Arizona Cardinals vs Los Angeles Chargers: Head-to-Head Record

Final2026 Week 1

SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CASun, Sep 13, 2026, 4:25 PM ET

Arizona Cardinals vs Los Angeles Chargers

Arizona Cardinals

AwayWon

Los Angeles Chargers

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Scoring by quarter
Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Cardinals	7	6	3	10	26
Chargers	7	0	7	0	14

ARI 26LAC 14 Final

Passing leader
Jacoby Brissett
ARI · QB
16.5PPR pts
27/37, 277 YDS, 1 TD
Top fantasy scorer
Trey McBride
ARI · TE
24.5PPR pts
9 REC, 95 YDS, 1 TD
Chargers leader
Ladd McConkey
LAC · WR
19.2PPR pts
5 REC, 82 YDS, 1 TD
Defensive playmaker
Andrew Wingard
ARI
1 INT, 4 TKL

Cardinals 26, Chargers 14: Arizona beats Los Angeles

Arizona led 13–7 at halftime and outscored Los Angeles 13–7 after the break to win 26–14. The Cardinals finished with a 393–268 edge in total offense and averaged 5.5 yards per play.

The gap showed up everywhere. The Chargers went 2-for-8 on third down and committed two turnovers, while the Cardinals kept the ball for 37:31 and finished without a giveaway.

Key advantages

+0.2 yards/play ARI 5.5 · LAC 5.3
+2 turnover margin ARI 0 turnovers
+125 total yards ARI 393 · LAC 268

Game Highlights

Watch on YouTube: Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Chargers Game Highlights | NFL 2026 Season Week 1

Official NFL highlights · Opens from YouTube

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Why the Cardinals Won

Arizona won the efficiency, turnover, third-down, and time of possession battles.

Team stats comparison, Cardinals vs Chargers
Cardinals	Stat	Chargers
5.5	Yards per play	5.3

0	Turnovers	2

393	Total yards	268

Other team stats
72	Plays	51

43%	Third-down conversion	25%

37:31	Time of possession	22:29

Scoring Summary

The Cardinals scored two touchdowns and four field goals; the Chargers scored two touchdowns.

Scoring plays, Cardinals vs Chargers
Time	Team	Play	ARI	LAC
1st quarter
8:49	ARI	Jeremiyah Love 5-yard TD run Takes leadChad Ryland XP	7	0
4:22	LAC	Omarion Hampton 8-yard TD run Ties gameCameron Dicker XP	7	7
2nd quarter
6:51	ARI	Chad Ryland 27-yard FG Takes lead	10	7
0:00	ARI	Chad Ryland 44-yard FG Extends lead	13	7
3rd quarter
7:25	ARI	Chad Ryland 34-yard FG Extends lead	16	7
6:03	LAC	Justin Herbert → Ladd McConkey, 8-yard TDCameron Dicker XP	16	14
4th quarter
11:44	ARI	Jacoby Brissett → Trey McBride, 3-yard TD Extends leadChad Ryland XP	23	14
2:33	ARI	Chad Ryland 49-yard FG Extends lead	26	14

Fantasy Points: Cardinals vs Chargers, Week 1 2026

Fantasy leaders

Trey McBrideARITE24.5 PTSTE2
Ladd McConkeyLACWR19.2 PTSWR12
Jacoby BrissettARIQB16.5 PTSQB15
Kendrick BourneARIWR15.5 PTSWR18

Player Stats

Quarterbacks

Quarterback statistics
Player	FPTS	FIN	CMP/ATT	Pass YDS	TD	INT	Rush ATT	Rush YDS	Rush TD	Rate	Start/Sit
Jacoby BrissettARIQB	16.5	QB15	27/37	277	1	0	6	14	0	103.1	Start/Sit →
Justin HerbertLACQB	14.3	QB22	17/27	209	1	1	5	29	0	83.7	Start/Sit →

