TEMPE – When the Arizona Cardinals hired former Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to replace fired head coach Jonathan Gannon, LaFleur brought a reputation for producing innovative offenses, creative play calling and high-scoring attacks.
LaFleur’s offense delivered in his head coaching debut, but it was the Cardinals defensive effort that LaFleur credited in the wake of Arizona’s stunning 26-14 upset of the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
The Cardinals, who won three games in 2025, entered as 9.5-point underdogs. LaFleur credited his defense for staying strong and handling adversity to bring home the upset.
“I thought as the game went on they just got better and better,” LaFleur said. “I felt like they could handle the punches and keep going back out there if need be.”
LaFleur credited defensive coordinator Nick Rallis for a strong game plan, but he believes the defense can play even better, despite limiting the Chargers to 14 points and 268 yards of total offense.
When LaFleur was hired, there were questions about Rallis’ future as a holdover from ther Gannon staff. The Cardinals ranked 27th in total defense and 29th in scoring defense under Rallis in 2025.
“I thought Nick called a really good game. I thought it was clean on their end. But overall, very pleased with them but again a lot to clean up,” LaFluer said.
Defensive tackle Walter Nolen III was among the defensive standouts LaFleur recognized. Nolen made an impact despite facing double and triple teams throughout the game, opening things up for his teammates.
“He was disruptive,” LaFleur said. “I thought he played hard and that’s what’s great about him. Like a lot of other guys, there’s a whole other level that we can reach, and we need to put in the work to get there.”
Worth noting on the sack: Dante Stills had a one-on-one opportunity because the Chargers were doubling Walter Nolen. As LaFleur said a few weeks ago, Nolen changes the opponent's gameplan.
— Theo Mackie (@theo_mackie) September 13, 2026
As a whole, the defense was active from start to finish, forcing three sacks and two takeaways. Safety Andrew Wingard was involved in both of them as he forced a fumble on Chargers running back Omarion Hampton. Wingard also intercepted Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert on a deep shot with just under 10 minutes to go in the game, which helped seal the game.
Cardinals S Andrew Wingard has become the first player in franchise history to have 2+ TFLs, an interception and a forced fumble in the same game.
— Mark Dalton (@CardsMarkD) September 13, 2026
“Everyone has been trashing this defense, trashing coach Rallis,” Wingard told azcardinals.com. “It’s like … I’m going to be polite and not say what I want to say, but — it’s not gratifying because it’d only be gratifying if you cared about it, but I’m just happy for all these guys.”
One of the key moments came late in the first half with the Cardinals nursing a 10-7 lead. Chargers QB Justin Herbert had his team in a fourth-down and goal-to-go situation at the Arizona 3-yard line.
At the snap, defensive tackle Dante Stills broke through the middle and took Herbert down for a 10-yard loss. The Cardinals hung onto the lead the rest of the game.
“We allowed them to get down to the goal line,” Stills told azcardinals.com. “I had a good rush, and I just won. It definitely felt good because I haven’t had a sack in a whole year.”
Meanwhile, the offense was efficient behind quarterback Jacoby Brissett and rookie running back Jeremiyah Love, whom the Cardinals selected with the third overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Love made an immediate impact, despite being limited in practice leading up to the game because of an ankle sprain, rushing for 41 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. He also caught two passes. Starter Tyler Allgeier led the ground attack with 61 yards on 17 carries.
LaFleur gave the veteran Brissett, who was making his first season-opening start, credit for making the right plays. He threw for 277 yards with a touchdown, was not intercepted and was sacked only once.
“I thought Jacoby was solid. I thought for the most part the ball got where it was supposed to,” LaFleur said. “He obviously got us out of some you know tough situations with his legs.”
He noted a play before half in which Brissett was rushed off the edge and had to throw the ball away. LaFleur said Brissett was mad at himself for not getting rid of it sooner. He called it “just a veteran being a veteran,” due to the standard that Brissett holds himself to.
With Brissett showing he can perform, Arizona is eager to shift its offense into high gear with LaFleur calling the plays.
With Love and Allgeier as a one-two backfield punch, Brissett has wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., breakout wide receiver Michael Wilson and star tight end Trey McBride as weapons.
LaFleur made his mark in Cardinals history as the first non-interim coach to win his debut since 1973, but Arizona is hoping the offensive and defensive performances in L.A. are only the beginning.
It was an unexpected victory outside the Cardinals facility, and LaFleur cautioned against getting caught up in one game.
“We think about what the narrative was just 48 hours ago, right?” LaFleur said. “And we’re not dumb. It’s not that we just ignore the noise. Be above the noise.
“And now the noise is a little bit different.”
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