NFL picks: Experts all pick Chargers over Cardinals in Week 1

The Arizona Cardinals will host the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the NFL season. The Cardinals entered the season as significant underdogs, having concluded the previous year with a 3-14 record. In contrast, the Chargers boasted a top-10 defense in 2025 and advanced to the playoffs for the second consecutive season, marking their third playoff appearance in four years. Consequently, experts view the Cardinals as an unlikely favorite to emerge victorious in this matchup.

Jess Root, a contributor to Cards Wire, predicts a Chargers victory with a score of 31-17. Root argues that while the Cardinals' offense shows promise, they face a formidable challenge against the Chargers' elite defense, which ranked among the top 10 in points, yards, first downs, pass defense, and run defense. The Chargers' offensive struggles from the previous season are expected to be resolved under the guidance of new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.

Seth Cox from SB Nation and the Rise Up, See Red Podcast offers a slightly different projection, predicting a 27-20 Chargers triumph. Cox highlights the potential difficulties the Cardinals will face, emphasizing the Chargers' strong edge players, including Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu, which could hinder the Cardinals' offensive performance. However, Cox also acknowledges the need for the Cardinals' defense to improve in order to compete effectively.

The NFL Network expert panel reaches a unanimous decision, selecting the Chargers as the winners by a margin of double digits. Eight experts anticipate the Chargers will secure a victory with a score exceeding twenty points. The game is scheduled to commence at 4:25 p.m. ET (1:25 p.m. Arizona time) on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. For more Cardinals and NFL updates, listeners can tune into the latest episodes of the Rise Up, See Red podcast, available on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts.