |
| Jeff Caldwell | WR | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | โ |
| Ladd McConkey | WR | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | โ |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiyah Love | HB | 13 | 88 | 6.8 | 1 | 50 | 0 |
| Omarion Hampton | HB | 14 | 74 | 5.3 | 2 | 16 | 0 |
| James Conner | HB | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Jeff Caldwell | WR | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Brenen Thompson | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff Caldwell | WR | 5 | 120 | 24.0 | 2 | 63 | 0 |
| Brenen Thompson | WR | 8 | 103 | 12.9 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| Marvin Harrison Jr | WR | 1 | 65 | 65.0 | 1 | 65 | 0 |
| David Njoku | TE | 4 | 39 | 9.8 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Jeremiyah Love | HB | 4 | 38 | 9.5 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| Quentin Johnston | WR | 1 | 28 | 28.0 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| Trey McBride | TE | 1 | 19 | 19.0 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Ladd McConkey | WR | 3 | 17 | 5.7 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Kendrick Bourne | WR | 2 | 13 | 6.5 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Omarion Hampton | HB | 3 | 5 | 1.7 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dadrion Taylor-Demerson | FS | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Max Melton | CB | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Derwin James Jr | SS | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Denzel Perryman | MIKE | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Garrett Williams | CB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Tarheeb Still | CB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Walter Nolen III | DT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zaven Collins | LEDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Eboigbe | DT | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Budda Baker | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mack Wilson Sr | MIKE | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Will Johnson | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Josh Sweat | REDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tuli Tuipulotu | LEDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daiyan Henley | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matt Milano | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kitan Crawford | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Khalil Mack | REDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kaleb Proctor | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Gibbens | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Donte Jackson | CB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron Dicker | K | 1 | 1 | 1 | 27 |
| Chad Ryland | K | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |

