I’m not saying to start drinking the red Kool-Aid because the Arizona Cardinals stunned the Chargers in LA in week 1. The Cardinals are projected by many experts to be the doormat of the loaded NFC West. You can probably say the door mat for the entire NFC conference as well. The Cardinals hired Mike LaFleur as their new head coach. He is the brother of Matt LaFleur, who is the head coach in Green Bay with his own set of problems in cheese ball land. He comes to Arizona off the Sean McVay coaching tree as he was the offensive coordinator last year for the Rams. He is only 39 years of age as the NFL suddenly filled with young football masterminds instead of the old guys always barking at the referees on the side lines. A dysfunctional franchise, the Cardinals’ last time a head coach won in his debut you have to go back to 1973, a guy named Don Coryell. In the 1970’s the Cardinals played in St.Louis. Don coached 9 seasons in Arch Town and came away with a 69-56 record in 125 games. LaFleur’s debut is pretty impressive as the Cardinals were like 9 point underdogs to the Jim Harbaugh-led Chargers team some experts think can go to the Superbowl.

The Arizona Cardinals have never won a Superbowl. The last time the Cardinals were interesting was back when Kurt Warner was their quarterback. You have to go back to the years of 2005 through 2009. He had weapons of mass destruction in wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. They made the Superbowl in 2009 which was the only time the red birds made it to the big dance. It resulted in a loss obviously. It was a heart breaking loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers during which Santonio Holmes made a spectacular catch for a touchdown with 35 ticks left in regulation. It was Big Ben Roethlisberger who delivered the gut wrenching blow to all the Cardinals fans who dared to watched this dysfunctional franchise get over the hump. The Steelers won that game 27-23 in one of the best Superbowls in my opinion I ever watched. You have to go back to 1947 when the Cardinals won a championship. This was before the Superbowl era. They actually won two championships. Both when they were the Chicago Cardinals. It’s a franchise that has moved multiple times. Like the Chargers. Another dysfunctional franchise. The Chargers originated in LA, then went to San Diego, & then back to LA. Maybe yesterday was the Dysfunctional Bowl played between the Chargers and Cardinals.

Kyler Murray had some solid years playing in Arizona. The franchise only made the post-season once with Murray in charge. The Cardinals decided to move on from Murray. Everything went Arizona’s way yesterday as Kyler starting for his new team was knocked out of the game early for the Vikings. Injuries have followed Murray the last few seasons. Right now the Cardinals have another veteran QB, Jacoby Brissett, as their starter. Brissett started 12 games last season for Arizona filling in for Murray and only won 1 game. Brissett did have the offense humming last year. He threw 23 touchdown passes to only 8 interceptions. The Cardinals defense was a problem. They had the idiot running back that made a beautiful 72 yard run & then dropped the ball on purpose before he crossed the goal line. Emari Demercado wanted to be Joe Cool instead of being like the great Walter Payton and handing the ball to the referee after you are sure you got the touchdown. Emari cared more about the celebration than the team. With the new coaching, the Cardinals got rid of Demercado, went into the draft, and got a solid running back in Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame who scored his first NFL touchdown against the Chargers yesterday. This Cardinals offense has some electric play makers. Like Marvin Harrison Jr, son of Marvin Sr, who had plenty of great years as a Colt in Indianapolis. They have one of the best tight ends in the league in Trey McBride.

I’m not sure if the Cardinals have their solution at the QB position. However Jacoby Brissett was very solid yesterday completing 27-37 passes for 277 passing yards, 1 touchdown pass. and no interceptions. The Cardinals have insurance with a veteran back up to Jacoby in Gardner Minshew III who has done well in his career being thrown into action at times of need. The Cardinals also drafted a quarterback in the 3rd round of the NFL draft in Carson Beck, who played his college ball at Miami and before that Georgia.They could slowly develop him. If the Cardinals are supposed to be bad this season, they could get a solid QB in the 2027 NFL draft which will be loaded with plenty of talent. The Cardinals won 26-14 versus the Chargers. Is the Cardinals defense fixed from last year? Or is Mike McDaniels smoking the pipe calling the plays in his new gig as the Chargers offensive coordinator? The Cardinals defense held the Chargers to 14 points and 268 total offensive yards which is very solid. The Chargers offense is suppose be deadlier with McDaniels adding a new aerial attack to the mix.

Perhaps we can spike the red Kool-Aid and see what else occurred in the NFC West in week 1. The Seahawks are up next and they lost their starting quarterback in Sam Darnold. The 49ers healthy will also be a tough match up. The Rams as well, but they lost their defensive player of the year Myles Garrett to a knee injury, who they landed in a trade with Cleveland. His return is not known at this time. After only 1 week in the NFL the Cardinals could still perch themselves to their usual spot in last place in the NFC West. I remember all the years they were the doormat of the NFC East. Many football fans’ probably favorite Cardinal of all-time is Pat Tillman.

Pat Tillman played safety for the Cardinals in the late 90’s into the 2000’s. He played in 60 NFL games which was 4 seasons and gave up a huge contract to fight for our country after the 9/11 incident that changed this country forever in 2001. Tillman was an Army Ranger who was killed in action. A true American hero. Every franchise has their moments and some solid characters playing for them at some point. The Cardinals just have so few of those moments. After week 1 stunning the Chargers, if you are a fan of the red birds, you wish time stood still for a little while longer to savor the moment. You may have hope yet. This could be like a mirage in the dessert where you see water, go running towards it, and it’s not quite there. That’s the franchise you have. I always wonder if Cardinals actually hang out in the state of Arizona. I figure the bird feeders there are getting flying scorpions or something to that length. The Cardinals did Rock the Chargers like a Hurricane.