Chargers vs. Cardinals Final score, highlights: Cardinals keep Chargers out of endzone in 17-15 win

Daniel Chavkin

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Chargers vs. Cardinals Final score, highlights: Cardinals keep Chargers out of endzone in 17-15 win image

It wasn't pretty, but the Cardinals earned a much needed win on Monday night, defeating the Chargers 17-15 to improve to 3-4.

The game had a strange start, as Kyler Murray threw an interception on the first drive to Teair Tart, but Tart fumbled and Arizona recovered to regain possession. On the Chargers first possession, Justin Herbert found Jalen Reagor for a 41-yard completion, but Reagor fumbled the ball out of the end zone to lose possession in what became the team's best chance to score a touchdown.

From there, both teams struggled offensively, as the game was scoreless after the first quarter.

While the Chargers scored the first points, thanks to a Cameron Dicker 59-yard field goal, it was the Cardinals that got the first touchdown. Kyler Murray found Greg Dortch for a four-yard score, as the Cardinals took a 7-6 lead into halftime.

The second half featured more of the same, with the Chargers kicking more field goals after struggling to score touchdowns. Murray had the biggest highlight of the game, scrambling for a 44-yard touchdown that gave Arizona a 14-9 lead in the third quarter.

The Chargers kept driving on offense but kept failing to punch the ball into the end zone. Kicker Cameron Dicker totaled five field goals on the day, which resulted in all of Los Angeles' 15 points in the game. Dicker's final score gave the Chargers a 15-14 lead with under two minutes left in the game.

Arizona got one final shot to drive for the win, and they took advantage of it. Thanks to a Chargers unnecessary roughness call and a James Conner 33-yard catch, Arizona got into field goal position, allowing kicker Chad Ryland to kick the game-winning 32-yard field goal.

Conner had a huge game, totaling 152 yards rushing and receiving, to lead the game. For the Chargers, Justin Herbert had his best game with 349 passing yards, but his zero touchdowns hurt Los Angeles' chances. The Chargers also entered the game averaging 127.8 rushing yards per game but had just 59 in this one.

The Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from Monday's matchup between the Chargers and Cardinals.

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Chargers vs. Cardinals score

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Chargers vs.  Cardinals live updates, highlights from Week 7 'Monday Night Football' matchup

Chargers 15, Cardinals 17

11:43 p.m.: FIELD GOAL! With two seconds left, Chad Ryland makes a 32-yard field goal to seal the game for Arizona. Cardinals win 17-15!

11:39 p.m.: A questionable Chargers unnecessary roughness penalty jumpstarts the Cardinals drive as Arizona is now at the 45. Then, James Conner takes a Murray dump-off 33 yards well into Los Angeles territory.

Chargers 15, Cardinals 14

11:35 p.m.: FIELD GOAL! Dicker's attempt is good once again, and Los Angeles is up 1 with 1:54 left in the game.

11:31 p.m.: On 4th-and-1 from the 28, Hassan Haskins converts for the Chargers with under four minutes left in the game and Los Angeles needing a field goal to win. Then, Justin Herbert throws an incomplete pass on 3rd-and-4, with a potential pass interference flag picked up, setting up a huge fourth down after the two-minute warning.

11:27 p.m.: The Chargers are methodically driving as Herbert keeps finding Ladd McConkey and Will Dissly for key first downs. Dissly now has 8 catches for 81 yards, while McConkey has three catches for 36 yards on this drive.

11:20 p.m.: The Los Angeles defense holds to force an important punt, but the offense will start from their own 1 after a great Blake Gillikin punt.

11:16 p.m.: Kyler Murray finds Trey McBride for a first down to open the drive, but the quarterback missed Marvin Harrison Jr. deep for a potential touchdown. Arizona still has the ball past midfield after a James Conner run.

Chargers 12, Cardinals 14

11:13 p.m.: FIELD GOAL! Dicker makes his fourth field goal of the game, and the Cardinals' lead is down to 2.

11:10 p.m.: TE Stone Smartt catches a Herbert pass for 31 yards to get the Chargers offense moving. However, Los Angeles can't get much more going, as the Cardinals force a 4th-and-3 from their own 29 with 12:26 left in the game.

Chargers 9, Cardinals 14

11:03 p.m. TOUCHDOWN! After two completions get the Cardinals into Chargers territory, Kyler Murray opens the fourth quarter with a 44-yard touchdown to help Arizona regain the lead.

End of third quarter: Chargers 9, Cardinals 7

Chargers 9, Cardinals 7

10:55 p.m.: FIELD GOAL! The Chargers can't punch it in for a touchdown, as Arizona's defense bends but doesn't break. Dicker makes his third field goal of the night to give LA the lead.

10:51 p.m.: The Chargers convert again on third down, this time a Herbert pass to Dobbins to get to the 11-yard line

10:48 p.m.: Justin Herbert avoids another three-and-out by completing a pass to Simi Fehoko for 25 yards to get within the 30-yard line

10:43 p.m.: James Conner was leading the way on the Cardinals drive with 26 total yards, but Cardinals backup quarterback Clayton Tune can't convert two QB sneaks on third down and fourth down, resulting in a turnover on downs. Chargers ball at their own 45.

10:38 p.m.: Chargers almost force a quick three-and-out, but Los Angeles is called for pass interference downfield. Cardinals gain 22 yards on the penalty.

10:33 p.m.: Los Angeles keeps going backward. A holding penalty followed by a Cardinals sack of Herbert forces a 3rd-and-long. Herbert completes to Dobbins for 10 yards but it's nowhere close to a first down. Cardinals take over at the 5.

10:27 p.m.: And we're back from halftime! Chargers open the half from their own 30 with a J.K. Dobbins 6-yard run. Dobbins then converts a 3rd-and-short with an 11-yard gain to get back to midfield.

Halftime: Chargers 6, Cardinals 7

10:12 p.m.: FIELD GOAL! Arizona sacks Justin Herbert at the 32-yard-line, which stunts the Chargers drives and forces a field goal attempt. Dicker connects from 50 to cut the lead to one at halftime.

10:10 p.m.: Justin Herbert completes two passes to Josh Palmer for a combined 39 yards to get the Chargers from their own 10 to midfield with 1:23 left in the half.

10:06 p.m.: A Trey McBride 14-yard catch opens the drive for Arizona, but the Cardinals can't do much more. Emari Demercado picks up 14 yards on a 3rd-and-16, leading to an Arizona punt from around midfield. 

9:56 p.m.: Justin Herbert is able to avoid a sack on third down by finding Will Dissly, but Dissly ends up short of the first down. Los Angeles punts the ball back to Arizona.

Chargers 3, Cardinals 7

9:50 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Kyler Murray completes to Greg Dortch from four-yards out to give the Cardinals the lead.

9:46 p.m.: Kyler Murray finds Conner for a screen pass on a big play, as Conner gains 25 yards. Los Angeles forces Conner to fumble, but Arizona recovers to regain possession. Conner then gains another 14 yards on a direct snap to get into the red zone.

Chargers 3, Cardinals 0

9:39 p.m.: FIELD GOAL! Arizona stops Los Angeles again as the Chargers can't convert on 3rd-and-9. However, kicker Cameron Dicker nails a 59-yard field goal to open the scoring. 

End of first quarter: Chargers 0, Cardinals 0

9:32 p.m.: A screen to Will Dissly goes for 18 yards and has Los Angeles driving again.

9:29 p.m.: Herbert completes a tight throw to Fehoko on 3rd-and-6, extending the Chargers drive and avoiding a three-and-out.

9:25 p.m.: Cardinals can't keep the ball moving as Greg Dortch drops a Kyler Murray pass on 3rd-and-10. Chargers get the ball back after a punt

9:21 p.m.: Arizona is leaning on James Conner early as the running back has two first downs on this drive. Cardinals offense has already passed midfield.

9:17 p.m.: FUMBLE! Justin Herbert finds Jalen Reagor deep for a 42-yard  gain, but Reagor fumbles near the goal line. After the officials determined that Reagor stayed in bounds, the call stands on review.

9:14 p.m.: The Chargers are driving, as Justin Herbert finds Simi Fehoko for 11 yards on his first pass of the game, followed by two J.K. Dobbins yards for another 11 yards. Herbert then completes to Will Dissly to get Los Angeles to midfield.

9:09 p.m.: Chargers force a punt on a Cardinals three-and-out following the double turnover. Los Angeles offense takes over at their own 10.

9:06 p.m.: INTERCEPTION, FUMBLE! In a bizarre turn of events, Chargers defensive tackle Teair Tart picks off Kyler Murray, but running back James Conner forces Tart to fumble on the return. Arizona maintains possession on the fumble recovery but lose about 25 yards on the play and have to start the new drive from their own 30.

9:04 p.m.: The Cardinals are driving early. Kyler Murray finds Marvin Harrison Jr. for the first time tonight for a first down, and Murray runs for another first down thanks to a 16-yard scramble.

9:00 p.m.: And we're underway! The Cardinals offense will get the ball first after a kick return to the 30.

7:34 p.m.: Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. is officially active after clearing concussion protocol.

7:31 p.m.: Chargers DE Joey Bosa and WR Quentin Johnson are among Los Angeles' inactives.

6:12 p.m.: The Cardinals will be wearing their black jerseys in the game, while the Chargers are going with their all white uniforms.

Chargers vs. Cardinals start time

  • Date: Monday, October 21
  • Time: 9:00 p.m. ET

As the second game of tonight's 'Monday Night Football' doubleheader, the Chargers vs. Cardinals game in Arizona will have a late kickoff time of 9:00 p.m. ET, which will be 6:00 p.m. local time.

What channel is Chargers vs. Cardinals on today?

  • TV channel: N/A
  • Live stream: ESPN+ (U.S.) | DAZN (Canada)

This game will be the only game of the season broadcasted exclusively on ESPN+, and one of several games aired on streaming services. It is also part of ESPN's third and final "Monday Night Football" doubleheader this year.

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Daniel Chavkin

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Daniel Chavkin is a Digital Content Producer for The Sporting News. A 2018 graduate from the University of Maryland, he has previously written for Sports Illustrated, NBC Sports and NFLTradeRumors.com.