Before the season began, the Arizona Cardinals weren’t on many people’s radars. Analysts predicted they might compete for a top quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft, implying a poor performance this season. However, Arizona’s start challenges those assumptions.

The Cardinals achieved a 26-14 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. This win marked a successful debut for head coach Mike LaFleur. The Chargers, known for reaching the AFC Wild-Card Round last year, were seen as playoff candidates this season.

Before this game, Mike LaFleur became the first Arizona head coach to win his debut since Don Coryell in 1973. Over time, 13 Cardinals head coaches have lost their opening games. LaFleur seemed aware of these odds, and despite the win, he focused on the continuous pursuit of further victories.

“Again, what’s been said, it doesn’t matter,” LaFleur expressed through ESPN. “We don’t care. And I hope we continue to feel that way. Like I just told them, the humility is a day away in this league, so we got to reset and get right back to work tomorrow. But I’m happy for those guys.”

Looking ahead to Week 2, the Cardinals face a challenging game against the Seattle Seahawks, the reigning Super Bowl champions. Seattle will likely play without their starting quarterback, Sam Darnold, but backup Drew Lock orchestrated a 13-10 comeback victory against the New England Patriots in Week 1.