Arizona
Cardinals
0-0
20
FINAL
29
Los Angeles
Chargers
0-0
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a thrilling Week 1 matchup, the Los Angeles Chargers secured a 29-20 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, marking a strong start to the 2026 season. Both teams battled fiercely, but the Chargers ultimately emerged victorious, showcasing their offensive prowess and defensive resilience.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert led the charge with an impressive performance, throwing for 206 yards and a touchdown. Quentin Johnston was his top target, racking up 79 receiving yards, while the ground game was effective in complementing the passing attack, setting the stage for a well-rounded offensive effort. On the other side, Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love put on a show of his own, rushing for an astounding 207 yards, proving difficult for the Chargers' defense to contain.
Los Angeles' defense played a critical role in the outcome, with Elijah Molden leading the way in tackles and Akheem Mesidor contributing with a key sack. The turning point came late in the game when the Chargers' defense stifled a potential game-tying drive, showcasing their ability to rise to the occasion when it mattered most. Meanwhile, Max Melton's interception for the Cardinals served as a bright spot but ultimately wasn't enough to shift the momentum.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | YDS | TD | INT | RTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Herbert | QB | 23 | 10 | 206 | 1 | 1 | 72.0 |
| Jacoby Brissett | QB | 9 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | — |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Love | QB | 16 | 207 | 12.9 | 3 | 67 | 0 |
| Omarion Hampton | HB | 21 | 168 | 8.0 | 2 | 32 | 0 |
| Justin Herbert | QB | 4 | 40 | 10.0 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| Josh Oliver | TE | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Jacoby Brissett | QB | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Trey Benson | HB | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quentin Johnston | WR | 3 | 79 | 26.3 | 1 | 37 | 0 |
| Brenen Thompson | WR | 3 | 55 | 18.3 | 0 | 44 | 0 |
| Ladd McConkey | WR | 1 | 30 | 30.0 | 0 | 30 | 1 |
| David Njoku | TE | 1 | 26 | 26.0 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| Omarion Hampton | HB | 2 | 16 | 8.0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Devontez Walker | TE | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Melton | CB | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Mike Jackson | CB | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Donte Jackson | CB | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Elijah Molden | FS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Akheem Mesidor | REDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| d \ | QB | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Dadrion Taylor-Demerson | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Will Johnson | FS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Walter Nolen III | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daiyan Henley | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kaleb Proctor | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Karson Sharar | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zaven Collins | SAM | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kei'Trel Clark | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Derwin James Jr | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Teair Tart | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tarheeb Still | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mack Wilson Sr | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Wagner | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chad Ryland | K | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Cameron Dicker | K | 3 | 3 | 0 | 41 |

