The Carolina Panthers are set to have their first home opener since 2022. That was a 24-26 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Matt Rhule’s last (partial) season in Charlotte. A win on Sunday against the Chicago Bears would be their first win an opener, home or away, since their 2021 victory over the New York Jets in 2021, the Sam Darnold year. If all of this makes you feel sad then congratulations. You understand what it is to be a Panthers fan since 2020.
The Panthers most successful stretches of football
since Ron Rivera and Cam Newton have left have been Weeks 3-5 of the 2020 season, Weeks 1-3 of the 2021 season, and Weeks 5-7 of the 2025 season. That is three 3-week winning streaks in six seasons.
Why am I dwelling on this history now? While the odds are technically against the Panthers—the Bears are -3 road favorites per FanDuel—there is a fresh season afoot. This is technically and traditionally a time for optimism. Yet most Panthers fans I’ve interacted with are wary. Even for those of us who believe that this roster is largely improved over the 2024 and 2025 squads and in a different league, so to speak, from the 2023 disaster, there is a sense of “I’ll believe it when I see it.” That’s perfectly justified.
It’s also important to acknowledge that just because we’ve seen everything go off the rails so many times in so many recent seasons that doesn’t mean a Week 1 loss, even a Week 1 blow out loss, means the end of this season. Yes, Lucy, this season could still be different.
Trying to prevent over reactions to Week 1 is like trying to stop Chicken Little from fretting, but here were are. Look at how noble we are at the start of a season. Now, on to the predictions.
Staff predictions for Week 1
Oh we of middling of faith. Our staff is split 3-3 on which team will win this week. Even our score predictions average out to a scant Panthers win, 23 to 22 over the Bears. Coincidentally, that score has occurred 16 times in NFL history per nflscorigami.com and Pro Football Reference. The Carolina Panthers won one of those games in 2024 against the New Orleans Saints.
Walker Clement
Panthers 24, Bears 17 – The Panthers manage three difficult scoring drives on offense, but the difference comes when Devin Lloyd picks off a Caleb Williams pass intended for Colston Loveland or Cole Kmet in a fourth quarter attempt to ice the game for the Bears.
Jonathan DeLong
Bears 16, Panthers 10 – Both teams are rusty after playing over their heads at times last season, and Bryce Young’s Week 1 struggles continue.
Brian Beversluis
Bears 35, Panthers 31 – It will be a wild duel between the two quarterbacks, but ultimately the Bears pull it out.
Daniel Belton
Panthers 27, Bears 10 – Bryce Young out gains Caleb Williams by 200 yards and leads the Panthers to a two score victory, permanently ending the “who won the trade” conversation
Andrew Sweat
Bears 27, Panthers 17 – Both teams have questions on defense, but on offense the Bears have much more honey in the pot than the Panthers do.
Eric Buchanon
Panthers 31, Bears 27 – A messy first half turns into a second half shootout where 4th quarter chunk plays to Jimmy Horn and Jalen Coker prove the difference in an upset victory.
