The Chargers are less than a week away from their first game of the 2026 season.
Los Angeles had one long offseason, and soon they'll be back on the gridiron, ready to take the league by storm this Fall. There is much optimism regarding the Bolts, and we will soon see it all on display when kickoff gets going on Sunday.
The first team in the way is the Cardinals. While Arizona isn't expected to do much in 2026, Week 1 is full of surprises. Nothing is guaranteed in the NFL, and the Chargers will look to get off on the right foot.
Here are six things you should know as we get set for Week 1.
Mike LaFleur begins his first game as Cardinals head coach
The Cardinals' new head coach will make his head-coaching debut in the same building where he spent the last three seasons as the Rams' offensive coordinator.
LaFleur, 39, will look to turn things around for a team that went 3-14 in 2025. He'll be installing a new offensive system, making this Week 1 matchup against the Chargers an early test of how quickly the Cardinals can adapt.
Jacoby Brissett leading the offense
Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett enters the season opener as the definitive starting quarterback. During his debut season with the Arizona last year, Brissett put together a productive campaign despite the team’s overall struggles. Taking over the starting job for the final 12 games of the season, he posted 3,366 passing yards, 23 touchdowns to eight interceptions with a completion percentage of 64.9.
Jeremiyah Love could make an immediate impact
The Cardinals may not have a lot going for them, but that doesn't apply to their running back situation. Love is expected to make some noise right out of the gate, as he is coming into the season as one of the more talked-about rookies. The No. 5 overall pick has a chance to make an immediate impact as he did at Notre Dame, and the Chargers must plan accordingly. He is currently dealing with a high ankle sprain, but Arizona is optimistic he will suit up and play this Sunday.
Trey McBride is the Cardinals' biggest matchup problem
Another offensive player the Chargers need to worry about is star tight end Trey McBride. The dominant pass catcher is coming off a stellar 2025 season, and even that is an understatement. He set a new NFL single-season record for tight ends, surpassing Zach Ertz's 116 with 126 receptions. On top of that, McBride recorded 11 touchdowns, snapping his drought of end-zone struggles. Prior to 2025, McBride had a total of six touchdowns in three seasons. The Chargers struggled mightily against tight ends in 2025, ranking 27th in DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) against the position. Opposing tight ends had a 77% catch rate against the Chargers since Week 9 of last season.
The Cardinals have plenty of young talent in the secondary
Cardinals have some youth, and they'll look to have it all come together after some tough stretches in previous seasons. Their secondary is young and talented, with cornerback Will Johnson among the more prominent names for Arizona. While that group is led by All-Pro safety Budda Baker, the young defensive backs will try to establish themselves.
The Cardinals' new-look offensive line is worth watching
While the left side of the offensive line is solid, featuring veteran Isaac Seumalo, the right side is a major question mark. Second-round rookie guard Chase Bisontis is out for most, if not all, of the 2026 season due to an MCL injury. This forces Isaiah Adams into a full-time starting role at right guard next to newly signed right tackle Elijah Wilkinson. The Cardinals' offensive line struggled mightily, finishing the 2025 season ranked 26th due to a slew of injuries and poor depth.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers Week 1 vs. Cardinals: 6 things to know
