The Chicago Bears opened the 2026 season playing exactly as many fans figured they would: with an OMG offense and a WTF defense.
On this day, Chicago’s offense was good enough as they set a Week 1 franchise record with 59 points, but the defense allowed the Panthers 37.
This was the highest-scoring season opener in NFL history.
The first half featured several momentum swings, with an early Bears fumble leading to Carolina points. Chicago bounced back with 21 unanswered points before Carolina settled
down to tie it up, which was aided by a failed Bears fourth-down attempt from their own 21-yard line.
They traded field goals until the Bears drove down in the waning seconds for a 29-yard Caleb Williams touchdown scramble to give the Bears a 31 – 24 lead.
A Malik Muhammad II interception ensured that score would hold as they headed into the locker room.
So if you bet the over, you cashed that ticket in the first half!
The second half started with three and outs from each team, before Carolina drove down to tie it up on a Chuba Hubbard TD run.
The Bears answered with a solid drive, helped by a Carolina roughing-the-passer penalty, which was capped off by a D’Andre Swift TD run.
Chicago’s defense held the Panthers on a fourth-down try… and THEN THIS HAPPENED!
Bears offense goes over 50 points on a short Caleb Williams-to-Jahdae Walker TD.
The Panthers answered with a touchdown, but the Bears answered that with an answer of their own with another Swift rushing touchdown.
I can get used to an offense like this!
Share your thoughts on the Bears’ Week 1 win in the comments.
