Jeremiyah Love’s NFL career started off on quite the high note during the Arizona Cardinals’ Week 1 match-up against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Love immediately became one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL when the Cardinals took him third overall back in April out of Notre Dame.
As a result, the expectations were quite high for Love given his draft stock, which tagged him as one of the faces of not just the franchise’s future, but the league as a whole.
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Jeremiyah Love of the Arizona Cardinals rushes for a touchdown against Cam Hart No. 20 of the Los Angeles Chargers in the first quarter of a game at SoFi Stadium on Sept. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (Getty Images)
Love and the Cardinals took the field at SoFi Stadium as underdogs against the Chargers, but an opening drive by quarterback Jacoby Brissett and Arizona’s offense led to a red-zone opportunity that their new running back didn’t squander.
Arizona, which was a 10-point underdog, defeated the Chargers 26-14.
On second-and-goal from the Chargers’ 5-yard line, Love got the handoff from Brissett, bounced out to his left, and found a lane to the left pylon and didn’t lose sight of it. Love outraced the Chargers’ defender closing in on him, and he scored his first career touchdown in a statement drive from the Cardinals to begin the season.
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Love finished with 41 yards on 11 carries.
First-year head coach Mike LaFleur was visibly enthusiastic after the 70-yard opening drive, joining his players in celebration, Love among them. It’s hard not to love (no pun intended) what this dynamic running back can bring his offense in 2026 and beyond.
The Cardinals caught some flak for the pick of Love when they put in their ticket in April. Arizona is a rebuilding team, one that fired ex-head coach Jonathan Gannon and hired LaFleur with the goal of getting the team back on the right track.
Jeremiyah Love of the Arizona Cardinals is pursued by Tarheeb Still No. 4 of the Los Angeles Chargers during the second quarter at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Sept. 13, 2026. (Getty Images)
With a pick of Love at third overall, it signaled to some that the Cardinals believed they were one offensive weapon away from competing for a playoff berth. On the other hand, the Cardinals need more playmakers on both sides of the ball, and Love did just that during his stellar collegiate career for the Fighting Irish.
Love dealt with an ankle injury throughout training camp, too, which begged the question of how much he’d play for LaFleur in Week 1. As of halftime, with the Cardinals holding a 13-7 lead, Love split carries with veteran Tyler Allgeier, whom Arizona brought in this offseason as a free agent acquisition.
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Jeremiyah Love of the Arizona Cardinals runs the ball against Teair Tart No. 93 of the Los Angeles Chargers during the first quarter at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Sept. 13, 2026. (Getty Images)
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That should be expected for the Cardinals to at least begin the season, with Love and Allgeier sharing the backfield. However, it’s clear that Love’s explosive abilities are there for the Cardinals, and he made his presence known right away in Week 1.
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