Mike LaFleur aces head coaching debut with Cardinals, earning a win and some much-needed momentum

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Rookie running back Jeremiyah Love looks like a keeper. So does first-year coach Mike LaFleur.

The Arizona Cardinals had one of their most encouraging Week 1 performances in years Sunday, entering as 9.5-point underdogs before beating the Los Angeles Chargers 26-14 in a road victory that surprised just about everybody except for the players and coaches in the winning locker room.

“We're not dumb, it's not that we don't hear the noise," LaFleur said. "We just ignore the noise, be above the noise."

The 39-year-old LaFleur bucked a franchise trend by becoming the first non-interim coach to win his first game since Don Coryell did it with the then-St. Louis Cardinals in 1973. For a team that finished with a 3-14 record last season, the victory was a galvanizing moment and a sign this year might be much more competitive.

LaFleur received hearty hugs from owner Michael Bidwill and general manager Monti Ossenfort in the aftermath of Sunday's win. The jubilation wasn't just because the Cardinals had won a football game. It's that they beat what's supposed to be a really good Chargers team and looked competent on offense, defense and special teams.

Journeyman Jacoby Brissett completed 27 of 37 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown, providing a calm presence in the pocket that lived up to the $15.5 million, one-year reworked deal he signed at the beginning of training camp. All-Pro tight end Trey McBride caught nine passes for 95 yards and a touchdown and Love scored his first career touchdown, running five yards to give the Cardinals an early 7-0 lead.

But more than the superlatives, what's notable is there were not many negatives.

The offensive line protected well, the much-maligned defense was effective and Simi Fehoko had an important special teams moment, blocking a punt in the fourth quarter that set up a touchdown and put the game out of reach.

Nobody's calling the Cardinals Super Bowl contenders, but there's suddenly lots of optimism for a franchise that hasn't had much of it recently.

Arizona's defense was one of the worst in the NFL last season and still a huge question mark heading into Week 1 this year, but performed better than expected. Linebacker Mack Wilson Sr.'s hard hit on Chargers receiver Ladd McConkey, safety Andrew Wingard's interception and a split sack for Budda Baker and Jack Gibbens in the fourth quarter were among the big moments.

Defensive coordinator Nick Rallis — one of the holdovers from Jonathan Gannon's staff last season — wasn't fazed after the Cardinals gave up a touchdown on the opening drive. Instead, he made adjustments and the Cardinals held the Chargers' offense to 268 yards.

The Cardinals weren't great in the red zone, scoring touchdowns on just two of five opportunities.

“Wasn't thrilled with the red zone plan and it starts with me,” LaFleur said. “You kick too many field goals in this league and more times than not you'll get beat.”

Love's 41 yards rushing on 11 carries might not jump off the stat sheet, but the No. 3 overall pick out of Notre Dame still looked the part of a future star.

The 21-year-old showed creativity on his 5-yard TD run, bouncing to the outside on a play designed to go up the middle, and had several other hard-nosed runs where he gained at least a few yards after there appeared to be no running room.

“I mean the touchdown was all him," Brissett said. “I don’t think he was supposed to go that way. But the way he handled the ball, I was like, ‘Oh, OK yeah’ and I thought he played well in the pass and run game.”

It was a quiet day for receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and defensive lineman Walter Nolen III, two young cornerstones that the Cardinals hope will have big seasons.

Harrison did make a fantastic 33-yard catch, but that was his only reception. Nolen drew a lot of attention from the Chargers' offensive line and finished with just one tackle.

The Cardinals came out of the game mostly unscathed though cornerback Max Melton and safety Kitan Crawford are dealing with ankle injuries.

13 — Brissett has thrown for at least 200 yards and one touchdown in 13 straight starts, breaking the franchise record of 12 set by Kurt Warner over the 2008-09 seasons.

The Cardinals have another tough game when the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks visit on Sunday.

