# Cardinals vs Chargers predictions, graded

Week 1, 2026: Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Chargers

Sep 13, 2026 · final: Cardinals 26, Chargers 14 · 20 calls on record · updated Sep 17, 9:20 AM ET

Who do pundits pick in Cardinals vs Chargers? Of 17 pundits with a call on record, all 17 take the Chargers. 5 named a score; the median has the Chargers by 17. The Cardinals won 26-14, so 0 of 17 had the winner. Their graded calls averaged 10 out of 100.

Picks by outlet. Each pundit counted once, at the outlet or show their latest call ran on. An outlet is listed when two or more of its pundits have picked.

- [Sports Illustrated](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated): all 9 Chargers
- [CBS Sports](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/cbs-sports): all 3 Chargers

The other 5 pundits write or talk elsewhere: all 5 Chargers.

Page: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-1-cardinals-at-chargers

Picks:

- [Chris Roling](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/chris-roling) took the Chargers, Chargers 30–Cardinals 10; said Sep 13, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 30.95 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 20.16) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d4c64a5c-84bf-4ed6-9779-882e9a8fb212
- [Shanna McCarriston](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/shanna-mccarriston) took the Chargers; said Sep 12, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/77fd63b2-8b02-46a8-a1f9-dc052aa896c6
- [Shanna McCarriston](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/shanna-mccarriston) took the Chargers, Chargers 27–Cardinals 17; said Sep 12, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 45.24 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 20.16) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/77fd63b2-8b02-46a8-a1f9-dc052aa896c6
- [Brandon Deutsch](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/brandon-deutsch) took the Chargers; said Sep 11, 2026; on Fox Sports Radio (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cc329622-3510-4f49-925b-ef46ad069d42
- [John Granato](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-granato) took the Chargers; said Sep 11, 2026; on John and Lance — ESPN Houston (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7e5667ab-d120-4333-bd33-74701c5f467f
- [Mike Florio](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mike-florio) took the Chargers, Chargers 27–Cardinals 10; said Sep 9, 2026; on NBC Sports; scored 38.1 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 20.16) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4b20f46e-ebc0-462f-9e7a-2ab82f91a2ea
- [Albert Breer](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/albert-breer) took the Chargers; said Sep 9, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/81a0a660-de14-460e-a283-c357a6a1bcda
- [Mike Kadlick](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mike-kadlick) took the Chargers; said Sep 9, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/934613ff-97e3-4894-a383-faa755bdfc35
- [Matt Verderame](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/matt-verderame) took the Chargers; said Sep 9, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e4f51f97-310d-4665-a47e-fdab93ff1fd1
- [Eva Geitheim](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/eva-geitheim) took the Chargers; said Sep 9, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/599df4d8-af5a-4097-b802-1d21ce7b6ce1
- [Conor Orr](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/conor-orr) took the Chargers; said Sep 9, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/54ae8d21-7621-4c3d-816c-e879aed9b5c2
- [Mitch Goldich](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mitch-goldich) took the Chargers; said Sep 9, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/643de3da-467f-48c2-a141-4656c392ab89
- [Gilberto Manzano](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/gilberto-manzano) took the Chargers; said Sep 9, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f6e2bb80-47ba-4803-9002-1ab10e7ee54c
- [John Pluym](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-pluym) took the Chargers; said Sep 9, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e7e5c159-21f2-4766-92de-857294ef51cf
- [Pete Prisco](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pete-prisco) took the Chargers, Chargers 31–Cardinals 14; said Sep 9, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 38.1 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 20.16) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d6f9bde0-aad0-4013-967c-c197b2e9be19
- [John Breech](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-breech) took the Chargers, Chargers 31–Cardinals 21; said Sep 8, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 45.24 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 20.16) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b823d5ce-fc63-4d24-9f48-839f494b538a
- [Jason McIntyre](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jason-mcintyre) took the Chargers; said Sep 2, 2026; on The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6b08e81a-baf6-4a4d-8d1b-f06ae2b3e515
- [Nick Wright](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/nick-wright) took the Chargers; said Sep 2, 2026; on What's Wright? with Nick Wright (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d726dad7-b84e-421c-8274-380142c4ff2e
- [John Breech](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-breech) took the Chargers; said Aug 19, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/50eb251e-cf6b-417d-a0d6-bccba95e06fc

## How they came in

The Cardinals went 3-14 last season and the Chargers went 11-6 last season. On win totals, 8 pundits put the Cardinals at 4.8 wins on average, and 13 pundits put the Chargers at 8.1 wins on average.

Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California

- Arizona Cardinals: 0-0
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 26th, defense 30th of 32
  - Last season: 3-14
  - Win-total calls: 8 pundits, average 4.8, 1 to 9 wins
- Los Angeles Chargers: 0-0
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 32nd, defense 26th of 32
  - Last season: 11-6
  - Win-total calls: 13 pundits, average 8.1, 2 to 12 wins

## Players to watch

Each club's starting quarterback, leading rusher, receiver and tight end, and its sack and tackle leaders, with their 2026 regular season so far, with the latest call on each from a pundit ranked on the leaderboard whose record beats the naive pick, made since the 2026 schedule came out ("No." is that rank). Leaderboard: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/leaderboard

- [Gardner Minshew](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/gardner-minshew) (Starting QB, QB): 354 passing yards · 3 TD, 0 INT · 71.7% completions · 2 games; 41st in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 7 Donnie Druin, Nov 1, 2026: Gardner Minshew to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 18 Carter Bahns, Oct 13, 2026: Gardner Minshew to stay put (not settled yet)
- [Tyler Allgeier](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tyler-allgeier) (RB1, RB): 369 rushing yards on 89 carries · 3 TD · 23 catches for 128 · 9 games; 25th in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 7 Donnie Druin, Sep 6, 2026: Tyler Allgeier to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 7, 2026: Tyler Allgeier to finish top 49 at his position, by fantasy points (not settled yet)
- [Michael Wilson](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/michael-wilson) (WR1, WR): 51 catches for 546 yards · 2 TD · 9 games; 18th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Sep 3, 2026: Michael Wilson to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Oct 3, 2026: Michael Wilson to be 2nd on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Trey McBride](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/trey-mcbride) (TE1, TE): 73 catches for 598 yards · 5 TD · 9 games; 16th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Sep 4, 2026: Trey McBride to fall short of his draft cost (a top-20 ADP) (not settled yet)
  - No. 24 Rich Hribar, Jul 30, 2026: Trey McBride to fall short of his draft cost (the second round of non-TE Premium drafts) (not settled yet)
- [Budda Baker](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/budda-baker) (Sack leader, Tackle leader, S): 3.5 sacks · 29 solo tackles · 1 interception · 9 games; 42nd in the NFL in sacks; 56th in the NFL in solo tackles
  - No. 7 Donnie Druin, Nov 4, 2026: Budda Baker to move — “next on the trade block” (not settled yet)
  - No. 18 Carter Bahns, Oct 20, 2026: Budda Baker to move to Buffalo Bills (not settled yet)
- [Justin Herbert](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/justin-herbert) (Starting QB, QB): 1,591 passing yards · 6 TD, 11 INT · 61.3% completions · 190 rushing yards · 8 games; 21st in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Nov 3, 2026: Justin Herbert to stay with Los Angeles Chargers (not settled yet)
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 30, 2026: Justin Herbert to outplay his draft cost (an ADP of QB9 and is going in the back half of the seventh round) (not settled yet)
- [Omarion Hampton](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/omarion-hampton) (RB1, RB): 369 rushing yards on 102 carries · 3 TD · 11 catches for 63 · 8 games; 25th in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 17, 2026: Omarion Hampton to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Aug 15, 2026: Omarion Hampton to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points (not settled yet)
- [Ladd McConkey](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ladd-mcconkey) (WR1, WR): 17 catches for 286 yards · 1 TD · 6 games; 76th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Nov 6, 2026: Ladd McConkey to move to Pittsburgh Steelers (not settled yet)
  - No. 5 Tom Pelissero, Sep 18, 2026: McConkie's out, and I expect him to be out for the game. (Chargers vs. Raiders, Week 2) (not settled yet)
- [Oronde Gadsden II](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/oronde-gadsden-ii) (TE1, TE): 19 catches for 172 yards · 1 TD · 8 games; 135th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 11, 2026: Oronde Gadsden II to fall short of his draft cost (TE20, Overall RK150 | ECR vs. ADP: -20) (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 7, 2026: Oronde Gadsden II to be 3rd on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Tuli Tuipulotu](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tuli-tuipulotu) (Sack leader, LB): 3 sacks · 15 solo tackles · 1 interception · 8 games; 51st in the NFL in sacks
  - No. 23 Jordan Dajani, Oct 29, 2026: Tuli Tuipulotu to move — “potential trade chip” (not settled yet)
  - No. 40 JP Acosta, Nov 6, 2026: Tuli Tuipulotu to sign a new deal with Los Angeles Chargers (not settled yet)
- [Daiyan Henley](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/daiyan-henley) (Tackle leader, LB): 0.5 sacks · 21 solo tackles · 1 interception · 8 games; 140th in the NFL in solo tackles
  - No. 18 Carter Bahns, Nov 11, 2026: Daiyan Henley to be 3rd on the depth chart (not settled yet)

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The room is counted in pundits, each one's latest call standing. Accuracy is out of 100; the naive pick is the home team.
The week: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-1
Method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology