Good morning, winners! I hope most of you enjoyed the first Sunday of the NFL season. I know I did (how bout them back-flipping Giants).
Fans of the Bears (59 points!), Ravens, Jaguars and Bengals are feeling good today too. Maybe a few others. Unfortunately, that feeling won't carry over to the Los Angeles Chargers, who suffered a 12-point loss to the Arizona Cardinals as the biggest spread favorites of the week. It's the biggest Week 1 upset since 2018, according to Action Network. What a giant disappointment.
That's how you open your season fresh off a humiliating playoff loss in January where you managed just three points!? This is what fans are supposed to get excited about?
Massive upset as the Cardinals take out the Chargers (-485) as +9.5
dogs 🤯 This was the biggest Week 1 upset since 2018. Chaos for survivor pools 😭 pic.twitter.com/Tm0UgwUoEs
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) September 13, 2026
We're used to seeing the Chargers embarrass themselves, but not like this. And it's not simply that they lost to the Cardinals, who may be better than most of us gave them credit for. It's how they lost to the Cardinals.
Against a team that won just three games last year with one of the worst defenses in the NFL, the Chargers were barely competitive. They scored 14 points and were outscored 19-7 after the first quarter. They couldn't run the ball or push it downfield, because they still can't block. They went 2-for-11 combined on third and fourth downs, and were dominated by 15 minutes in time of possession. On the other side of the ball, they were lit up by Jacoby Brissett. It was a truly embarrassing performance by Jim Harbaugh's squad.
Naturally, fingers will point in the direction of the quarterback, who was no doubt underwhelming and has been for some time. Seven years into Justin Herbert's career, and we still have questions about just how good he is -- which is probably evidence enough of just how good he is. Perfectly fine. Good, but not quite as good as he was billed to be early in his career. A step or two below the game's elite. AFC Dak Prescott.
BEER TIME: Cameras found Madison Beer celebrating Herbert
But the Chargers' problems appear to be bigger than Herbert or the offensive line or any single element of the team. This wasn't their traditional late-game fluke loss by a field goal. This was a wire-to-wire beatdown in every phase of the game.
There's reason to exercise patience with the team, as they're still likely adjusting to two new coordinators after losing DC Jesse Minter and firing OC Greg Roman. But the way this season started was a new low, even for the Chargers.
Team USA wins gold
The unfortunate timing of the FIBA World Cup had the tournament's gold medal game lined up with the first Sunday of the NFL season and the US Open mens final. But those who tuned in were treated to the U.S. team putting a beatdown on France.
Behind a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds from Breanna Stewart, Team USA won the game 97-79 for their fifth straight World Cup title.
Captain America 🇺🇸
— FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup (@FIBAWWC) September 14, 2026
Breanna Stewart is a World Cup All-Star and our TISSOT MVP 🏆 #FIBAWWC pic.twitter.com/UKhLfHXQ9m
Jackie Young (18 points), Kahleah Copper (15), Chelsea Gray (12) and Caitlin Clark (12) also scored in double figures. Stewart was named tournament MVP for the second time in four World Cups.
Quick hits: Stroud's collapse ... Diggs' mistake ... Goff's "fumble" ... and more
- D'Andrea: C.J. Stroud went toe-to-toe with Josh Allen, then collapsed at the precipice of greatness.
- Sydney Sweeney responded to the criticism of her Novig ad without using a single word.
- Stefon Diggs prevented a Commanders game-tying two-point attempt with his nonsensical celebration.
- Jared Goff having a fumble overturned due to his 'intent' was one of the NFL's most baffling calls Sunday.
- John McEnroe ended the US Open by stating the obvious about Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
- Ryan Day had three devastating words after Ohio State's stunning loss to Texas.
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This article originally appeared on For The Win: The Chargers somehow found a new low to hit
