# A New Offensive Era Opens at SoFi

> Mike McDaniel takes over the Chargers offense, and Trey McBride is the problem waiting on the other sideline.
- Title: A New Offensive Era Opens at SoFi · Los Angeles Chargers On SI
- Summary: Mike McDaniel takes over the Chargers offense, and Trey McBride is the problem waiting on the other sideline. The Chargers fixed the two things that sank…
- Keywords: nfl, chargers, cardinals, season opener, mike mcdaniel, sports, Offensive, Era, Opens, SoFi, Los Angeles Chargers On SI
- Source: Los Angeles Chargers On SI — https://si.com/nfl/chargers/onsi/chargers-cardinals-preview-mike-mcdaniel-trey-mcbride
- Published: 2026-09-12T15:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: nfl, chargers, cardinals, season opener, mike mcdaniel, sports
## Two good years, same ending
The Chargers went 11-6 for the second straight season and made the playoffs again. And for the second straight year, they went out meekly in the wild card round.

> laid an egg in the wild card round
## Herbert kept paying the price
Justin Herbert made his second Pro Bowl in 2025 while getting hit behind a broken offensive line. The defense quietly got better at the same time.
## Three new voices
Mike McDaniel runs the Chargers offense now, Chris O'Leary takes the defense, and Arizona hands its whole team to first-time head coach Mike LaFleur.
## Arizona got the last laugh
Los Angeles leads the series 11-5, but Chad Ryland's 32-yard field goal on the final play won it for the Cardinals in Week 7 of 2024, 17-15.
## Arizona cannot run it
Only the Raiders ran for less than Arizona's 93.1 yards a game last season. That is why Jeremiyah Love went third overall, though an ankle may hand the start to Tyler Allgeier.
## A front seven that hunts
Rookie edge Akheem Mesidor joins Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu and Justin Eboigbe, who combined for 24.5 sacks. Arizona gave up 59 sacks last year.

> The Cards allowed a whopping 59 sacks this past season
## McBride broke a record
The Cardinals tight end caught 126 passes for 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025, the most receptions a tight end has ever had in one season. He was First Team All-Pro.
## Rebuilding the wall
Injuries to Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt left the line ranked 30th by Pro Football Focus. Center Jake Slaughter and guards Kayode Awosika and Cole Strange are the new interior.
## Key takeaway

The Chargers fixed the two things that sank them, the offensive line and the play calling, but the opener still turns on whether their pass rush can reach a Cardinals quarterback while Trey McBride runs free underneath.