Our Cardinals vs Chargers prediction backs Los Angeles clearly. Arizona visit SoFi Stadium on Sunday, September 13 for the late window, one of four games in that slot. Both sides open the 2026 NFL campaign here. The block below carries Squawka Signal’s live read, moreover, including where the value sits. Signal rates every game on the Week 1 card the same way.
Los Angeles finished 11-6 and reached the postseason. Arizona went 3-14 and lost their final nine, the longest losing run carried into this weekend by anyone.
The Chargers held opponents to a 75.0 passer rating in 2025, the best mark of any side playing this round. Arizona allowed 59 sacks by contrast.
Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Chargers
Arizona CardinalsWin prob23%
Los Angeles ChargersWin prob77%Squawka Signal is our model’s read, updated after every result — not betting advice. How the NFL Signal works. 19+ (18+ in AB/MB/QC). Please play responsibly. ConnexOntario: 1-866-531-2600 (ON). Full T&Cs & geo-restrictions apply: bet365.
Cardinals vs Chargers: our editor’s prop
One editorial call to sit alongside the live Signal numbers above.
AT 
Our prop
An editorial call, not a Signal model output. 19+ (18+ in AB, MB and QC). Please play responsibly.
Cardinals vs Chargers: 2025 season form
Los Angeles finished 11-6 at plus 28. Arizona went 3-14 at minus 133, closing on nine straight defeats.
| 2025 regular season | Cardinals | Chargers |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 3-14 | 11-6 |
| Points for | 355 | 368 |
| Points against | 488 | 340 |
| Point differential | -133 | +28 |
| Sacks recorded | 30 | 45 |
| Sacks allowed | 59 | 60 |
| Interceptions made | 10 | 19 |
| Third-down offence | 41.5% | 45.8% |
| Red-zone offence | 54.1% | 47.4% |
| Red zone allowed | 63.2% | 46.9% |
| Opponent passer rating | 97.6 | 75.0 |
The defensive rows separate them. Los Angeles held opponents to a 75.0 passer rating and made 19 interceptions, both the better marks here. However, the Chargers also allowed 60 sacks, so their line is no stronger than Arizona’s.
Cardinals vs Chargers injury report and team news
This section updates as soon as the Out, Doubtful and Questionable tags appear. For now, one quarterback room is settled and the other is not.
The Cardinals have not confirmed a starter. Jacoby Brissett threw for 3,366 yards in 2025, though Gardner Minshew II and the rookie Carson Beck are both on the roster. Trey McBride leads the receivers regardless, moreover.
Justin Herbert starts for Los Angeles. Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston lead the receivers, meanwhile, with Omarion Hampton carrying the run game and David Njoku at tight end.
Arizona CardinalsLos Angeles ChargersThe matchup that settles it: the Chargers secondary against an unsettled Arizona passing game
Los Angeles conceded a 75.0 opponent passer rating in 2025 and intercepted 19 passes. Both figures lead this weekend’s fixtures.
Arizona threw for 3,955 yards, more than the Chargers managed. However, they allowed 59 sacks doing it, and the quarterback remains undecided. Trey McBride is the counterweight, indeed, after 1,239 receiving yards.
Players to watch
- Justin Herbert (LAC, QB): 3,727 passing yards and 26 touchdowns, notably his most productive year.
- Tuli Tuipulotu (LAC, OLB): 13 sacks, indeed against a line that allowed 59.
- Trey McBride (ARI, TE): 1,239 receiving yards, sixth in the league and first among tight ends.
- James Conner (ARI, RB): Leads a backfield that gained 1,583 yards at 4.33 a carry.
How to watch Cardinals vs Chargers
The game kicks off at 4:25 PM ET on Sunday, September 13 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. CTV carries a Sunday afternoon game in each region, meanwhile, with RDS on the French-language broadcast. The CTV selection is regional, so DAZN through NFL Game Pass is the dependable way to get this one. Our full guide to watching the NFL in Canada sets out every window. Squawka may earn a commission if you subscribe through that link.
| Detail | Cardinals vs Chargers |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, September 13, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 4:25 PM ET / 3:25 PM CT / 1:25 PM PT |
| Venue | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA |
| TV | CTV (regional) / RDS (French) |
| Live stream | DAZN (NFL Game Pass) / CTV.ca |
| Week | Week 1, 2026 NFL season |
Cardinals vs Chargers prediction and score projection
Our Cardinals vs Chargers prediction is a comfortable Los Angeles win. The best pass defence on the slate against an offence with no confirmed quarterback is a straightforward read.
Notably, Signal currently puts Arizona at 23% and Los Angeles at 77%, with a projected line of Los Angeles Chargers -8.
The Cardinals are not without weapons. McBride and Michael Wilson both cleared 1,000 receiving yards, moreover. Nevertheless 59 sacks allowed tells you how it usually ended.
So we will take the Chargers, 27-17. Which side carries the value, though, is a separate question from who wins, and the live read on that sits in the Signal block.
Signal rates every game on our NFL picks page. Meanwhile the title race is priced through Super Bowl LXI odds, with both conferences on the NFC and AFC Championship pages. Finally, player markets sit with our NFL player props coverage, and kickoff is confirmed on NFL.com.
Cardinals vs Chargers FAQ
Los Angeles, clearly. The Chargers finished 11-6 and allowed a 75.0 opponent passer rating, the best mark on this weekend’s slate, while Arizona went 3-14. Ultimately the live win probability and the current market price both sit in the Signal block on this page.
Spreads move all week; therefore both the live line and our model’s projected line sit in the Signal block rather than in this answer. As a guide: Los Angeles finished plus 28, Arizona minus 133.
CTV carries a Sunday afternoon game in each region and RDS has the French-language coverage, while DAZN streams every game through NFL Game Pass. Kickoff is 4:25 PM ET on Sunday, September 13. Notably the CTV selection is regional.
Arizona had not confirmed a starter at the time of writing. Jacoby Brissett threw for 3,366 yards in 2025, and Gardner Minshew II and the rookie Carson Beck are also on the roster.
Chargers 27-17. Los Angeles held opponents to a 75.0 passer rating last season, and Arizona allowed 59 sacks while losing their final nine games.
19+ (18+ in AB, MB and QC) | Please play responsibly | ConnexOntario: 1-866-531-2600 (ON) | Signal probabilities and odds approximate at time of writing and subject to change