Week 1 of the NFL season delivered a shocking blow to a team with Super Bowl aspirations. The Arizona Cardinals, widely pegged as one of the league’s worst teams, rolled into Los Angeles and absolutely handled the Chargers with a 26-14 victory. This was the biggest upset of Week 1, and it left the Chargers facing a long week wondering exactly what hit them.
Arizona’s Early Punch and Charger Fumbles
From the very first drive, Arizona showed they weren’t messing around. They marched 70 yards down the field, with rookie running back Jeremiyah Love punching in his first NFL touchdown to take a quick 7-0 lead. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett looked solid, guiding a team that helped Mike LaFleur secure his first win as head coach. The Chargers did manage to tie the game with a touchdown drive of their own, but that early momentum stalled hard. Los Angeles had a prime scoring chance squandered when Omarion Hampton fumbled the ball in Cardinals territory. Arizona capitalized, nailing a field goal to grab a 10-7 lead midway through the second quarter. Heading into halftime, the Chargers were only down by three, but their offense was already looking shaky.
Chargers’ Offense Sputters as Arizona Delivers the Knockout Blow
The second half started no better for the Chargers. Receiving the kickoff, their offense sputtered, gaining a measly 19 yards before punting it away. The Cardinals kept the pressure on, adding another field goal to extend their lead to six points. While Los Angeles did manage to put together a touchdown drive midway through the third quarter, taking a brief 14-13 lead, it wasn’t enough. The game-changing moment came when Arizona blocked a Chargers punt deep in Los Angeles territory, immediately turning that into a touchdown. That play put the Cardinals up 20-14, putting the Chargers on the ropes. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert then threw his lone interception of the day on a deep attempt, effectively sealing the game for the underdog Cardinals.
The Chargers added Mike McDaniel as their new offensive coordinator this offseason with Super Bowl dreams, but their offense scoring just 14 points in Week 1 is a nightmare start. They’ve got to figure out what went wrong, and fast, because the season has only just begun, and the league just got a massive wake-up call from Arizona.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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