WRs, RBs, & TEs

Receiver, running back and tight end statistics
Player	FPTS	FIN	POS	Rush ATT	Rush YDS	Rush TD	TGT	REC	Rec YDS	Rec TD	Start/Sit
Trey McBrideARITE	24.5	TE2	TE	—	—	—	13	9	95	1	Start/Sit →
Ladd McConkeyLACWR	19.2	WR12	WR	—	—	—	7	5	82	1	Start/Sit →
Kendrick BourneARIWR	15.5	WR18	WR	—	—	—	8	8	75	0	Start/Sit →
Jeremiyah LoveARIRB	13.0	RB21	RB	11	41	1	4	2	9	0	Start/Sit →
David NjokuLACTE	10.8	TE13	TE	—	—	—	5	5	58	0
Michael WilsonARIWR	10.6	WR31	WR	—	—	—	7	5	56	0	Start/Sit →
Tyler AllgeierARIRB	9.0	RB30	RB	17	61	0	2	2	9	0	Start/Sit →
Omarion HamptonLACRB	8.3	RB33	RB	12	43	1	—	—	—	—	Start/Sit →
Oronde GadsdenLACTE	5.2	TE28	TE	—	—	—	2	2	32	0	Start/Sit →
Tre' HarrisLACWR	5.0	WR72	WR	—	—	—	6	3	20	0	Start/Sit →
Marvin HarrisonARIWR	4.3	WR78	WR	—	—	—	3	1	33	0
Quentin JohnstonLACWR	3.7	WR82	WR	—	—	—	6	2	17	0	Start/Sit →
Keaton MitchellLACRB	0.9	RB69	RB	4	9	0	—	—	—	—	Start/Sit →
Derius DavisLACWR	0.0	—	WR	—	—	—	1	0	0	0	Start/Sit →

Fantasy Usage

Arizona Cardinals

Snap Share

Michael WilsonWR64 snaps85%
Trey McBrideTE60 snaps80%
Marvin HarrisonWR59 snaps79%
Kendrick BourneWR50 snaps67%
Tyler AllgeierRB44 snaps59%

Target Share37 targets

Trey McBride35%, 13 targets
Kendrick Bourne22%, 8 targets
Michael Wilson19%, 7 targets
Jeremiyah Love11%, 4 targets
Marvin Harrison8%, 3 targets
Other5%, 2 targets

Carry Share34 carries

Tyler Allgeier50%, 17 carries
Jeremiyah Love32%, 11 carries
Jacoby Brissett18%, 6 carries

Los Angeles Chargers

Snap Share

Quentin JohnstonWR43 snaps78%
Tre' HarrisWR41 snaps75%
Omarion HamptonRB32 snaps58%
David NjokuTE30 snaps55%
Charlie KolarTE30 snaps55%

Target Share27 targets

Ladd McConkey26%, 7 targets
Quentin Johnston22%, 6 targets
Tre' Harris22%, 6 targets
David Njoku19%, 5 targets
Oronde Gadsden7%, 2 targets
Other4%, 1 targets

Carry Share21 carries

Omarion Hampton57%, 12 carries
Justin Herbert24%, 5 carries
Keaton Mitchell19%, 4 carries

