In a game where the end zone seemed encased in glass for the visitors, the Arizona Cardinals secured a gritty 17-15 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football. Despite a statistical masterclass from Justin Herbert, the Chargers’ inability to finish drives allowed Kyler Murray and James Conner to orchestrate a last-second heist. The result was a classic “stat-sheet vs. scoreboard” paradox: Los Angeles won the yardage battle, but the chargers vs arizona cardinals match player stats show they lost the war on a walk-off field goal.
The Stakes and the Narrative
Entering Week 7, the Chargers were looking to establish themselves as legitimate threats to the AFC West hierarchy, while the Cardinals were fighting to stay relevant in an unpredictable NFC West.
The Turning Point: The momentum shifted for good in the game’s final two minutes. After Cameron Dicker’s fifth field goal gave the Chargers a 15-14 lead with 1:54 remaining, the defense—which had been the team’s backbone all season—finally cracked. A 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on cornerback Cam Hart moved the ball to midfield, followed by a back-breaking 33-yard catch-and-run by James Conner. With the ball on the doorstep, Chad Ryland coolly drilled a 32-yard field goal as time expired.
Quick Game Facts
- Final Score: Arizona Cardinals 17, Los Angeles Chargers 15
- Date & Location: October 21, 2024 | State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
- Weather: Indoors (Retractable Roof)
- Attendance: 64,357
- Time of Possession: Chargers (34:14) | Cardinals (25:46)
The Statistical Core
When reviewing the chargers vs arizona cardinals match player stats, it becomes clear that Los Angeles dominated the air while Arizona owned the ground. The Chargers racked up nearly 400 yards of offense but failed to find the end zone once.
Top Performers Side-by-Side
| Category | Los Angeles Chargers | Arizona Cardinals |
| Top Passer | Justin Herbert (349 Yds) | Kyler Murray (145 Yds, 1 TD) |
| Top Rusher | J.K. Dobbins (40 Yds) | James Conner (101 Yds) |
| Top Receiver | Will Dissly (81 Yds) | James Conner (51 Yds) |
| Top Tackler | Daiyan Henley (10) | Budda Baker (9) |
Team Efficiency Table
| Metric | Chargers | Cardinals |
| First Downs | 20 | 22 |
| Total Yards (Pass/Rush) | 395 (336/59) | 326 (145/181) |
| 3rd Down Conv % | 7/15 (47%) | 4/11 (36%) |
| Red Zone Efficiency | 0/3 | 1/1 |
| Penalties (Yards) | 5 (55) | 3 (20) |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
The Quarterback Masterclass
Justin Herbert: Moving Between the Twenties
The chargers vs arizona cardinals match player stats highlight a frustrating paradox for Justin Herbert. He was nearly perfect in the open field, completing 69% of his passes and spreading the ball to nine different receivers. However, the offense stalled repeatedly in the Red Zone. Herbert threw for 349 yards, but for the first time in his career, he led a team to nearly 400 total yards without a single touchdown.
Kyler Murray: The Playmaker’s Spark
While Herbert was surgical, Murray was explosive. His passing stats were modest, but his 44-yard touchdown scramble in the fourth quarter was the aesthetic highlight of the night. Murray’s ability to “off-schedule” the Chargers’ disciplined pass rush was the difference-maker, accounting for two touchdowns (one air, one ground).
QB Comparative Stats
| Player | Cmp/Att | Yards | TD/INT | Sacks | Rating | Rush Yds |
| Justin Herbert | 27/39 | 349 | 0/0 | 3 | 97.1 | 8 |
| Kyler Murray | 14/26 | 145 | 1/1 | 0 | 67.0 | 64 |
Positional Deep Dives
The Ground War
This was a tale of two philosophies. According to the chargers vs arizona cardinals match player stats, the Chargers struggled to generate push for J.K. Dobbins, finishing with only 59 team rushing yards. Conversely, James Conner acted as a human battering ram, recording his third 100-yard game of the season.
| Player | Carries | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
| James Conner (ARI) | 19 | 101 | 5.3 | 0 | 14 |
| Kyler Murray (ARI) | 6 | 64 | 10.7 | 1 | 44 |
| J.K. Dobbins (LAC) | 14 | 40 | 2.9 | 0 | 11 |
The Aerial Attack
Will Dissly emerged as Herbert’s favorite target, recording 8 catches for 81 yards. However, the game will be remembered for Jalen Reagor’s disastrous fumble into the end zone for a touchback—a 7-point swing that ultimately proved the difference in a 2-point loss. The chargers vs arizona cardinals match player stats for receiving show that Arizona’s leading “receiver” was actually their running back, James Conner.
| Player | Targets | Rec | Yards | TD | YPR |
| Will Dissly (LAC) | 11 | 8 | 81 | 0 | 10.1 |
| Ladd McConkey (LAC) | 7 | 5 | 46 | 0 | 9.2 |
| Trey McBride (ARI) | 7 | 5 | 51 | 0 | 10.2 |
| James Conner (ARI) | 2 | 2 | 51 | 0 | 25.5 |
Advanced Metrics & “The Why”
The Chargers led in Time of Possession (34:14) and Total Yards (395), but their Red Zone EPA (Expected Points Added) was abysmal. They settled for five field goals from Cameron Dicker, who set a franchise record with a 59-yarder. The Cardinals survived on “big play” variance. James Conner’s 33-yard catch in the final minute, as noted in the chargers vs arizona cardinals match player stats, broke the back of the Los Angeles secondary.
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The Verdict
For Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers, this loss is a bitter pill. They proved they could move the ball at will, but the lack of a “finisher” in the red zone cost them dearly. For the Arizona Cardinals, this was a season-saving victory that demonstrated their resilience in the game’s final moments.
FAQ Section
Who won the Chargers vs Cardinals match?
The Arizona Cardinals won 17-15 on a walk-off field goal by Chad Ryland.
What was the turning point of the game?
The turning point was Jalen Reagor’s fumble into the end zone for a touchback, which cost the Chargers a certain touchdown in a game decided by only two points.
How many yards did Justin Herbert have?
Justin Herbert threw for 349 yards on 27-of-39 passing with a 97.1 passer rating.
