Cardinals vs. Chargers 2016 live stream: Game time, TV schedule and how to watch online

The Arizona Cardinals and San Diego Chargers couldn’t be going in more opposite directions. The former, once an NFL laughingstock, appear poised to make another deep playoff run. The Chargers, meanwhile, are coming off a disheartening 4-12 campaign and are consumed with building a new stadium in San Diego after failing to relocate to Los Angeles over the offseason.

With that said, it’s easy to imagine that both teams are taking a different approach to the preseason. The Cardinals, who are fresh off a 31-10 loss to the Oakland Raiders, likely view August as a tune up for September. Carson Palmer only played one series against Oakland, completing 3 of 5 passes for 38 yards. The veteran quarterback engineered a 73-yard opening drive, but it only resulted in a field goal.

The real offensive star for the Cardinals was running back David Johnson. Even though he only carried the ball three times, he busted out perhaps the run of the week.

Johnson, 24, is coming off an impressive rookie campaign. He finished last season with 13 touchdowns -- eight rushing, four receiving and one on a kick return -- while gaining over 1,000 yards from scrimmage.

Facing the Cardinals potent offensive attack will be a challenge for a San Diego defense that struggled mightily last season. One area the Chargers were especially disastrous was against the run, and that trend continued in their loss to the Tennessee Titans last week. The Titans gained 288 yards on the ground, with DeMarco Murray busting out a 71-yard run in the first quarter.

Stopping Johnson should be a challenge for the Chargers this week, but the Cardinals will likely have their hands equally full with sophomore running back Melvin Gordon. The 2015 first-round pick didn’t score a touchdown last season, but was able to haul in a 41-yard touchdown against Tennessee.

Though neither player is expected to play for long Friday night, another interesting matchup will be Patrick Peterson and Keenan Allen. They’ve been lining up against each other all week in practice, and Philip Rivers could go in Allen’s direction to see how his No. 1 wideout fares against one of the game’s best corners.

With Joey Bosa’s holdout continuing for another week, the Chargers still won’t see their whole team Friday. But the players who will be on the field have a lot to prove, and they’ll likely have their hands full against the Cardinals.

It is worth mentioning that Arizona’s focus has been diverted this week due to a health scare and unfortunate passing. Head coach Bruce Arians left practice Tuesday due to stomach pains and was taken to a local hospital to recover for the night before getting released Wednesday. “I’m too old not to listen to doctors anymore,” Arians said, via NFL.com. “I have a tendency to push it ... but it’s nothing serious.”

Though Arians was OK, the Cardinals brass wound up suffering a major loss this week. Nancy Bidwill, wife of owner William Bidwill, passed away Wednesday at the age of 84 after a long battle with breast cancer.

When: 9 p.m. ET

Where: Qualcomm Stadium

TV: ABC 15 Phoenix, CBS 8 San Diego

Announcers: Dave Pasch, Ron Wolfley (Cardinals); Spero Dedes, Dan Fouts (Chargers)