Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Chargers – Where to Watch, Stream Info, TV Channel, and Live Updates (September 13, 2026)

The 2026 NFL regular season gets underway with a West Coast matchup that carries genuine intrigue on both sides. The Los Angeles Chargers enter with momentum built over back-to-back playoff appearances, a franchise that has established itself as a consistent contender and now looks to take another step forward. Arizona arrives having navigated a preseason with mixed results — a win over Las Vegas, a narrow loss to Carolina, a blowout defeat against Dallas, and a final tune-up that saw them fall to Green Bay 42-38 in a high-scoring affair.

That preseason arc tells a partial story. The Cardinals showed they can put points on the board — 38 against the Packers is no small thing — but the defense gave up 42 in the same game, and the Cowboys hung 34 on them in the final dress rehearsal before the starters typically sit. Whether those numbers reflect genuine concern or preseason noise is exactly what Sunday will begin to answer.

The Chargers, meanwhile, lost their final preseason game to the Rams 20-18, a narrow defeat that does little to dim the optimism surrounding a team that has made the playoffs in each of the past two seasons. Both clubs open 0-0, and every game in September carries outsized weight when the margin for error in a division race is thin from the start.

Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Chargers Game Information

Game Date: September 13, 2026
Game Time: 04:25 PM ET
TV Channel: CBS
Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Live Stream: Fubo (free trial)

Game Preview

Both teams enter the regular season without a win or a loss to their name, which means Sunday’s result carries immediate weight in the standings. The Cardinals and Chargers each sit third in their respective divisions, and an early stumble can create separation that takes weeks to recover from. For Los Angeles, protecting home field while building on consecutive playoff runs is the baseline expectation. For Arizona, a road win against an established contender would send an early signal that the Cardinals are a team worth tracking in the NFC West.

Los Angeles Chargers Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 0-0
Rankings: #12 in Conference, #3 in Division

Arizona Cardinals Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 0-0
Rankings: #12 in Conference, #3 in Division

What to Watch For

Without player statistics on hand, the broader competitive angles carry the weight here. Arizona’s preseason showed a team capable of scoring — 38 points against Green Bay demonstrates offensive capability — but also one that can be exposed defensively when the opponent is clicking. The Cardinals will need to be sharper on that side of the ball against a Chargers offense that has been refined over two consecutive playoff campaigns.

Los Angeles brings the credibility of a program that has learned how to win in meaningful moments. Back-to-back postseason appearances are not accidents — they reflect organizational depth and the ability to execute when the stakes rise. The Chargers’ home environment at SoFi Stadium gives them a structural advantage, and they will look to impose that from the opening drive.

What makes this game worth watching is the contrast in trajectories. The Chargers are trying to sustain and elevate; the Cardinals are trying to prove they belong in the conversation. That tension — between an established contender and a team with something to prove — tends to produce football that matters from the first quarter onward.

Los Angeles Chargers Injury Report

Deane Leonard – Abdomen (Did Not Participate In Practice)
Khalil Mack – NIR- Rest (Full Participation In Practice)
RJ Mickens – Ankle (Full Participation In Practice)
Keaton Mitchell – Hamstring (Full Participation In Practice)
Brenen Thompson – Hip (Full Participation In Practice)
Tuli Tuipulotu – Hip (Limited Participation In Practice)

Arizona Cardinals Injury Report

Isaiah Adams – Knee (Did Not Participate In Practice)
Josh Sweat – Knee (Full Participation In Practice)
Jeremiyah Love – Ankle (Limited Participation In Practice)
Dadrion Taylor-Demerson – Ribs (Did Not Participate In Practice)
Garrett Williams – Achilles (Limited Participation In Practice)
Blake Gillikin – Groin (Full Participation In Practice)
Will Johnson – Ankle (Full Participation In Practice)

Los Angeles Chargers Upcoming 2026 Schedule

September 13, 2026 vs Arizona Cardinals
September 20, 2026 vs Las Vegas Raiders
September 27, 2026 at Buffalo Bills
October 04, 2026 at Seattle Seahawks
October 11, 2026 vs Denver Broncos
October 18, 2026 at Kansas City Chiefs
November 01, 2026 at Los Angeles Rams
November 08, 2026 vs Houston Texans
November 16, 2026 at Baltimore Ravens
November 22, 2026 vs New York Jets

Arizona Cardinals Upcoming 2026 Schedule

September 13, 2026 at Los Angeles Chargers
September 20, 2026 vs Seattle Seahawks
September 27, 2026 at San Francisco 49ers
October 04, 2026 at New York Giants
October 11, 2026 vs Detroit Lions
October 18, 2026 at Los Angeles Rams
October 25, 2026 vs Denver Broncos
November 01, 2026 at Dallas Cowboys
November 08, 2026 at Seattle Seahawks
November 15, 2026 vs Los Angeles Rams

Our game previews are produced programmatically using real-time data via Sportradar and AI writing tools. Articles are regularly reviewed for accuracy before publication.