Cardinals Were 9.5-Point Underdogs, Won 26-14: And Nobody In The NFL Is Ready For What That Means

The Cardinals weren’t supposed to win on Sunday. Seriously, they rolled into Week 1 as the biggest underdog in the entire league, spotted 9.5 points, and everyone wrote them off. But guess what? None of that mattered. They absolutely stomped the Chargers, winning 26-14 in a game that was never even close, and handed head coach Mike LaFleur a huge win in his debut.

A Debut For The History Books

This wasn’t just some regular win, folks. This was a statement, especially for a rookie head coach. Mike LaFleur, at just 39 years old, pulled off something no Cardinals coach has managed in ages. We’re talking since 1973, when Don Coryell was coaching the franchise back in St. Louis. Think about that for a second: LaFleur wasn’t even born yet when Coryell last won his debut. Twelve coaches came and went after Coryell, and every single one of them lost their first game at the helm. LaFleur broke a drought that spans over five decades. That’s not just a win, that’s a whole new chapter for this team.

Dominance From The Jump

What made this victory even crazier was how it played out. Despite being the massive 9.5-point underdogs, the Cardinals played like they were the favorites. They weren’t just squeaking by, either. The 26-14 final score against the Chargers tells a story of total control. The source says it themselves: the game was “never close.” They punched the Chargers right in the mouth from the jump and never let up, silencing all the doubters who picked them to fall flat.

What’s next for LaFleur’s squad after such a historic start? You gotta wonder how they’ll build on this momentum. But even with that huge win, LaFleur knows how quickly things can change in this league. “Humility is a day away in this league,” he said, and that’s the truth. This early season performance has certainly put the NFL on notice, and now we wait to see if they can keep that fire burning.

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Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.