The Arizona Cardinals’ Week 1 win over the Los Angeles Chargers was, in the moment, stunning.
It captured the attention of analysts around the country, with Mike LaFleur doing a spot on the Pat McAfee Show and talk shows dedicating rare minutes to a team that began the season with non-existent external expectations.
Digging deeper, there are some reasons to believe the hot start could continue. Here are three quick takeaways after rewatching the film from Arizona’s win.
Mike LaFleur set his team up for success
Some preseason concerns surrounding the Cardinals’ offense proved real against the Chargers. Their offensive line did not perform particularly well, especially in the run game. There were far more missed blocks than the final numbers would suggest.
So, how did the Cardinals produce
such an efficient offensive showing anyway?
Talent at skill positions helps. Jeremiyah Love consistently slipped past tackles and found yardage where none seemed to be available. Trey McBride repeatedly won in difficult assignments, as did Michael Wilson.
But there was a schematic element to the Cardinals’ success, too.
You’ve probably heard the phrase “illusion of complexity.” This was that in action.
The Cardinals showed the Chargers every personnel package imaginable, from 13 personnel (one running back, three tight ends) to 21 personnel (two running backs, one tight end) to jumbo. They showed all sorts of motions, inserted wide receivers as key run blockers and used straight dropbacks from under center for some chunk gains.
Essentially, they gave the Chargers defense a ton to think about. And when the defense is thinking, the offense has an advantage.
“(It’s) making sure defenses aren’t zeroed in on one or two things, having to practice that stuff,” LaFleur said.
Roy Lopez was the best player on the field
Have a day, Roy Lopez.
The Valley native is back with the Cardinals after spending last season in Detroit, and he immediately showed how impactful he can be for this defensive front. No player was more effective in this game.
One first-half rep was emblematic. The Chargers had a power run called to the left side, with a numbers advantage up the B gap. As they handed the ball off, it looked as if the run was set up for a 20-yard gain.
Lopez had other ideas. He threw the left guard to the ground, lowered his shoulder into the fullback and single-handedly stopped the play for no gain.
Maybe the best rep of the entire game from any Cardinals player.
— Theo Mackie (@theo_mackie) September 15, 2026
Play was set up perfectly for an explosive run through the B gap until Roy Lopez blew up two blocks back to back. This defense missed him last year. pic.twitter.com/eX3Azo52YZ
That’s essentially what he did all game, exploding past one-on-one matchups and anchoring when the Chargers targeted him with double teams. On Andrew Wingard’s late interception — which effectively sealed the game — Lopez was the one swimming past a block to flush Justin Herbert from the pocket to disrupt the timing of the Chargers’ play design.
The Chargers have one of the worst interior offensive lines in the league, so tougher challenges are coming, but you still need players who can take advantage of that type of weakness. That’s what Lopez did.
Linebacker duo made big difference
As the Cardinals’ defense collapsed late last season, their linebacker duo was often culpable. Akeem Davis-Gaither was one of their least effective players, and Cody Simon wasn’t quite ready for the speed of the NFL.
So in Week 1, it was refreshing to see high-level linebacker play from the Cardinals.
Mack Wilson was absolutely everywhere on Sunday. A reminder of how much this defense missed him down the stretch last year. pic.twitter.com/ooXL9Vl6UR
— Theo Mackie (@theo_mackie) September 15, 2026
Mack Wilson Sr., who missed the final eight games of last season with broken ribs, was everywhere. He showed his instincts in both the run and pass game, finding creases to impact runs in the backfield and marauding around the intermediate areas of the field to shrink passing windows for Herbert.
It was a potent reminder of just how much the Cardinals missed him down the stretch last season.
Just as encouraging, Jack Gibbens — a low-cost free agent signing this spring — paired nicely with Wilson. He didn’t make the same highlight-reel plays, but showed a strong feel for his responsibilities in zone coverage, often forcing Herbert off his first reads. Issues with zone distribution cost the Cardinals repeatedly last season, so that was a nice change.
Ever since Monti Ossenfort was hired, the Cardinals have taken a low-cost approach at linebacker, preferring to invest their free agent spending and draft capital elsewhere. Two years ago, they hit on Wilson, finding one relatively cheap asset at the position. If Gibbens can provide similar production, it would boost the entire defense.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 3 things that stood out in Arizona Cardinals game film
