The Chicago Bears kick off the 2026 NFL regular season this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, which will feature a battle between former No. 1 picks Caleb Williams and Bryce Young.
The Bears are coming off an impressive 11-6 season, where they went from worst-to-first, won the NFC North for the first time in eight years and won a playoff game for the first time in nearly two decades in Ben Johnson's first season as head coach. Quarterback Caleb Williams established himself as one of the most clutch quarterbacks in the league with a record seven fourth-quarter comebacks while leading a top-five offense in the NFL.
Meanwhile, the Panthers are coming off an 8-9 season, which was enough to win the NFC South and make their first playoff appearance
since 2017. They also fell just short of a massive upset in the wild-card playoffs against the Los Angeles Rams, where they lost 34-31.
This could be a crucial early NFC matchup between the Bears and Panthers. But what do oddsmakers think about this battle between reigning division champions? Can Johnson break a string of bad luck in season openers for Chicago? Or will Carolina pull an early upset?
Buy tickets for Bears vs. Panthers game
Bears vs. Panthers odds in Week 1
As of Tuesday Sept. 8, the Bears are three-point road favorites against the Panthers, according to BetMGM. Both Chicago and Carolina are coming off division championships and looking to start the 2026 season with a win.
How to watch Bears vs. Panthers
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026
- Time: 12 p.m. CT
- Location: Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, NC)
- TV: FOX
- Stream: FuboTV (try it for free)
- Radio: ESPN 1000 (Chicago)
Watch the Bears vs. Panthers game FREE on Fubo
Chicago Bears schedule 2026
Below is Chicago's regular-season schedule.
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 13, at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 20, vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Week 3: Monday, Sept. 28, vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 4, vs. New York Jets, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 11, at Green Bay Packers, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 18, at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Week 7: Thursday, Oct. 22, vs. New England Patriots, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime
Week 8: Monday, Nov. 1, at Seattle Seahawks, 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 8, vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Week 10: BYE WEEK
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 22, vs. New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Week 12: Thursday, Nov. 26, at Detroit Lions, 12:30 p.m. ET, CBS
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 6, vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 13, at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Week 15: Saturday, Dec. 19, at Buffalo Bills, 8:20 p.m. ET, CBS
Week 16: Friday, Dec. 25, vs. Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m. ET, Netflix
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 3, vs. Detroit Lions, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
Week 18: Sunday, Jan. 10, at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. ET, TBD
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: NFL Week 1 odds: Bears open as road favorite vs. Panthers
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