Cardinals 26, Chargers 14: drive chart, EPA and box score

Week 1 · Sun, Sep 13 · SoFi StadiumFinal

Final

	1	2	3	4	T
ARI	7	6	3	10	26
LAC	7	0	7	0	14

Home · 0-8Los AngelesChargers14

At a glanceUpdated Nov 10, 2026, 10:04 PM ET

The Arizona Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Chargers 26-14 on Sun, Sep 13 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA (Week 1, 2026 season). Records after the game: Cardinals 3-6, Chargers 0-8. J.Brissett (ARI) led all players with +11.3 EPA on 39 dropbacks.

Who won Cardinals vs Chargers?

The Arizona Cardinals won 26-14. By quarter: ARI 7-6-3-10, LAC 7-0-7-0.

Who was the best player in Cardinals vs Chargers?

By expected points added: J.Brissett (ARI, +11.3 EPA on 39 dropbacks), L.McConkey (LAC, +6.8 EPA on 7 targets) and K.Bourne (ARI, +5.8 EPA on 8 targets).

What was the turning point of Cardinals vs Chargers?

The biggest swing in win probability (19 points toward the Cardinals) came in Q4 at 12:28: J.Scott punt is BLOCKED by S.Fehoko, Center-J.Harris, recovered by LAC-A.Ingold at LAC 3.

Cite this page

Pigskin Nightly, “Cardinals 26, Chargers 14: Week 1 recap”, https://pigskinnightly.com/games/2026-09-13-ari-at-lac (updated 2026-11-11).

How we calculate Plain-text version Report an error

The Verdict

Week 1 issue →

Week 1EarnedGame file →

Cardinals49% success · +0.14 EPA/play

2614

Chargers39% success · −0.19 EPA/play

ARI >99% deserveddeserved <1% LAC

Cardinals earned it: the snaps said Cardinals by 14.4, a deserved win probability of more than 99%.

Deserved marginARI by 14.4

Real marginARI by 12

Luck pts ARI+2.0

Luck pts LAC−1.5

The swingQ4 12:28 · LAC · −15 pts of win probability. 16-J.Scott punt is BLOCKED by 80-S.Fehoko, Center-47-J.Harris, recovered by LAC-30-A.Ingold at LAC 3.

Flags that moved this game

1Defensive Pass InterferenceARI → helped LAC · Wk 1 Q3 7:25 · 10-J.Herbert pass incomplete deep left to 9-T.Harris. PENALTY on ARI-16-M.Melton, Defensive Pass Interference, 48 yards,…+8.6 WP
2Defensive Pass InterferenceARI → helped LAC · Wk 1 Q2 6:33 · (Shotgun) 10-J.Herbert pass incomplete deep right to 15-L.McConkey. PENALTY on ARI-29-D.Burke, Defensive Pass Interference, 24…+5.2 WP

Fourth downs our model disagreed with

1ARI · 4th & 1Mike LaFleur chose Punt at own 40, Wk 1 Q4 14:04, up 2. Model: Go for it (clear call). Result: punted.−1.41 EP
2ARI · 4th & 3Mike LaFleur chose Field goal at opp 9, Wk 1 Q2 6:54, tied. Model: Go for it (lean). Result: good.−0.75 EP

Deserved win probability from the snaps, fumble bounces evened out. How we judge

From the Lab

This game, re-drawn

All Lab tools →

Game DNA145 plays, one strand0 lead changes · 6 explosive plays · downloadable poster →

Officiating crewRonald Torbert15 accepted flags in this game · 14 a game this season (about league average)Market vs SnapsLine: LAC by 8.5 · Snaps: ARI by 14.4Cardinals covered; the snaps agree

26@14

Week 1Changes the winner

If the 44-yard kick had missed

Chargers after the play33%what really happened

Q2 0:04 38-C.Ryland 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-59-C.Kreiter, Holder-12-B.Gillikin.

Every game's sliding door →

Home win probability, play by play

The river

100%

Hover, tap or drag along the river to read any play. Arrow keys work too. Click to jump to its drive.

