Shanna McCarriston· Sep 12, 2026
The unsigned CBS Sports preview picks the Chargers to beat the Cardinals 27-17 in Week 1, and expects rookie Jake Slaughter to step in at center for Los Angeles after Tyler Biadasz's injury.
“Pick: Chargers 27, Cardinals 17”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
3 checkable claims — 1 depth chart call, 1 game outcome pick and 1 score prediction — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
2 of 3 have settled so far, averaging 22.6 out of 100, against 10.1 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
Where this call stands in the room
Jake Slaughter · 2026 season19 calls from 16 pundits between 1 and 2. Shanna McCarriston said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
The game in this take
- Cardinals at Chargers 23 calls
3 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Score PredictionsLos Angeles ChargersSep 12, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers 27 — Cardinals 17
“Pick: Chargers 27, Cardinals 17”
Close · 45Scored 45.24a naive guess scored 20.16+50.16 skillHow this was scored
- score:
- 26-14
- skill:
- 50.16
- they picked:
- LAC
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 45.24
- baseline:
- 20.16
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 12
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- naive home margin:
- -0.53
- predicted margin:
- 10
- Game Outcome PicksLos Angeles ChargersSep 12, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to win
“The Chargers should win this one. ... Our CBS Sports experts agree, all taking the Chargers straight up.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- ARI
- score:
- 26-14
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- LAC
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- LAC
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Jake Slaughter to be 1st on the depth chart
“One key addition was center Tyler Biadasz, who suffered a major knee injury this offseason and landed on injured reserve. Rookie center Jake Slaughter is up next for the position.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris RolingScore Predictions · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 31Roling predicts a lopsided Chargers home win over the Cardinals in Week 1, 30-10, and advises starting Justin Herbert and Omarion Hampton in fantasy while sitting Ladd McConkey.
- Pete PriscoGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 0Prisco predicts the Lions blow out the Saints in Detroit and that the Chargers rout the Cardinals behind a new-look offense.
- Simon HunterGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 0Hunter picked Houston and the Giants as underdog money line plays, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Detroit as favorites, and used Pittsburgh plus the Chargers as his survivor picks for week one.
- Brandon DeutschGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 0Deutsch streamed the Chargers defense in Week 1, forecasting a blowout win of more than 20 points over the Cardinals.
- John GranatoGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 0John backed the Texans to beat the Bills in Week 1, and during the contest segment said he saw the Chargers outscoring the Cardinals.
- Mike FlorioScore Predictions · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 38Florio gives score predictions for every Week 1 game of the 2026 NFL season, including an opening-night upset by the Patriots in Seattle and narrow home wins for the Giants and Chiefs.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Drew LockMiss · 0In an unsigned Week 2 odds roundup, the piece states that with Sam Darnold hurt, Drew Lock will likely start at quarterback for Seattle against Arizona.
- Ralph VacchianoDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Vacchiano ranks all 32 NFL teams entering the 2026 season, with the Rams first and Dolphins last. He also flags the Giants as a potential surprise team with a top-10 defense, and notes Deshaun Watson won Cleveland's QB job while Tua Tagovailoa starts Week 1 in Atlanta.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice touts Kyler Murray as a value QB who will start Week 1 for Minnesota, Tyler Shough as the Saints' undisputed starter, and Juwan Johnson and Terrance Ferguson as late-round tight end targets.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice expects Kyler Murray to be Minnesota's Week 1 starter and calls him one of the better quarterback values in 2026 drafts; he also views Jordan Love as a top-10 real-life quarterback but only a QB2 in fantasy.
- Steven RuizDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Miss · 0In a retrospective tiering of all 32 starting quarterbacks, Ruiz treats Michael Penix Jr. as the Falcons' Week 1 starter over Kirk Cousins, whom he places in his lowest tier.
- Mike FlorioDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersMiss · 0Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3.