Arizona Cardinals face Los Angeles Chargers in NFL Week 1 opener

The Arizona Cardinals open their 2026 NFL season on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET. The Cardinals enter the matchup following a 3-14 campaign last year, while the Chargers look to build on a 2025 season that included a playoff appearance and a top-10 ranked defense. Experts across the league have favored the Chargers in preseason predictions, with a panel of 10 NFL Network analysts unanimously selecting Los Angeles to win the contest. The game marks the debut of new Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. While the Cardinals offense enters with optimism, analysts cite the defensive strength of the Chargers, featuring edge rushers Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu, as a primary hurdle for the Arizona roster.

• 10:03 PMYahoo Sports — NFL picks: Experts all pick Chargers over Cardinals in Week 1