Cardinals 26 Chargers 14 Game MVPs

By Walter Mitchell

Top Four Storylines:

1. Cardinals' Ball Control Offense

2. Cardinals finally stress pass rush and sticky man-to-man coverage (the PI on Melton was bs)

3. Special Teams punt block turned momentum back to the Cardinals to stay in the best close out of a game on defense and ball control offense in four years

4. First time since Don Coryell in 1973 that a new Cardinals' head coach won in Week 1, hooray for you and thema, Mike LaFleur

Team MVPs:

Defense: Andrew Wingard

Offense: Jacoby Brissett

Special Teams: Simi Fehoko

Red Rain Question: 

What are your top takeaways of this game?

Red Rain Podcast 224


We intend to include the best of your takeaways on tomorrow's episode. There is much to analyze and discuss. We are taping at 10:30 am Arizona time and hope to have our Cardinals' "Victory Monday" celebration on YouTube, Spotify and Apple by 1 PM Arizona time


Comments

  1. CCFSeptember 13, 2026 at 5:50 PM

    Victory Sunday! They were ,10.5 underdogs, the largest point spread of all the games this week. Almost everyone thought this would be a Chargers thumping.

    ReplyDelete
  2. tianruiSeptember 13, 2026 at 6:56 PM

    Absolutely totally worth getting up at 4:30am here to watch all three phases playing out so beautifully. quick question.. was Sweat even a factor... also didn't really see much of Nolen as well.. double teamed?? but Burch was a hungry dog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walter MitchellSeptember 14, 2026 at 4:10 AM

      Burch came up big! Congrats to you for getting up at 4:30 AM to see the game!

      Delete
  3. Jayman84September 13, 2026 at 7:57 PM

    I went to the game at SoFi, figuring that my hopes would be highest in week 1 than they would be all season for this team. But like all Cardinals fans, I was very pleasantly surprised by their play on the field. I was delighted to see Love’s first career TD. Once the Chargers responded with their own TD in under 4 minutes, I thought “here we go again” with this defense.
    It felt like the Wingard forced fumble was the most important play of the game. It stopped the Charger early momentum and kept the Cardinals in control of game from then on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walter MitchellSeptember 14, 2026 at 4:09 AM

      Great post, Jayman84. Hope you can go to every game!

      Delete
  4. TMAttySeptember 14, 2026 at 7:42 AM

    Although we had nice individual performances, my top takeaway is that they actually finished the game! We could’ve taken a lead into the 4th and played “not to lose” and given it up (once again).

    One game in, but the ability to finish was very different from the Gannon era (oof, sorry Green Bay).

    ReplyDelete
  5. JethroBodineSeptember 14, 2026 at 8:45 AM

    I knew this offense was going to be strong this season but the defense surprised the heck out of me against the Chargers. They looked like they were having fun out there which I haven't seen from a Cards team in a while. If I am correct, this was the first time JB has started a season as a starter with the same group he finished the previous season with in his 10+ year career. That's what I like most about Jacoby. He's had to earn every opportunity he's been given. We've been talking about changing the culture of this team for decades now and so far, Mike LaFleur looks like he's trying to do just that.

    ReplyDelete
  6. CCFSeptember 14, 2026 at 9:37 AM

    Like

    ReplyDelete
  7. Flash87September 14, 2026 at 3:52 PM

    McFleur has elevated this entire offense. Great week one win for both team and fans. It's been a while since we felt optimistic. Great effort by this defense. Once those interior defensive lineman get some more reps under their belt look out.

    ReplyDelete

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