New-look Chargers sputter in mistake-filled loss

The Chargers try to discover their sea legs with their new offense.

More pre-snap movement. Unbalanced formations. A dizzying array of performs.

They unveiled the new scheme Sunday and principally got here away queasy, dropping to the Arizona Cardinals 26-14 in what proved to be Jim Harbaugh’s first Week 1 defeat as an NFL head coach.

Arizona, meanwhile, attacked in waves — blocking a punt in the fourth quarter and taking over three yards from the end zone. The guests scored two performs later, silencing the already-subdued SoFi Stadium crowd.

“Sloppy at times, too sloppy,” Harbaugh said. “That’s something we’ve got to get fixed.”

Put more bluntly by tight end Charlie Kolar: “Overall, offensively, was just a dog … performance.”

The Cardinals, who gained just three video games in 2025, picked up their first victory since Week 9 of last season and dominated time of possession, holding the ball more than quarter-hour longer than the home staff.

“Our offense is over there [on the sideline] drinking water,” Chargers security Derwin James Jr. said. “They’re hungry to get out there, bro. We’ve got to do a better job getting those three-and-outs and getting off the field.”

It was an inauspicious debut for new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who labored all offseason on getting the ball out of Justin Herbert’s arms quicker, thus decreasing the quantity of punishing hits to the franchise quarterback.

Indeed, Herbert appeared to take up fewer hits than he did in a typical recreation last season, but he didn’t have a lot of locations to go with the soccer. He accomplished 17 of 27 passes for 209 yards with a landing and an interception. He was sacked thrice.

The first of those sacks got here on a pivotal play in the second quarter. The Chargers, trailing by three, determined to go for it on fourth-and-goal from the three. Arizona defensive deal with Dante Stills shot up the center and wrangled Herbert for a 13-yard loss.

To make issues worse for the Chargers, the Cardinals took over and used up the remaining of the quarter with a field-goal drive.

Neither staff punted in the first half, yet the Chargers got here away with just seven factors, in half because of that goal-line fiasco, and in half because of an Omarion Hampton fumble.

Herbert repeatedly linked with Ladd McConkey early in the sport, and later discovered him for a landing, but that option disappeared close to the end of the third quarter when the standout receiver suffered a chest injury while leaping to make a catch. McConkey lay on the turf for a number of moments while he was examined by Chargers medical workers.

A hamstring injury to KeAndre Lambert-Smith additional winnowed the Chargers’ receiving choices.

Harbaugh had tied an NFL document by profitable each of his six Week 1 video games as a head coach, the first 4 with the San Francisco 49ers. That streak ended Sunday.

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, left, quarterback Justin Herbert and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel depart the sphere after a 26-14 loss to the Cardinals at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The Chargers had to be particularly mindful this summer time of what they put on tape. Because in an uncommon twist, all three of their preseason opponents — Houston, San Francisco and the Rams — are groups they are going to face in the common season. They didn’t need to tip their hand.

Still, their quarterback anticipated better.

“It’s on us to execute,” Herbert lamented. “We’ve run those plays since camp. We know them. And we just have to go out there and do what we’re capable of.”

This was a prime alternative for the Chargers, as the Los Angeles highlight was targeted squarely on them after the Rams’ blowout loss to the 49ers, adopted by the deflating news Sunday that Rams defensive end Myles Garrett — the most ballyhooed acquisition of the offseason — will miss at least 4 weeks with a knee injury.

But for the Bolts, favored by 9½ factors, there could be no thunder stealing.

Journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett was regular and efficient against the Chargers protection — now drawn up by new coordinator Chris O’Leary — rookie operating back Jeremiyah Love scored the first landing of the season for Arizona, and tight end Trey McBride repeatedly discovered holes in the coverage, catching 9 passes for 95 yards.

Chargers operating back Omarion Hampton scores a landing in the first half against the Cardinals on Sunday.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Brissett accomplished 27 of 37 passes for 277 yards and a landing. He had the kind of ending every quarterback savors: three consecutive kneeldowns to run out the clock.

The Cardinals scored more factors Sunday than they did in all but three of their video games last season.

Hampton, a first-round decide in 2025, had a pin-balling, nine-yard landing run early in the sport but did little after that. He completed with 12 carries for 43 yards.

Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland had 4 area objectives and might need had 5 had his 54-yard attempt in the first half not doinked off the fitting upright.

Now, Harbaugh is in the unfamiliar place of lifting his wobbly gamers off the canvas in Week 1.

“We understand we need to bounce back,” he said. “It’s called resolve.”