Arizona
Cardinals
0-0
56
FINAL
35
Los Angeles
Chargers
0-0
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a high-octane opener to the 2026 season, the Arizona Cardinals triumphed over the Los Angeles Chargers with a decisive score of 56-35. This Week 1 matchup showcased the Cardinals' offensive prowess as they looked to set the tone for the year ahead. Meanwhile, the Chargers aimed for a strong start but fell short in their efforts.
Leading the charge for Arizona was quarterback Carson Beck, who put together a remarkable performance, throwing for 426 yards and an impressive seven touchdowns. His connection with the receivers was electric, but the Cardinals also benefited from a solid ground game, with Jeremiyah Love contributing 63 rushing yards. On the other side, Kendrick Law of the Chargers stood out with a staggering 281 receiving yards, showcasing his ability to stretch the field.
Defensively, the Cardinals made crucial stops, highlighted by Dadrion Taylor-Demerson's four tackles and Josh Sweat's impactful 1.5 sacks. A pivotal moment came when Max Melton intercepted a pass, swinging momentum back to Arizona and igniting their scoring spree. The defense's ability to pressure the Chargers' offense ultimately helped seal the victory, allowing the Cardinals to start the season on a high note.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson Beck | QB | 15 | 13 | 87% | 426 | 7 | 0 | 158.3 |
| Justin Herbert | QB | 27 | 15 | 56% | 416 | 5 | 1 | 124.6 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | YAC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiyah Love | HB | 10 | 63 | 6.3 | 18 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Keaton Mitchell | HB | 6 | 10 | 1.7 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Justin Herbert | QB | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Kendrick Law | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | β | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zay Flowers | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | β | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | YAC | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kendrick Law | WR | 7 | 281 | 40.1 | 31 | 2 | 64 | 0 |
| DeVonta Smith | WR | 5 | 254 | 50.8 | 131 | 4 | 65 | 0 |
| Zay Flowers | WR | 5 | 98 | 19.6 | 52 | 2 | 65 | 0 |
| Reggie Virgil | WR | 2 | 71 | 35.5 | 46 | 1 | 58 | 0 |
| Trey McBride | TE | 2 | 41 | 20.5 | 9 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| Michael Wilson | WR | 2 | 34 | 17.0 | 20 | 2 | 32 | 0 |
| Jeremiyah Love | HB | 2 | 26 | 13.0 | 24 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| David Njoku | TE | 2 | 25 | 12.5 | 4 | 1 | 21 | 0 |
| KeAndre Lambert-Smith | WR | 1 | 12 | 12.0 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Melton | CB | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Josh Sweat | REDG | 1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dadrion Taylor-Demerson | FS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Quinton Jefferson | DT | 1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Elijah Molden | FS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Walter Nolen III | DT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Akheem Mesidor | REDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Derwin James Jr | SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nate Wiggins | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kitan Crawford | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cody Simon | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Daiyan Henley | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Will Johnson | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cam Hart | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Genesis Smith | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Budda Baker | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Eboigbe | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kei'Trel Clark | CB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mack Wilson Sr | MIKE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron Dicker | K | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Chad Ryland | K | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |

