LA Chargers vs Arizona Cardinals Prediction 9/13/26 NFL Picks Today

The Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Chargers meet in week 1 NFL action from SoFi Stadium on Sunday. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s an Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Chargers prediction.

Arizona Cardinals Team Preview

The Arizona Cardinals enter the 2026 season turning the page under new head coach Mike LaFleur after a disappointing 3-14 campaign in 2025 that led to the firing of Jonathan Gannon. In 2025, tight end Trey McBride paced the offense with an NFL tight-end record 126 receptions, Marvin Harrison Jr. led the receiving group in yards, and safety Budda Baker anchored the defense, while quarterback Kyler Murray missed significant time with injuries. During the 2026 offseason, general manager Monti Ossenfort aggressively re-tooled the roster by signing guard Isaac Seumalo and wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, bringing in running back Tyler Allgeier, and adding backup quarterback Gardner Minshew II. With LaFleur taking over the offense and an upgraded supporting cast around Murray and McBride, the Cardinals head into 2026 looking to reset their culture and push back into competitiveness in the NFC West.

Los Angeles Chargers Team Preview

The Los Angeles Chargers enter the 2026 season seeking to build on a promising 11-6 campaign in year two under head coach Jim Harbaugh that earned them a wildcard berth. In 2025, quarterback Justin Herbert anchored the offense with 3,727 passing yards, targeting wide receiver Ladd McConkey while running back Kimani Vidal paced the ground attack with 643 rushing yards, and defensive end Tuli Tuipulotu spearheaded a stout defense with a team-leading 13 sacks alongside veteran edge rusher Khalil Mack. During the 2026 offseason, general manager Joe Hortiz aggressively upgraded the roster by signing Pro Bowl center Tyler Biadasz, tight end David Njoku, and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, while retaining key core leaders by re-signing Mack and safety Derwin James Jr. In the draft, Los Angeles bolstered its defensive front and playmaking speed by selecting Miami edge rusher Akheem Mesidor in the first round, Florida interior lineman Jake Slaughter in the second round, and Mississippi State wide receiver Brenen Thompson in the fourth round. Backed by a reinforced offensive line, a deeper defensive rotation, and elite star power in Herbert and James, the Chargers head into 2026 primed to contend for the AFC West title and make a deep playoff run.

Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Chargers Betting Trends: Week 1

Why the Los Angeles Chargers will win

• The Cardinals have lost each of their last 13 Sunday games.
• The favorites have won each of the Cardinals’ last nine games.
• The Cardinals have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six games played on the West Coast.
• The favorites have covered the spread in eight of the Cardinals’ last nine games.
• The Chargers have scored the first touchdown in five of their last six games as home favorites against NFC opponents.
• The Cardinals have lost the first half in each of their last seven Sunday road games.
• The Chargers have won the first quarter in each of their last three home games against NFC opponents.

Why the Arizona Cardinals will win

• The Chargers have lost four of their last five September games as favorites against NFC opponents.
• The underdogs have won each of the Chargers’ last two games at SoFi Stadium.
• The Cardinals have covered the spread in each of their last nine road games in September.
• The Chargers have failed to cover the spread in five of their last six September games as favorites against NFC opponents.
• The road team has won the first half in nine of the Cardinals’ last 10 Week 1 games.
• The Chargers have lost the first quarter in each of their last five September games as home favorites against NFC opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Ten of the Cardinals’ last 11 road games in September have gone UNDER the total points line.
• Eight of the Chargers’ last nine games in September have gone UNDER the total points line.
• Each of the last three Sunday games at SoFi Stadium have gone OVER the total points line.

Los Angeles Chargers Player Prop Facts

• Ladd McConkey has scored at least one touchdown in each of the Chargers’ last four games as home favorites against NFC opponents.
• Justin Herbert has recorded 274+ passing yards in three of the Chargers’ last four games as favorites against NFC West opponents.
• Justin Herbert has recorded 24+ rushing yards in each of the Chargers’ last five games against NFC opponents.
• Justin Herbert has recorded 21+ completions in each of the Chargers’ last five games against NFC West opponents.
• Kimani Vidal has recorded 10+ receiving yards in each of his last five home appearances.
• Kimani Vidal has recorded 104+ rushing and receiving yards in each of his last four home appearances.
• Omarion Hampton ranked 1st amongst qualified players for catch rate (91.4%) last season.

Arizona Cardinals Player Prop Facts

• Trey McBride has scored at least one touchdown in eight of the Cardinals’ last nine games as road underdogs.
• Jacoby Brissett has recorded 27+ completions in three of the Cardinals’ last four games against AFC opponents.
• Tyler Allgeier has recorded 34+ rushing yards in four of his last five Sunday appearances with his team as an underdog.
• Jacoby Brissett has recorded 243+ passing yards in each of the Cardinals’ last five games as heavy underdogs (>+7.0 points).
• Trey McBride has recorded 71+ receiving yards in each of the Cardinals’ last six games as underdogs against AFC opponents.
• James Conner has recorded 74+ rushing and receiving yards in each of his four previous appearances against the Chargers.
• Jacoby Brissett recorded the most completions in a single game last season (47 vs 49ers, Week 11).

Matchup/League Facts

• Chargers – five different players recorded 50+ rushing yards in a game last season – equal-most in the NFL.
• Chargers – two different players recorded 80+ rushing yards in a game last season – equal-most in the NFL.
• The Cardinals suffered the equal-most losses when leading after Q3 last season (5).
• The Cardinals suffered the equal-most losses when leading at HT last season (6).

Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Chargers Prediction

I’m on the Chargers here. A lot of times there can be upsets in week 1 so I always am weary of heavy favorites, but I think the Cardinals could easily go 2-15 this season and winless into their bye week in week 14 that’s how tough their schedule is and how overmatched the Cardinals are in a lot of these games. I think that this is just a bad spot for Arizona on the road in week 1 so give me the Chargers.