New

Arizona Cardinals Defense Wins The Day In Week One

INGLEWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 13: Omarion Hampton #8 of the Los Angeles Chargers is tackled by Budda Baker #3 of the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of an NFL game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Chargers on September 13, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Greg Fiore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Happy Victory Monday one and all.

Have not seen one of those in a while.

The Arizona Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Chargers and did so with the best defensive effort we have seen a while in the desert.

There were several key factors to this, and a lot of it was just coaching.

The Cardinals saw and took advantage of major tendencies the Chargers had and in doing so, produced these results after the Chargers failed to convert a fourth and goal from the three yard line with two minutes to go in the secon quarter:

Five plays 19 yards punt
Three plays 60 yards touchdown
Five plays six yards punt
Three plays -1 yard, blocked punt
Four plays 24 yards interception
Five plays 18 yards turnover on downs
Four plays nine yards turnover on downs

25 plays, 135 yards, one interception, one blocked punt, two punts, two turnover on downs, one touchdown allowed.

48-yards came on one play and it wasn’t even actual yargade, it is a 48-yard pass interference call.

This allowed an offense that was good in between the 20’s to be okay settling for field goals (something we can discuss after the post-win haze lifts).

This was a defensive performance aided by… really poor Chargers play.

Chargers Bottom 5 PFF Offense Grades vs. Cardinals:
1. LG Trey Pipkins III 37.1
2. RG Cole Strange 41.0
3. C Jake Slaughter 42.5
4. FB Alec Ingold 47.0
5. WR Derius Davis 53.0
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) September 14, 2026

Watching the Chargers on second screen and can someone explain to me like I’m five why they’re rotating guards
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) September 14, 2026

One for outside zone, one for man/gap
— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) September 14, 2026

I have never seen a team give their game away quite like this. The nice thing is, the offense is correctable, just got to finish drives strongly.

For one week, it was great to see the defense carry the day.

Back to Listing

credit:

Arizona Cardinals Defense Wins The Day In Week One

Popular Products