View full usage tableHide full usage table

Offensive snaps and share for the skill positions
Player	SNAPS	SNAP %	TGT	TGT %	CAR
Michael WilsonARIWR	64	85%	7	19%	0
Trey McBrideARITE	60	80%	13	35%	0
Marvin HarrisonARIWR	59	79%	3	8%	0
Quentin JohnstonLACWR	43	78%	6	22%	0
Tre' HarrisLACWR	41	75%	6	22%	0
Kendrick BourneARIWR	50	67%	8	22%	0
Tyler AllgeierARIRB	44	59%	2	5%	17
Omarion HamptonLACRB	32	58%	0	0%	12
David NjokuLACTE	30	55%	5	19%	0
Charlie KolarLACTE	30	55%	0	0%	0
Ladd McConkeyLACWR	27	49%	7	26%	0
Jeremiyah LoveARIRB	32	43%	4	11%	11
Alec IngoldLACRB	21	38%	0	0%	0
Hunter LongARITE	26	35%	0	0%	0
Keaton MitchellLACRB	17	31%	0	0%	4
Elijah HigginsARITE	20	27%	0	0%	0
Derius DavisLACWR	10	18%	1	4%	0
Oronde GadsdenLACTE	10	18%	2	7%	0
Brenen ThompsonLACWR	10	18%	0	0%	0
Simi FehokoARIWR	6	8%	0	0%	0
Kimani VidalLACRB	4	7%	0	0%	0
Jalen BrooksARIWR	4	5%	0	0%	0
Zonovan KnightARIRB	3	4%	0	0%	0

Fantasy Points vs Expected

PPRHalf PPRStandard

Expected points (xFP) are what a player's pass attempts, carries and targets are worth at the league's average rates; the difference is what the player made of them.

Biggest overperformer+7.0Ladd McConkey19.2 PTS vs 12.2 xFP
Biggest underperformer−6.8Quentin Johnston3.7 PTS vs 10.5 xFP
Highest expected volume22.7 xFPTrey McBride24.5 PTS scored

Usage and expected fantasy points
Player	PTS	xFP	vs xFP	Snap%	Usage	Rte%	Pass att	Car	Car%	Tgt	Tgt%
Trey McBrideARI · TE	24.5	22.7	+1.8	80%	35% tgt	—	0	0	0%	13	35%
Jacoby BrissettARI · QB	16.5	20.9	−4.4	100%	37 att	—	37	6	18%	0	0%
Justin HerbertLAC · QB	14.3	15.6	−1.3	100%	27 att	—	27	5	24%	0	0%
Kendrick BourneARI · WR	15.5	14.0	+1.5	67%	22% tgt	—	0	0	0%	8	22%
Tyler AllgeierARI · RB	9.0	13.7	−4.7	59%	50% car	—	0	17	50%	2	5%
Jeremiyah LoveARI · RB	13.0	13.6	−0.6	43%	32% car	—	0	11	32%	4	11%
Ladd McConkeyLAC · WR	19.2	12.2	+7.0	49%	26% tgt	—	0	0	0%	7	26%
Michael WilsonARI · WR	10.6	12.2	−1.6	85%	19% tgt	—	0	0	0%	7	19%
Quentin JohnstonLAC · WR	3.7	10.5	−6.8	78%	22% tgt	—	0	0	0%	6	22%
Tre' HarrisLAC · WR	5.0	10.5	−5.5	75%	22% tgt	—	0	0	0%	6	22%
David NjokuLAC · TE	10.8	8.7	+2.1	55%	19% tgt	—	0	0	0%	5	19%
Omarion HamptonLAC · RB	8.3	7.2	+1.1	58%	57% car	—	0	12	57%	0	0%
Marvin Harrison Jr.ARI · WR	4.3	5.2	−0.9	79%	8% tgt	—	0	0	0%	3	8%
Oronde GadsdenLAC · TE	5.2	3.5	+1.7	18%	7% tgt	—	0	0	0%	2	7%
Keaton MitchellLAC · RB	0.9	2.4	−1.5	31%	19% car	—	0	4	19%	0	0%
Derius DavisLAC · WR	0.0	1.7	−1.7	18%	4% tgt	—	0	0	0%	1	4%

Team totals: Cardinals 37 targets and 34 carries; Chargers 27 targets and 21 carries. Shares are from the box score. Snap counts are from the weekly player logs (Sleeper), and include plays wiped out by penalties. Route counts, air yards and red-zone touches appear when the tracking feed is connected. League-average rates from the 2026 season: 1.75 PPR points per target (68% catch rate), 0.60 per carry and 0.47 per pass attempt. They don't adjust for field position or target depth.

Fantasy Verdicts

Jacoby Brissett

ARI · QB · 16.5 pts on 20.9 expected

27 of 37 passing for 277 yards, 1 touchdown; 6 carries for 14 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 20.9 expected. Next up: Week 4 against the Giants. Bet on the role more than the result.

Start/Sit: Jacoby Brissett →

Justin Herbert

LAC · QB · 14.3 pts on 15.6 expected

17 of 27 passing for 209 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception; 5 carries for 29 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 15.6 expected. Next up: Week 4 against the Seahawks. Bet on the role more than the result.

Start/Sit: Justin Herbert →

Trey McBride Strong role

ARI · TE · 24.5 pts on 22.7 expected

13 targets (35% of the team's), 9 catches for 95 yards and 1 touchdown.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 22.7 expected. Next up: Week 4 against the Giants. Bet on the role more than the result.

Start/Sit: Trey McBride →

Kendrick Bourne

ARI · WR · 15.5 pts on 14.0 expected

8 targets (22% of the team's), 8 catches for 75 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 14.0 expected. Next up: Week 4 against the Giants. Bet on the role more than the result.

Start/Sit: Kendrick Bourne →

Ladd McConkey Ran hot

LAC · WR · 19.2 pts on 12.2 expected

7 targets (26% of the team's), 5 catches for 82 yards and 1 touchdown.

Verdict: The opportunities were worth 12.2 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat. Next up: Week 4 against the Seahawks. Bet on the role more than the result.

Start/Sit: Ladd McConkey →

Quentin Johnston Unlucky

LAC · WR · 3.7 pts on 10.5 expected

6 targets (22% of the team's), 2 catches for 17 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 10.5 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't. Next up: Week 4 against the Seahawks. Bet on the role more than the result.

Start/Sit: Quentin Johnston →

Tre' Harris Unlucky

LAC · WR · 5.0 pts on 10.5 expected

6 targets (22% of the team's), 3 catches for 20 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 10.5 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't. Next up: Week 4 against the Seahawks. Bet on the role more than the result.

Start/Sit: Tre' Harris →

Start/Sit Decisions

Fantasy Matchups

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, 2026 through Week 3.

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, Cardinals defense and Chargers defense
Points allowed to	Cardinals D	Chargers D
QBs	22.3	19.1
RBs	16.4	20.5
WRs	39.0	32.9
TEs	17.6	12.4

Regular season, summed from each game's box score and scored with this page's rules.

How the Game Swung

Los Angeles opened at 74% win probability and fell below 2% in the fourth quarter.

Chargers win probability

Key Swings

−21Love 5-yd TD run72% → 52%Q1 8:49
+22Hampton 8-yd TD run50% → 72%Q1 4:22
−13Ryland 34-yd FG37% → 24%Q3 7:25
+32Herbert → McConkey, 8-yd TD23% → 55%Q3 6:03
−37Brissett → McBride, 3-yd TD48% → 11%Q4 11:44

Swing in Chargers win probability, in points

Play Calling and Possessions

Play calling, Cardinals vs Chargers
Arizona Cardinals	Measure	Los Angeles Chargers
72	Plays	51
53%	Pass rate	59%
7.3	Yds / dropback	6.2
3.4	Yds / carry	3.9
6/14	Third downs	2/8

Efficiency edge Arizona ran 21 more plays and gained 1.1 more yards per dropback.

Top targets
ARI McBride 35% · Bourne 22% · Wilson 19%
LAC McConkey 26% · Johnston 22% · Harris 22%

Possession Results

How each possession ended, Cardinals vs Chargers
Result	ARI	LAC
Touchdowns	2	2
Field goals	4	0
Punts	3	3
Turnovers	0	2
Turnovers on downs	0	3
Missed field goals	1	0

ARI turnover edge: +2

The Cardinals opened the scoring on their first possession, a 11-play, 70-yard drive that ended in a touchdown.
The Cardinals drained the clock with two second-half drives of four to five minutes.

