The Week 7 Monday Night Football matchup between the Arizona Cardinals (2-4) and the Los Angeles Chargers (3-2) is a critical game for both teams. For Arizona, the pressure is mounting after another difficult loss, this time a 34-13 defeat to Green Bay, bringing them back to the drawing board after their upset win over the 49ers. With Coach Jonathan Gannon in his second season, the Cardinals have shown signs of progress but remain inconsistent, still searching for their first back-to-back wins since 2021.
Kyler Murray and the Cardinals have been battling a grueling schedule, and the Chargers represent yet another tough challenge. The Cardinals are not yet in “must-win” mode, but a third straight losing season looms if they cannot string together victories. Murray has been dynamic on the ground, ranking third among quarterbacks in scramble yards with 150 on just 16 runs. He’ll be crucial for Arizona as they face a Chargers defense that has already stifled scrambling quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix.
On the other side, the Los Angeles Chargers, under head coach Jim Harbaugh, are steadily improving. After last week’s 23-16 win over Denver, they’ll look to continue building momentum. Harbaugh, who has a perfect 6-0 record on Monday Night Football from his days with the 49ers, is back after briefly leaving last week’s game due to a heart issue. Harbaugh’s return to Monday Night Football adds an extra layer of intrigue to this matchup, and he’ll be looking to keep his unbeaten MNF streak alive.
Arizona’s defense has been one of the league’s weakest, a troubling sign as they prepare to face a Chargers offense on the rise. Meanwhile, the Cardinals will rely heavily on James Conner, who has a strong track record on Monday nights. Conner has scored six touchdowns in six Monday night games, and with 403 rushing yards this season, he’ll be pivotal against the Chargers’ tough front seven.
The key battle could be between Murray’s legs and the Chargers’ defense. The Chargers have dealt with scrambling QBs before, but Murray’s quickness and vision present a unique challenge.
