Arizona
Cardinals
0-0
55
FINAL
26
Los Angeles
Chargers
0-0
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a commanding performance to kick off the 2026 season, the Arizona Cardinals topped the Los Angeles Chargers 55-26, showcasing their offensive prowess and setting the tone for the year ahead. With this victory, the Cardinals aim to establish themselves as serious contenders in the league, while the Chargers will need to regroup after a tough start.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza led the charge for Arizona, throwing for four touchdowns and demonstrating impressive chemistry with his receivers. Jeremiyah Love was a force on the ground, racking up 129 rushing yards, while Ladd McConkey of the Chargers shined in the air with 145 receiving yards, but it wasn't enough to keep up with the Cardinals' offensive onslaught.
Defensively, the Cardinals made key plays that shifted momentum in their favor. Garrett Williams recorded a team-high seven tackles, while Josh Sweat added two sacks, putting significant pressure on Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who still managed 365 passing yards despite the onslaught. The turning point came when Dadrion Taylor-Demerson's interception halted a promising Chargers drive, allowing Arizona to extend their lead and ultimately secure the win.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | YDS | TD | INT | RTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Herbert | QB | 35 | 24 | 365 | 2 | 3 | 86.0 |
| Fernando Mendoza | QB | 17 | 12 | 219 | 4 | 0 | 152.5 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiyah Love | HB | 18 | 129 | 7.2 | 1 | 43 | 0 |
| Omarion Hampton | HB | 28 | 121 | 4.3 | 2 | 19 | 0 |
| Justin Herbert | QB | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Trey McBride | TE | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fernando Mendoza | QB | 1 | -1 | -1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ladd McConkey | WR | 10 | 145 | 14.5 | 2 | 27 | 0 |
| Oronde Gadsden | TE | 5 | 111 | 22.2 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
| Bryce Ford-Wheaton | WR | 2 | 92 | 46.0 | 1 | 63 | 0 |
| Brenen Thompson | WR | 5 | 54 | 10.8 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| Luke Wysong | WR | 2 | 46 | 23.0 | 1 | 25 | 0 |
| Trey McBride | TE | 4 | 38 | 9.5 | 1 | 15 | 0 |
| Quentin Johnston | WR | 2 | 30 | 15.0 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| Devin Duvernay | WR | 1 | 28 | 28.0 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| Omarion Hampton | HB | 2 | 25 | 12.5 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Jeremiyah Love | HB | 3 | 15 | 5.0 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dadrion Taylor-Demerson | FS | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Andrew Billings | DT | 4 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Max Melton | CB | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Isaiah Pola-Mao | SS | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Budda Baker | SS | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Garrett Williams | CB | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Josh Sweat | REDG | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kei'Trel Clark | CB | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Walter Nolen III | DT | 2 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zaven Collins | LEDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cody Simon | WILL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mack Wilson Sr | MIKE | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Khalil Mack | REDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Derwin James Jr | SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daiyan Henley | WILL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Donte Jackson | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| R.J. Mickens | FS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Troy Dye | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tarheeb Still | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Baron Browning | LEDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Denzel Perryman | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Starling Thomas V | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Teair Tart | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Genesis Smith | SS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Cam Hart | CB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chad Ryland | K | 2 | 2 | 7 | 47 |
| Cameron Dicker | K | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |

