The Los Angeles Chargers open the 2026 season as nine-point home favorites over the Arizona Cardinals, and that number has already drifted. Los Angeles opened at -10.5 in May and now sits at -9, even though 64 percent of spread tickets back the home team. The total has climbed from 46 to 47.5. These teams arrive at SoFi Stadium from opposite directions, but a spread this large deserves a hard look. Below is our breakdown of the side, the total, and a bonus angle.
Last Updated: Sunday, September 13, 2026
Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Chargers — Time & How to Watch
| Where | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood CA |
| When | Sunday, September 13 – 4:25 PM ET |
| TV | CBS |
Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Chargers Betting Preview
Los Angeles enters off a second straight 11-win season. The Chargers went 11-6 in 2025 before falling to the Patriots in the Wild Card round. Justin Herbert is back under center, but the scheme around him is new. Mike McDaniel arrived in January as offensive coordinator, and Chris O’Leary took over the defense.
The Chargers also open with a patched interior. Center Tyler Biadasz was lost for the season in August, so rookie Jake Slaughter makes his first NFL start. Linebacker Denzel Perryman begins the year on injured reserve, and Pro Bowl edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu was limited in practice with a hip issue. Left tackle Rashawn Slater is back after a long absence.
Arizona is rebuilding in plain sight. Mike LaFleur takes over as head coach after a 3-14 finish, and Jacoby Brissett was named a team captain before winning the starting job. There is talent here. Tight end Trey McBride caught 126 passes for 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns last season and was named First Team All-Pro. The problem sits up front. Arizona allowed 59 sacks in 2025 and averaged 93.1 rushing yards per game. Rookie running back Jeremiyah Love, the third overall pick, was limited this week with an ankle injury.
These teams do not meet often, and the last one went Arizona’s way. The Cardinals won 17-15 on Monday night in 2024, with Herbert throwing for well over 300 yards and no touchdowns. It is a small sample, but a useful reminder about yards versus points.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Chargers Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | +9 (-110) | +360 | U 47.5 (-115) |
| Chargers | -9 (-110) | -500 | O 47.5 (-105) |
Odds accurate as of Sunday, September 13, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NFL Odds – Futures – Props
Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Chargers — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Cardinals | 36% | 64% | Chargers |
See the latest NFL Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Cardinals vs. Chargers Prediction — Can a Rebuilding Road Team Hang Around a Full Nine?
Start with the line movement, because it tells a story. This game opened at -10.5 for Los Angeles in May. It now sits at -9, and the moneyline has shortened from -550 to -500. That drift happened while 64 percent of spread tickets came in on the Chargers. When the public leans one way and the number moves the other, sharper money is usually on the opposite side. It is not a guarantee of anything, but it is a signal worth respecting on a Week 1 number.
The situational case for Arizona is about timing. Los Angeles is installing a new offense under McDaniel and a new defense under O’Leary, and Week 1 is when installations look their roughest. The Chargers also start a rookie center and two new guards. Nine points asks Los Angeles to win comfortably while sorting all of that out in real time.
The case against Arizona is serious. A team that allowed 59 sacks last season now faces Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu. Brissett is a steady veteran, not a quarterback who wins games alone, and the ground game ranked near the bottom of the league. If the Cardinals fall behind by two scores, they have no proven way to climb back. The counterweight is that Arizona only needs to stay within a touchdown and a field goal, and a first-year staff is usually as competitive in September as it will be all year.
The Pick: Arizona Cardinals +9 (-110)
Cardinals vs. Chargers Prediction — Does a New Offense Find Its Rhythm Right Away?
The total has moved the other direction from the side. It opened at 46 and now sits at 47.5, with the Under carrying -115 juice against -105 on the Over. That pricing suggests the market nudged the number up but is charging a small premium to take the low side. The bull case for points is obvious. McDaniel’s offenses have historically pushed tempo and manufacture explosive plays, and Herbert has the arm to take advantage of a rebuilding secondary.
The other side is about play volume. Arizona averaged 93.1 rushing yards per game in 2025, which limits how long the Cardinals can sustain drives. New systems also tend to be conservative in September, when coordinators lean on the parts of the playbook their linemen have actually repped. Two first-year play-callers in one stadium is a reasonable recipe for a slower opener. The risk is that one long touchdown flips a number this low in a hurry.
The Pick: Under 47.5 (-115)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
There is a third, smaller angle for bettors who want a bigger return. Arizona’s moneyline has also shortened, from +390 at the open to +360 now. That is the same directional signal as the spread. The 17-15 result in the last meeting shows this matchup can produce a tight, low-scoring game. This is a small-stake play, not a core position, and the obvious risk is that Los Angeles is simply the better roster.
Our read is a Chargers win in a game that stays closer and lower-scoring than the market expects. If the new offense clicks immediately, all three positions are in trouble. For more Week 1 coverage, see our 49ers-Rams prediction and Cowboys-Giants odds breakdown.
Bonus Pick: Arizona Cardinals moneyline +360 (small stake)
All picks in this article: Cardinals +9 (-110), Under 47.5 (-115), and Cardinals moneyline +360 as a small-stake bonus.
NFL Cardinals vs. Chargers FAQ: Sunday September 13, 2026
What time does the Cardinals vs. Chargers game start?
Kickoff is set for 4:25 PM ET on Sunday, September 13, 2026. That is 1:25 PM local time in Inglewood, California. The game is part of the late-afternoon Week 1 window on the opening Sunday of the 2026 NFL regular season.
What channel is the Cardinals vs. Chargers game on?
The game airs on CBS. Kevin Harlan handles play-by-play with Trent Green as analyst and Melanie Collins reporting from the sideline. Coverage is subject to regional broadcast maps, so the game will not reach every market on CBS.
Where are the Cardinals and Chargers playing?
The game is at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, the Chargers’ home venue. Arizona is the road team for this Week 1 matchup, the opener of the 2026 regular season for both clubs. The stadium is shared with the Los Angeles Rams.
Who is starting at quarterback for the Cardinals and Chargers?
Jacoby Brissett starts for Arizona and Justin Herbert starts for Los Angeles. Brissett won the Cardinals’ starting job this offseason and was also voted a team captain for 2026. Herbert made the Pro Bowl in 2025 and works this year under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
Who won the last meeting between the Cardinals and Chargers?
Arizona won the most recent meeting 17-15 on Monday Night Football in 2024. The Cardinals closed it out with a field goal on the final play of the game. Los Angeles moved the ball effectively but could not finish drives with touchdowns.