All 21 possessions, drive by drive

Drive chart
Team	Start	Plays	Yards	Time	Result
ARI	Q1 15:00	11	70	6:11	Touchdown
LAC	Q1 8:49	8	77	4:27	Touchdown
ARI	Q1 4:22	8	34	4:31	Missed FG
LAC	Q2 14:51	4	22	1:29	Fumble
ARI	Q2 13:22	12	57	6:31	Field goal
LAC	Q2 6:51	10	66	4:56	Downs
ARI	Q2 1:55	8	61	1:55	Field goal
LAC	Q3 15:00	5	19	2:54	Punt
ARI	Q3 12:06	10	75	4:41	Field goal
LAC	Q3 7:25	3	60	1:22	Touchdown
ARI	Q3 6:03	8	30	3:26	Punt
LAC	Q3 2:37	5	6	2:26	Punt
ARI	Q3 0:11	3	9	1:16	Punt
LAC	Q4 13:55	3	-1	1:34	Punt
ARI	Q4 12:21	2	3	0:37	Touchdown
LAC	Q4 11:44	4	24	2:05	Interception
ARI	Q4 9:39	8	34	4:55	Punt
LAC	Q4 4:44	5	18	0:35	Downs
ARI	Q4 4:09	4	8	1:36	Field goal
LAC	Q4 2:33	4	9	0:41	Downs
ARI	Q4 1:52	3	-3	1:52	End of game

About these numbers

Possessions that ended with the clock running out at the half or the end of the game aren't counted.

Personnel groupings, average depth of target and pass rate over expected appear when the tracking feed is connected.

Cardinals vs Chargers Head-to-Head

The Cardinals and Chargers first met in 1971 and have played 17 times since.

All-time series: 11–6Chargers lead, 17 meetings since 1971
Postseason: 0No playoff meetings
Largest Cardinals win: 44–141983
Largest Chargers win: 45–102018

Since 2021

2–1 Cardinals lead

3 meetings since the 2021 season, regular season and playoffs.

Oldest to newest. ARI = Cardinals win, LAC = Chargers win, outlined = this game.

Recent Meetings

2026 Wk 1 Cardinals at Chargers, 2026 Wk 1 recap Sun, Sep 13, 2026 ARI 26 LAC 14 ARI W
2024 Wk 7 Chargers at Cardinals, 2024 Wk 7 recap Mon, Oct 21, 2024 ARI 17 LAC 15 ARI W
2022 Wk 12 Chargers at Cardinals, 2022 Wk 12 recap Sun, Nov 27, 2022 LAC 25 ARI 24 LAC W

Season to Date (Through Week 3)

The 2026 regular season, from each game's box score.

Season to date, Cardinals vs Chargers
Cardinals	Stat	Chargers
1-2	Record	0-3

21.0	Points per game	14.7

303.0	Yards per game	308.7

4.5	Yards per play	5.2

27.0	Points allowed per game	25.3

362.0	Yards allowed per game	349.3

Cardinals vs Chargers Odds and Results

How this game finished against the betting lines.

Spread: LAC −8.5Chargers failed to cover by 20.5
Total: 47.5Under: 40 points scored (by 7.5)

Expected vs Actual Scoring

Implied team totals against the actual score
Team	Implied	Actual	Difference
Chargers	28.0	14	−14.0
Cardinals	19.5	26	+6.5

The Cardinals beat their implied total and the Chargers fell short of theirs; the Fantasy tab has the player lines behind it.

Betting Trends

Last 2 meetings: Cardinals 2–0 ATS, overs and unders 1–1.

Each team's 2026 season through this game. Over/under is overs first.

Arizona Cardinals

Against the spread: 1–0
Over/under: 0–1
ATS as underdog: 1–0
ATS on the road: 1–0

Los Angeles Chargers

Against the spread: 0–1
Over/under: 0–1
ATS as favorite: 0–1
ATS at home: 0–1

Lines: ESPN's consensus, captured at kickoff. Individual sportsbooks varied.

