Tonight at 10:20 p.m. ET, the San Diego Chargers and Arizona Cardinals kick off their 2014 campaigns with Week 1 action live from the University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona. The game can be live streamed for free here. San Diego fans can hear all of the action on Mighty 1090 while Arizona fans can do the same on KTAR 93.7.
San Diego comes into 2014 after a 9-7 finish to 2013 that saw it finish in third place in the AFC West before eventually falling to the Denver Broncos in the divisional playoffs while Arizona is coming off of a 10-6 finish to 2013 that that saw it finish third in the NFC West, missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
Philip Rivers led the Chargers in 2013 and helped the team back its way into the playoffs with four straight victories to close out their regular season slate. Rivers and the team will look to take the next step this season.
"I just think we know what to expect now," said Rivers, according to ESPN. "We all know the terminologies. There's a level of comfort and I think all that does is allow you to play fast and play confident."
Rivers went 378-for-544 for 4,478 yards with 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season while his 69.5% completion percentage was a career-high and led the NFL. He now enters his ninth year as a starter looking to help the team get deeper into the postseason.
Rivers has plenty of weapons at his disposal as the Chargers boast a deep rushing core, which includes running back Ryan Mathews, who carried the ball for a team-best 1,255 yards on 285 attempts while he reached the end zone six times in 2013.
The signal caller will also have plenty of options to throw to, including Keenan Allen, who had a team-best 1,046 receiving yards off of 71 catches while he also scored eight touchdowns a season ago.
San Diego's defense struggled last season, but they hope a healthy Dwight Freeney and the addition of cornerback Brandon Flowers will help it this season.
Coming off just their second 10-win season in 26 years, the Cardinals are confident that they can build off of last season and are hopeful to end their playoff drought in 2014.
"We're head and shoulders above where we were last year," quarterback Carson Palmer told ESPN. "The next step is just to keep improving, it's not to stay where we are and be satisfied that we've come a long ways."
Palmer had a career high 4,274 passing yards and 24 touchdowns last season while going 362-for-572 for a completion percentage of 63.3%.
Palmer will hope to make use of his many weapons, which include Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd. Fitzgerald had 82 receptions for 954 yards and 10 touchdowns last season while Floyd had a team-best 1,041 yards on 65 catches while finding the end zone five times.
Running back Andre Ellington's status is uncertain due to a mysterious injury that the team is tight-lipped about, but when healthy he has proven how versatile he can be. Ellington rushed for 652 yards on 118 carries with three touchdowns last season.
On defense, Arizona is led by corner Patrick Peterson, who signed a five-year, $70 million extension this offseason.
The Chargers and Cardinals kick off their 2014 campaigns when they take the field tonight at University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona.
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