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Arizona Cardinals safety Andrew Wingard, top, intercepts a pass intended for Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Derius Davis, left, during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) smiles after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) passes as Los Angeles Chargers outside linebacker Khalil Mack (52) applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love, right, runs for a touchdown against Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Cam Hart (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur walks on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

MADRID (AP) — Leeds hammered woeful Newcastle 4-1 to go third in the Premier League on Monday while Real Betis won 2-1 at Villarreal to move equal on points with second-place Real Madrid in La Liga.

The top two in Italy, Roma and Inter Milan, won comfortably to maintain their 100% records and Como beat Parma 2-1 to climb into third spot.

Betis’ strong start to the Spanish season continued with victory over Villarreal.

The win, courtesy of goals from Cucho Hernández and Natan, came 10 days after it beat Real Madrid 1-0 in La Liga, and less than a week after it overcame Lille 3-2 in its first Champions League group match since 2005.

The result at Estadio de la Ceramica lifts Betis into second place, tied with Madrid on 12 points. Barcelona is top on 15.

It was another disappointing night for the home side, which is still to win this season and sits third-bottom with two points from five matches.

In Italy, Roma continued its superb start to the season with a 2-0 win over Torino. It was joined at the top of the table by the only other team with maximum points, Inter Milan, which came from behind to beat Udinese 5-3.

Both teams have 12 points from four games, although Roma is first on goal difference after what was its ninth consecutive victory.

In-form striker Donyell Malen scored his sixth goal in four games to put Roma ahead and Niccolò Pisilli got a deserved second in stoppage time.

Inter struggled to get going against Udinese, which looked set to continue its good run of away form by scoring twice without reply in the opening 16 minutes.

James Abankwah rose unmarked to head Udinese ahead in the ninth minute and Jurgen Ekkelenkamp doubled its lead seven minutes later.

However, Carlos Augusto got a goal back for the reigning champion after 26 minutes with a 30-yard strike and Nicolo Barella equalized 10 minutes before half time.

In Como, the home side moved into the top three with a 2-1 win over Parma.

Jacobo Ramon turned Nico Paz’s shot in for the opener midway through the first half and Kaiki made it 2-0 seven minutes from time after a goalmouth scramble. Jose David Romero got Parma’s consolation in stoppage time.

Como is third on 10 points along with Lazio.

In England, Dominic Calvert-Lewin was the star as Leeds overran a flimsy Newcastle side.

The home team turned it on during a sparkling first half and took the lead in the 32nd minute when Ao Tanaka’s shot from the edge of the box took a double deflection to bamboozle Newcastle keeper Lukas Hornicek.

Three minutes later, sloppy defending led to Calvert-Lewin making a second with a trademark header, the goal being marked down to Jayden Bogle after the ball went in off his head.

Calvert-Lewin then grabbed his fourth goal in four games on the stroke of halftime. Noah Okafor rounded off the scoring for Leeds with a half volley after another weak clearance early in the second period.

Newcastle’s consolation goal came in the final minute from substitute Bazoumana Touré.

The result lifts Leeds into third place in the Premier League, equal with Hull on eight points, four behind joint leaders Arsenal and Manchester City. Newcastle is 12th.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Como's Nico Paz plays the ball during the Serie A soccer match between Como Calcio and Parma Calcio 1913 in Como, Italy, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (Tiziano Ballabio/LaPresse via AP)

Newcastle United's Aladji Bamba, left, and Leeds United's Sean Longstaff battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Newcastle United in Leeds, England, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA via AP)

Roma's Marten De Roon, right, and Torino's Duvan Zapata challenge for the ball during the Serie A soccer match between FC Torino and AS Roma in Turin, Italy, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP)

Inter Milan's Francesco Pio Esposito celebrates after scoring his sides fourth goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Udinese in Milan, Italy, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Inter Milan's Ange-Yoan Bonny shoots to score his sides fifth goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Udinese in Milan, Italy, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)