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Betting availability depends on your state.

Cardinals and Chargers in Fantasy

The two teams don't meet again this season. If you roster a Cardinal or a Charger, these answer the week-to-week question.

Keep Exploring

2026 Game Logs for Players in This Game

Cardinals vs Chargers Game FAQ

Who won the 2026 Cardinals vs Chargers Week 1 game?

The Arizona Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Chargers 26–14 in Week 1 of the 2026 season. The game was played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA, on September 13, 2026. See the Cardinals' 2026 schedule.

What was the final score of Cardinals vs Chargers?

The final score was Cardinals 26, Chargers 14. The Cardinals led 13–7 at halftime, and the second half went Cardinals 13, Chargers 7.

What happened in the Cardinals vs Chargers game?

Arizona led 13–7 at halftime and outscored Los Angeles 13–7 after the break to win 26–14. The Cardinals finished with a 393–268 edge in total offense and averaged 5.5 yards per play. Trey McBride led all players with 9 catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. The Chargers committed 2 turnovers, the Cardinals none.

Who scored the most fantasy points in Cardinals vs Chargers?

Trey McBride led the game with 24.5 PPR fantasy points, the TE2 of Week 1, on 9 catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. Ladd McConkey was next with 19.2 (WR12). See Trey McBride's 2026 game log.

Who led Cardinals vs Chargers in passing, rushing and receiving?

Jacoby Brissett (ARI) led all passers with 27 of 37 for 277 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Allgeier (ARI) led in rushing with 17 carries for 61 yards. Trey McBride (ARI) led in receiving with 9 catches for 95 yards and a touchdown.

How many fantasy points did Trey McBride score against the Chargers?

Trey McBride scored 24.5 points in PPR leagues, 20.0 in half-PPR and 15.5 in standard scoring against the Chargers in Week 1 of the 2026 season, on 9 catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. He drew 35% of his team's targets.

Who outperformed and underperformed expected fantasy points in Cardinals vs Chargers?

Ladd McConkey outperformed his expected fantasy points the most, scoring 19.2 PPR points on 12.2 xFP (+7.0). Quentin Johnston fell furthest short, with 3.7 points on 10.5 xFP (−6.8). A gap either way reflects efficiency and touchdowns in one game; it is not a forecast. For matchups ahead, see fantasy points allowed by position.

Who had the highest expected fantasy points in Cardinals vs Chargers?

Trey McBride had the most fantasy opportunity in the game, worth 22.7 expected PPR points (xFP) at league-average rates, and scored 24.5. Expected points measure the volume of a player's pass attempts, carries and targets, not how well he used them.

How did the Cardinals beat the Chargers?

The Cardinals beat the Chargers 26–14 because they averaged 5.5 yards per play to 5.3, won the turnover battle 2–0, and outgained them 393–268.

Which team won the turnover battle in Cardinals vs Chargers?

The Cardinals won the turnover battle 2–0: the Chargers gave the ball away 2 times and the Cardinals not at all. The Cardinals won the game.

What is the all-time Cardinals vs Chargers record?

The Chargers lead the all-time series 11–6 across 17 meetings since 1971.

When did the Cardinals and Chargers last play before this game?

Before Week 1 of 2026, they last met in the 2024 season on October 21, 2024, when the Cardinals beat the Chargers 17–15.

What was the closing spread for Cardinals vs Chargers?

The consensus closing spread at kickoff was Chargers −8.5, making the Los Angeles Chargers 8.5-point favorites, with a closing total of 47.5. That implied about 28.0 points for the Chargers and 19.5 for the Cardinals.

Did Cardinals vs Chargers go over or under the total?

The game went under. The consensus closing total was 47.5, and the teams combined for 40 points, 7.5 under the number.

Who covered the spread in Cardinals vs Chargers?

The Cardinals covered as 8.5-point underdogs against the closing line of Chargers −8.5. The final margin was 12 points.