LAC ▲ARI ▼

Q1Q2Q3Q4

The five biggest swings

+19%Q4 12:28 · for ARIJ.Scott punt is BLOCKED by S.Fehoko, Center-J.Harris, recovered by LAC-A.Ingold at LAC 3.
+12%Q3 7:25 · for LACJ.Herbert pass incomplete deep left to T.Harris.PENALTY on ARZ-M.Melton, Defensive Pass Interference, 48 yards, enforced at LAC 40 - No Play.
+11%Q3 6:03 · for LAC(Shotgun) J.Herbert pass short right to L.McConkey for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. C.Dicker extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Harris, Holder-J.Scott.
+9%Q3 11:27 · for ARI(Shotgun) J.Brissett pass deep left to M.Harrison to ARZ 45 for 33 yards (C.Hart) [D.Phillips].
+9%Q4 11:44 · for ARI(Shotgun) J.Brissett pass short left to T.McBride for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. C.Ryland extra point is GOOD, Center-C.Kreiter, Holder-B.Gillikin.

Every drive, on the field

LAC attacks →← ARI attacks

Q1 15:00TD11p · 70y · 6:11
Q1 8:49TD8p · 77y · 4:27
Q1 4:22MISS8p · 34y · 4:31
Q2 14:51FUM4p · 22y · 1:29
Q2 13:22FG12p · 57y · 6:31
Q2 6:51DOWNS10p · 66y · 4:56
Q2 1:55FG8p · 61y · 1:55
Q3 15:00PUNT5p · 19y · 2:54
Q3 12:06FG10p · 75y · 4:41
Q3 7:25TD3p · 60y · 1:22
Q3 6:03PUNT8p · 30y · 3:26
Q3 2:37PUNT5p · 6y · 2:26
Q3 0:11PUNT3p · 9y · 1:16
Q4 13:55BLOCK3p · -1y · 1:34
Q4 12:21TD2p · 3y · 0:37
Q4 11:44INT4p · 24y · 2:05
Q4 9:39PUNT8p · 34y · 4:55
Q4 4:44DOWNS5p · 18y · 0:35
Q4 4:09FG4p · 8y · 1:36
Q4 2:33DOWNS4p · 9y · 0:41
Q4 1:52END3p · -3y · 1:52

Cardinals10 drives6scoring drives (2 TD)60%drives ending in pointsOWN 33avg starting field position1three-and-outs0turnovers incl. downs

Chargers10 drives2scoring drives (2 TD)20%drives ending in pointsOWN 25avg starting field position1three-and-outs6turnovers incl. downs

Scoring summary

Q1
8:49Touchdown(Shotgun) J.Love left end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. C.Ryland extra point is GOOD, Center-C.Kreiter, Holder-B.Gillikin.7–0
Q1
4:22Touchdown(Shotgun) O.Hampton up the middle for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. C.Dicker extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Harris, Holder-J.Scott.7–7
Q2
6:51Field goalC.Ryland 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-C.Kreiter, Holder-B.Gillikin.10–7
Q2
0:00Field goalC.Ryland 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-C.Kreiter, Holder-B.Gillikin.13–7
Q3
7:25Field goalC.Ryland 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-C.Kreiter, Holder-B.Gillikin.16–7
Q3
6:03Touchdown(Shotgun) J.Herbert pass short right to L.McConkey for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. C.Dicker extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Harris, Holder-J.Scott.16–14
Q4
11:44Touchdown(Shotgun) J.Brissett pass short left to T.McBride for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. C.Ryland extra point is GOOD, Center-C.Kreiter, Holder-B.Gillikin.23–14
Q4
2:33Field goalC.Ryland 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-C.Kreiter, Holder-B.Gillikin.26–14

Team stats

ARIvsLAC

393Total yards268

277Passing yards187

116Rushing yards81

5.5Yards per play5.3

23First downs17

6-14 · 43%Third down2-8 · 25%

0-0Fourth down0-3

2-5Red zone TDs2-3

27/37Comp / att17/27

3.4Yards per carry3.9

0Turnovers2

1 (−0 yds)Sacks allowed3 (−22 yds)

