Cardinals top Chargers 26-14 in Mike LaFleur's coaching debut
3 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 14, 2026, 12:41 AM
Last updated Sep 14, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 26-14 on Sunday at SoFi Stadium, marking Mike LaFleur's first victory as head coach. The Chargers, favored by 9.5 points, trailed throughout the game as the Cardinals dominated possession and offense. Jacoby Brissett threw for 277 yards and one touchdown, leading the Cardinals whose Chad Ryland contributed four field goals. The Chargers struggled in the fourth quarter with multiple turnovers, including a blocked punt and a crucial stop on fourth-and-goal, finishing the game with 268 total yards to Arizona's 393. The Cardinals play the Seattle Seahawks next Sunday, while the Chargers will host the Las Vegas Raiders.
- •Cardinals lead the game in possession, 37 minutes to 22.
- •Jacoby Brissett passes for 277 yards and 1 TD.
- •Chad Ryland kicks four field goals, only misses a 54-yarder.
- •Chargers commit multiple fourth-quarter turnovers.
- •Next games: Cardinals vs. Seahawks, Chargers vs. Raiders.
- 12:41 AMYahoo Sports — Arizona Cardinals win first game of Mike LaFleur era
- 12:25 AMYahoo Sports — Cardinals’ Mike LaFleur breaks 53-year old curse against Chargers
- 11:43 PMYahoo Sports — Cardinals beat Chargers 26-14 as Mike LaFleur wins his head coaching debut
"Jacoby Brissett threw for 277 yards and a touchdown and the Arizona Cardinals defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 26-14 on Sunday, giving Mike LaFleur a victory in his head coaching debut over Jim Harbaugh. The Chargers were 9 1/2-point favorites — biggest in the NFL in Week 1 — but they played from behind the entire game. LaFleur became the first Cardinals coach to win his debut since Don Coryell in 1973.
"Mike LaFleur’s Cardinals debut ended with a Week 1 win over the Chargers and a long-awaited coaching milestone.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 14, 2026, 12:41 AMArizona Cardinals win first game of Mike LaFleur era
Arizona Cardinals win their opener.
- Yahoo SportsSep 14, 2026, 12:25 AMCardinals’ Mike LaFleur breaks 53-year old curse against Chargers
Mike LaFleur’s Cardinals debut ended with a Week 1 win over the Chargers and a long-awaited coaching milestone.
- Yahoo SportsSep 13, 2026, 11:43 PMCardinals beat Chargers 26-14 as Mike LaFleur wins his head coaching debut
Jacoby Brissett threw for 277 yards and a touchdown and the Arizona Cardinals defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 26-14 on Sunday, giving Mike LaFleur a victory in his head coaching debut over Jim Harbaugh. The Chargers were 9 1/2-point favorites — biggest in the NFL in Week 1 — but they played from behind the entire game. LaFleur became the first Cardinals coach to win his debut since Don Coryell in 1973.
Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
NFL•Sep 14, 2026, 12:54 AMPro Football Talk’s Mike Florio has more discouraging Sam Darnold injury timetable
NFL•Sep 14, 2026, 12:53 AMHarbaugh’s new-look Chargers fail first test in ugly loss to Cardinals
NFL•Sep 14, 2026, 12:44 AMMatt LaFleur had no reasonable defense for Packers’ latest dramatic meltdown
NFL•Sep 14, 2026, 12:35 AMFantasy Waiver Wire Targets Week 2: Tyler Allgeier, Devaughn Vele, and Caleb Douglas Are Top Pickups
NFL•Sep 14, 2026, 12:31 AMCardinals Shatter Expectations with Week 1 Win over Chargers- NFL•Sep 14, 2026, 12:22 AMRex Ryan's method of handling Deshaun Watson would make a bad situation worse
