INGLEWOOD– It was an awful opening weekend for NFL fans in the Southland. On Sunday, September 13 the Los Angeles Chargers suffered the worst upset of Week 1, falling to the Arizona Cardinals 26-14 in front of a disappointed sellout crowd at Sofi Stadium.

Despite being a 9.5 underdog and coming off a 3-14 season, the Cardinals are for real. As for the Bolts, it was a sloppy game filled with turnovers and blunders.

During the preseason we heard what a dynamic offense the Chargers would possess hiring Offensive Coordinator Mike McDaniel.  New Coordinator,  same results.

Justin Herbert and the Chargers execute Mike McDaniel’s new offensive scheme and struggle on defense in the season opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

From the first play of scrimmage the visiting Cardinals played like a team that wasn’t interested in moral victories.  Cardinals Quarterback Jacoby Brissett to Tight End Trey McBride for a huge gain set the tone for the afternoon.

The Chargers seemed flat, while the upstart Cardinals proceeded to dismantle the Bolt. The score was not indicative of how lopsided the contest was.

The loss ended Jim Harbaugh’s unbeaten streak in NFL season openers and gave the Cardinals their first win since Week 9 of the 2025 season.

“Sloppy at times, too sloppy,” Harbaugh said. “That’s something we’ve got to get fixed.”

Herbert seemed to absorb fewer hits than he did in a typical game last season, but he didn’t have a lot of places to go with the football. He completed 17 of 27 passes for 209 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He was sacked three times.

This was a prime opportunity for the Chargers, as the Los Angeles spotlight was focused squarely on them after the Rams’ blowout loss to the 49ers, followed by the deflating news Sunday that Rams defensive end Myles Garrett,  the most anticipated acquisition of the offseason will miss at least four weeks with a knee injury.

Brissett completed 27 of 37 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown. He had the type of ending every quarterback savors: three consecutive kneeldowns to run out the clock.

“It’s on us to execute,” Herbert lamented. “We’ve run those plays since camp. We know them. And we just have to go out there and do what we’re capable of.”

It’s only one game, far too early to overreact and demand that heads roll. Still, it was a terrible loss in front of the home fans to kick off the season.

Next week fierce rival, the Las Vegas Raiders (1-0) visit SoFi Stadium. If the past is any indication, there will be as much action in the stands as on the field.

Sunday, September 20, Chargers vs. Raiders at 1:05 PM.