Cardinals Top Chargers 26-14 in NFL Week 1

The Arizona Cardinals defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 26-14 on Sunday at SoFi Stadium, with Jacoby Brissett’s efficient passing and Trey McBride’s dependable work over the middle powering a composed Week 1 road victory.

Arizona opened the 2026 regular season by answering the Chargers in the first quarter, then gradually took command with a 6-0 second period and a decisive 10-0 finish. The Cardinals led 13-7 at halftime, saw Los Angeles trim the margin to 16-14 in the third quarter, and responded with the only points of the fourth. That closing sequence turned a one-score game into a 12-point final and gave Arizona a valuable 1-0 start away from home.

Brissett set the tone for the Cardinals offense, completing 27 of 37 passes for 277 yards and one touchdown. He consistently kept Arizona on schedule, spreading the ball around and giving the Cardinals enough rhythm to sustain drives even when the running game faced a difficult afternoon. Most importantly, Brissett helped Arizona answer the Chargers’ third-quarter push rather than letting the game tilt toward the home team.

McBride was Brissett’s featured target and the game’s receiving leader, finishing with nine receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown. The tight end repeatedly provided a reliable option on possession downs, turning short and intermediate opportunities into productive gains. Tyler Allgeier added the ground-game workload with 17 carries for 61 yards, giving Arizona enough balance to keep the Chargers defense engaged throughout the afternoon.

The scoreboard tells the story of Arizona’s finish. After Los Angeles scored seven points in the third quarter to get within two, the Cardinals defense held the Chargers scoreless over the final 15 minutes. Arizona then added 10 fourth-quarter points to create separation, avoiding the need for a late two-minute drill or any overtime tension. The Chargers opened with a touchdown in the first quarter and briefly found life after halftime, but they could not generate another scoring response when the game tightened.

For a Cardinals team beginning the season on the road, the formula was encouraging: accurate quarterback play, a high-volume day from its top tight end, enough rushing attempts to maintain balance, and a fourth-quarter defense that closed the door. Arizona did not need a dramatic final possession to secure the result; it built its lead through steady execution and protected it in the final quarter.

Key Performers

• Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals: 27/37, 277 YDS, 1 TD. Brissett completed nearly 73 percent of his passes and guided Arizona through a critical response after the Chargers closed within two.
• Trey McBride, Cardinals: 9 REC, 95 YDS, 1 TD. McBride led all receivers in yardage and supplied Arizona’s only listed receiving touchdown.
• Tyler Allgeier, Cardinals: 17 CAR, 61 YDS. Allgeier handled the largest listed rushing workload and helped Arizona keep its offense balanced.

NerdSports Stat: Arizona scored 16 of its 26 points after halftime, including all 10 points in the fourth quarter after Los Angeles pulled within 16-14.

The Week 1 result puts Arizona at 1-0 and Los Angeles at 0-1, an early but meaningful swing in the NFC West and AFC West playoff pictures. The Cardinals will host the Seattle Seahawks on September 20, while the Chargers return home to face the Las Vegas Raiders.

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