GLENDALE – Thursday’s Hall of Fame game was the most pressure the Arizona Cardinals have felt in years, and they passed with flying colors. First-year head coach Mike LaFleur had to balance plenty of storylines this Summer, ironically making his preseason debut the easiest part of it all. Despite losing 33-30, LaFleur’s squad came out with intensity and an offensive firepower that was non-existent in 2025.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Even with a rookie under center, the offense moved at an elite level and reached heights that had been absence for years, with much of the credit going to LaFleur.
Aug 6, 2026; Canton, Ohio, USA;Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur reacts during the game against the Carolina Panthers at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
LaFleur already exceeds last year’s expectations:
In Thursday’s game, Arizona had 282 passing yards and 143 rushing yards for 425 total yardage. The Cardinals only have two games with more yards in the past two seasons under head coach Jonathan Gannon and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. Last year’s team infamously failed to score 30+ points, and LaFleur was able to do it in his first game. Coming from a Sean McVay system, the 39-year-old has already brought that standard to the Valley.
Aug 6, 2026; Canton, Ohio, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur looks on during the game against the Carolina Panthers at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The reason for the success is the improvements to the offensive line, limiting pressures and opening holes for the run games. The play calling was elite for rookie quarterback Carson Beck, focusing on the short game first in the flats and curls to give him confident on deep balls later. LaFleur’s gameplan looked perfect in his first game with the only hiccup the defense remaining lackluster, allowing a last-second touchdown to lose the game.
For a debut, Cardinals fans couldn’t have asked for a better outing in this new era under LaFleur. The new challenge becomes can he and his squad replicate this next week vs. the Las Vegas Raiders.
Is Carson Beck the future of Arizona Cardinals after preseason debut?
Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information, and exclusive content. SIGN UP HERE to unlock our premium content!*
Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
