No one probably expected to see what we saw at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, as the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears put on the highest-scoring regular-season opener in NFL history. But unfortunately for reigning NFC South champions, it was the reigning NFC North champions who scored a bit more.
Here's everything we know from the Panthers' Week 1 loss to the Bears . . .
Final score
Bears 59, Panthers 37
Keys to the game
- Chicago's high-powered offense simply forced Carolina into submission, recording eight touchdowns and 552 total yards. They converted on 10 of their 14 third-down tries and won the possession battle at 34:03 to 25:57.
- The NFL's top rushing attack from 2025 carried their success into 2026, as the Bears rushed for 247 yards and five touchdowns on 35 attempts. Running backs D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai led the way, combining for 224 yards and four scores on 28 carries.
- Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was surgical in breaking down the Panthers defense, completing 21 of his 29 throws for 269 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 65 yards and two more scores.
It was over when . . .
With the Panthers down 45-31 at the start of the fourth quarter, receiver Tetairoa McMillan fumbled away what would have been a chain-moving, 21-yard reception. The turnover, courtesy of rookie safety Dillon Thieneman, set the Bears up at their own 39-yard line with 14:40 left in the game.
12 plays later, Williams found wideout Jahdae Brown for a 1-yard
touchdown to give Chicago a 52-31 at the 6:27 mark.
Players of the game
- WR Jalen Coker: eight receptions, 138 receiving yards, two touchdowns
- QB Bryce Young: 23-of-37, 361 passing yards, four touchdowns (one rushing), interception
- RB Chuba Hubbard: 10 carries, 49 rushing yards, rushing touchdown, three receptions, 38 receiving yards, receiving touchdown
What's next?
The Panthers (0-1) will travel to take on the Atlanta Falcons (0-1) in Week 2.
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Carolina Panthers vs. Chicago Bears Bears game recap: Everything we know from Week 1