8 for 111Penalties7 for 64

37:31Possession22:29

Expected points added · nflverse model

The game in EPA

EPA per play+0.144-0.244

Dropback EPA+0.289-0.191

Rush EPA-0.044-0.360

Success rate49%39%

Explosive plays54

Plays6951

Who moved the needle

J.BrissettDropbacks: 39+11.3

L.McConkeyTargets: 7+6.8

K.BourneTargets: 8+5.8

T.McBrideTargets: 13+3.8

Mi.WilsonTargets: 7+1.9

M.HarrisonTargets: 3+0.9

Cost their side the most

J.HerbertDropbacks: 35-6.7

O.HamptonCarries: 12-4.6

T.HarrisTargets: 6-3.3

Box score

Arizona Cardinals

Passing	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	SACKS	QBR	RTG
Jacoby BrissettQB	27/37	277	7.5	1	0	1-0	85.8	103.1

Rushing	CAR	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Tyler AllgeierRB	17	61	3.6	0	11
Jeremiyah LoveRB	11	41	3.7	1	18
Jacoby BrissettQB	6	14	2.3	0	11

Receiving	REC	TGTS	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Trey McBrideTE	9	13	95	10.6	1	27
Kendrick BourneWR	8	8	75	9.4	0	13
Michael WilsonWR	5	7	56	11.2	0	17
Marvin Harrison Jr.WR	1	3	33	33.0	0	33
Tyler AllgeierRB	2	2	9	4.5	0	5
Jeremiyah LoveRB	2	4	9	4.5	0	5

Defense	TOT	SOLO	SACKS	TFL	PD	QB HTS
Jack GibbensLB	7	5	0.5	0	0	1
Mack Wilson Sr.LB	6	2	0	0	1	0
Budda BakerS	5	4	0.5	0	0	1
Denzel BurkeCB	4	4	0	0	0	0
Andrew WingardS	4	3	0	2	1	0
Roy LopezDT	4	2	0	0	0	0
Will JohnsonCB	4	2	0	0	0	0
Jordan BurchLB	3	3	1	1	0	1
Zaven CollinsLB	3	3	0	0	0	0
Kitan CrawfordS	3	2	0	0	0	0

Kicking	FG	PCT	LONG	XP	PTS
Chad RylandPK	4/5	80.0	49	2/2	14

Los Angeles Chargers

Passing	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	SACKS	QBR	RTG
Justin HerbertQB	17/27	209	7.7	1	1	3-22	39.2	83.7

Rushing	CAR	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Omarion HamptonRB	12	43	3.6	1	14
Justin HerbertQB	5	29	5.8	0	11
Keaton MitchellRB	4	9	2.3	0	8

Receiving	REC	TGTS	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Ladd McConkeyWR	5	7	82	16.4	1	23
David NjokuTE	5	5	58	11.6	0	15
Oronde GadsdenTE	2	2	32	16.0	0	26
Tre' HarrisWR	3	6	20	6.7	0	11
Quentin JohnstonWR	2	6	17	8.5	0	9
Derius DavisWR	0	1	0	0.0	0	0

Defense	TOT	SOLO	SACKS	PD	QB HTS
Derwin James Jr.S	10	7	0	1	0
Daiyan HenleyLB	8	2	0.5	0	1
Cam HartCB	6	5	0	1	0
Del'Shawn PhillipsLB	6	3	0	0	1
Genesis SmithS	5	4	0	0	0
Troy DyeLB	5	3	0.5	0	1
Elijah MoldenCB	5	3	0	0	0
Tuli TuipulotuLB	5	3	0	1	3
Jamaree CaldwellDT	5	3	0	0	1
Dalvin TomlinsonDT	4	0	0	0	0

Kicking	FG	PCT	LONG	XP	PTS
Cameron DickerPK	0/0	0.0	0	2/2	2

Starters, confirmed

ConfirmedEvery game →

Confirmed from the official snap counts: at every position group the starters are the snap leaders. Expected lineup = today's depth chart, adjusted for the injury report.

Expected, did not start

Carson BeckQB→ Jacoby Brissett

Reggie VirgilWR→ Michael Wilson

Simi FehokoWR→ Marvin Harrison Jr.

Devin DuvernayWR→ Kendrick Bourne

Jayden WilliamsLT→ Paris Johnson Jr.

Kei'Trel ClarkLCB→ Will Johnson

Scott MatlockFB→ Alec Ingold

Travis BurkeRT→ Rashawn Slater

Teair TartLDE→ Dalvin Tomlinson

Marlowe WaxLILB→ Daiyan Henley

Tony JeffersonSS→ Derwin James Jr.