While most of the game gave us quite a thrill, Sunday's regular-season opener between the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears ultimately proved to be a showcase for the visiting offense. The Bears had their way with the ball in their hands, smashing and dashing to a 59-37 win at Bank of America Stadium.
But all was not lost for the Panthers.
Here are Carolina's studs (and duds) from their Week 1 defeat . . .
Stud: QB Bryce Young
With chatter of a contract extension hanging overhead, Young got his 2026 off to a fine start. He passed for 361 yards, the second-most of his four-year career, while scoring four total touchdowns—including a 7-yard rush.
He held his own while fellow former No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams lit the Panthers up for four scores and 334 total yards.
Dud: WR Tetairoa McMillan
McMillan finished with a decent 75 receiving on five grabs. But his fumble at the start of the fourth quarter set up the eventual knockout punch for the Bears, who stretched their lead to 21 points off the turnover.
Stud: WR Jalen Coker
The newly-extended Coker is already paying off, as he went for a game-high 138 receiving yards and two touchdowns on eight grabs.
Dud: WR Xavier Legette
Legette dropped one of his two targets and finished with zero receptions.
Perhaps we're all better off if we flip the credentials of Legette and Coker, and look at the former as the undrafted free agent from 2024 and the latter as that year's first-round pick.
Stud: RB Chuba Hubbard
Hubbard, looking to bounce back from an injury-riddled 2025, reached the end zone twice. He finished with 49 rushing yards on 10 carries and 38 receiving yards on three catches.
Dud: Defense
Yes, free-agent signees Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd flashed. Phillips had one of the defense's two sacks while Lloyd collected a game-high 13 tackles.
But this entire unit is getting hit with the "Dud" label after allowing a franchise-record 59 points and a whopping 552 yards.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Studs and duds from Panthers' Week 1 loss to Bears
