The Chicago Bears defeated the Carolina Panthers, 59-37, on the road in Week 1 of the 2026 season. It was an offensive breakout, where Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson, and the offense had an explosion, and although the defense was incredibly leaky, the team as a whole found a way to earn a huge win to begin the year 1-0.
When an offense has 59 points on the board, and the defense allows 37, it is most likely a game in which the big-time highlights come in favor of the former. Chicago's offense made a ton of great plays that helped compile one of the largest outputs in NFL home opener history.
It was hard to narrow it down, but these are the five most important plays of the victory:
1. Rome Odunze "Moss'd" a defender for a big gain
🗣️ ROOOOOOME ODUUUUUNZE
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 13, 2026
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/upRsL6ndv8
The Bears
are hoping for a big year out of Rome Odunze. Well, one of his big plays in this game set Chicago up for success. After coming back to tie it at 7-7, the Bears needed to find a way to get an early lead. Odunze made a great catch, using the Randy Moss method of catching it around a defender. That long gain play set D'Andre Swift up for a short touchdown run. You never know how the drive goes, or the rest of the game, if they don't score in this sequence, and the Caleb Williams-to-Rome Odunze play loomed large.
2. Cole Kmet's touchdown reception
First home run of the season ⚾️
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 13, 2026
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/TyVGYOSX4h
Cole Kmet's big touchdown reception put the Bears up 21-7 in the game. Every point matters, but this was also proof that they won't forget about Kmet in the passing game. Over the course of the year, Kmet will block more, and Colston Loveland will run routes more, but Kmet still brings a lot to the table in the receiving game. He seems poised to hit many home runs this year in the end zone.
3. Caleb Williams' 2nd touchdown of the game
ANOTHER ONE 😤
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 13, 2026
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/gcAMjhq2an
Chicago's first touchdown of the game was a rush by Caleb Williams in which he made a nice move to find the end zone. However, he had a second rushing touchdown, and this one put them ahead with 22 seconds remaining in the first half. He also broke out of danger to rush it 20+ yards into the end zone. Williams displays his pure skill a lot, but this was an example of just how good he can be at playing the position.
4. Kyle Monangai's big run gives Bears breathing room
.@kylemonangai GOES THE DISTANCE
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 13, 2026
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/SCNBVRgxUZ
When the Bears finally got ahead for good by going up 38-31, they still needed more wiggle room in case the defense couldn't come through more. That came when Kyle Monangai ran over half the field's length into the end zone for a 61-yard touchdown to put the Bears up by two scores. If there were any questions about his knee, following this huge run that saw him outrun multiple defenders, they have been answered.
5. D'Andre Swift's hat trick seals victory for Bears
LE FESTIVAL OFFENSIF DE CHICAGO CONTINUE !
— NFL France (@NFLFrance) September 13, 2026
Coup du chapeau pour @DAndreSwift #DaBears
📺 @beinsports_FR 4️⃣ #NFLextra
📱 @DAZN_FR pic.twitter.com/RZC1Qd9PNT
D'Andre Swift had three touchdowns that could have made this list. However, the one in which he completed the rushing hat trick makes it because it put the game away for the Bears. Scoring 59 points in a single game is incredibly uncommon, but the Bears did claim that they could be the best offense of all time. If they continue to put up numbers like this, they will have a shot. For Swift, that's a big day two days after signing a massive contract extension. Outside of draft picks, Swift has a case to be considered Ryan Poles' best move.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 5 most important plays from Bears win over Panthers
