INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers' offense took a step backward by barely being able to move forward in their season opener.
Following an offseason during which they tried to address their offensive deficiencies, the Chargers had one miscue after another in a season-opening 28-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
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Arizona Cardinals cornerback Max Melton, left, breaks up a pass intended for Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert throws a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey is slow to get up after an injury during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Dante Stills, middle, reacts after sacking Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) on fourth down during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, middle, is sacked by Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker, left, and linebacker Jack Gibbens during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
And it only got worse as the day unfolded. Against a team that finished last season with nine consecutive losses, the Justin Herbert-led Chargers offense was at its worst in the fourth quarter.
One drive ended with a blocked punt, another on an interception and Los Angeles had consecutive turnovers on downs. It was far from what was envisioned from a group led by new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
“Some uncharacteristic things happened. Give (the Cardinals) credit for making them happen,” Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said. “I would call it sloppy at times. Too sloppy. That’s something we need to get fixed.”
It all started so promising when the Chargers used their opening possession to go 77 yards for a touchdown on an 8-yard touchdown run by Omarion Hampton. But that merely tied it at 7 after the Cardinals turned their opening drive into a 5-yard touchdown run from rookie Jeremiyah Love.
Los Angeles had nine more possessions and scored just one more TD on an 8-yard reception by Ladd McConkey midway through the third quarter. Six minutes of game time later, McConkey departed with a chest injury and didn’t return.
It meant that Herbert’s favorite target was not available in the final quarter — and it showed. McConkey finished with a team-best five receptions for 82 yards.
“We just have to execute,” Herbert said. “It’s on us as an offense not to have penalties. We got to score points in the red zone.”
What the Chargers have to do is get into the red zone.
They made it inside the Cardinals 20-yard line just three times, getting two TDs and coming away empty once when they advanced to the Arizona 3 late in the first half only to see Herbert get sacked for a 10-yard loss on fourth down.
The Cardinals took advantage, going 61 yards on eight plays and finishing the first half with a 44-yard field goal from Chad Ryland for a 13-7 halftime lead.
Herbert was just 7-of-9 passing for 118 yards in the first half and had just 22 more yards passing in the third quarter before the game really got away in the fourth.
Herbert was sacked a career-high 54 times last season and it appeared to be more of the same when he was sacked three times Sunday in McDaniel’s offense.
“A lot of areas to get better at,” Harbaugh said. “But that’s what you do. That’s what you practice, that’s what you teach, that’s what you hold yourself and each other accountable to.”
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Arizona Cardinals cornerback Max Melton, left, breaks up a pass intended for Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert throws a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey is slow to get up after an injury during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Dante Stills, middle, reacts after sacking Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) on fourth down during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, middle, is sacked by Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker, left, and linebacker Jack Gibbens during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Hurts can count on a few guarantees in each season opener.
For sure, a new offensive coordinator. Though as long as Hurts is connecting on passes and extending drives with game-saving scrambles, the play-caller in his ear rarely seems to matter.
Hurts threw for 203 yards and three touchdowns, and the Eagles' Moro Ojomo stuffed the Commanders' attempt at a tying 2-point conversion with 1:01 remaining as Philadelphia squeaked past Washington 24-22 on Sunday.
“It’s just about meeting the moment when your opportunity comes,” Hurts said.
Plenty of his teammates met the moment when it was their time to deliver.
Jayden Daniels threw a 1-yard TD pass to on third-and-goal to Antonio Williams with 1:01 left for the Commanders' second touchdown of the fourth quarter. On the 2-point try, Washington called a shovel pass to tight end John Bates, who was wrapped up instantly by Ojomo.
“I got off on the ball,” Ojomo said. “Took a shot. You kind of got to play it free.”
Here's another guarantee: The Eagles improved to 6-0 in season openers under coach Nick Sirianni and Hurts since 2021.
Hurts had his moments for the two-time reigning NFC East champions in Sean Mannion's debut as offensive coordinator. Mannion is Hurts’ fifth coordinator in the last five seasons and their partnership showed early promise for the former Super Bowl MVP.
Mannion's system also worked out well for tight end Dallas Goedert, who had four catches for 77 yards and two touchdowns.
The early big play came late in the first quarter when Hurts had multiple targets open on a play-action and connected with Dontayvion Wicks for a 64-yard reception. Wicks, acquired in an April trade from Green Bay, had the longest reception of his career and gave the first signal that perhaps the Eagles will be just fine at wideout after trading disgruntled star A.J. Brown to New England.
Hurts finished the drive with a dart down the middle to Goedert for a 17-yard score and a 7-3 lead. If the Eagles had questions at wide receiver — and new No. 1 receiver DeVonta Smith had only two targets in the first half, and just three catches overall — they are fine at tight end. Goedert, who had a career-high 11 TD catches last season, again proved himself a trusted target.
Hurts added a 9-yard TD pass to Wicks in the second quarter for a 14-3 lead as the Eagles ran a clean, crisp offense under Mannion. Saquon Barkley, who tailed off last season after rushing for more than 2,000 yards in 2024 when the Eagles won the Super Bowl, ripped off a 42-yard run to set up Wicks' TD.
Yet the offense largely cooled off behind a shaky line that gave Hurts little time to throw. Meanwhile, the defense — anchored by all-everywhere linebacker Zack Baun and his 12 tackles — rarely let Daniels break free long enough to sting the Eagles until the fourth.
Daniels — who went 18 of 34 for 164 yards — avoided a sack, spun and scrambled for a 13-yard gain on the final play of the third quarter. He had time in the pocket to hit a wide-open Williams for a 33-yard gain and then hit Stefon Diggs after the veteran receiver beat Cooper DeJean in the slot for a 10-yard touchdown.
Diggs, whose string of personal issues made him available even after he had 99 catches for 1,123 yards for the AFC champion New England Patriots, was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct when he jumped and bear-hugged the goalpost before he landed on his back.
Coach Dan Quinn said the Commanders would have gone for 2, but the 15-yard penalty forced them to settle for the extra point that made it 17-16.
Hurts extended the next drive with a 22-yard scramble on third-and-18 and hit Goedert on the next drive for a 43-yard score and a 24-16 lead.
“I think one of the things that makes Jalen such a special quarterback is that he can do it through the air. He can do it running the show,” Sirianni said. “He can do it with his legs when he needs to make plays, and obviously, that was a big play, and you need those.”
Drew Stevens kicked a 55-yard field goal for the Commanders and Jacory Croskey-Merritt added a 1-yard run that cut the Eagles' lead to 14-9 at halftime. Jalen Carter blocked the extra point.
“The miscues I thought hurt us in this game and those were the margins right there, division games or otherwise,” Quinn said.
Jake Elliott’s 35-yard field with 44 seconds left in the third quarter stretched the lead to 17-9.
Commanders: LB Frankie Luvu suffered a groin injury. TE Chip Okonkow had a hamstring injury. S Tyler Owens injured an ankle.
Commanders: Keep it in the NFC East with a game next Sunday at Dallas.
Eagles: At Tennessee next Sunday.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) takes the field for an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo (97) celebrates with teammates after stopping the Washington Commanders on a two-pint conversion attempt during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Washington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs (3) fails to catch a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Washington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs (3) celebrates his touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) celebrates his touchdown catch against the Washington Commanders during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) throws against the Washington Commanders during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) looks to pass against the Washington Commanders during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
