The Chicago Bears open the 2026 season with a trip to face the Carolina Panthers, and the early read around this matchup is pretty clear: Chicago is favored, but nobody is calling this a walkover.
That makes sense given what the Bears bring into Week 1. They’re coming off an 11-6 season in which first-year head coach Ben Johnson pushed them from worst to first, delivered an NFC North title and added a playoff win.
Chicago’s offense was one of the league’s best, built around a top-three rushing attack and an exciting young quarterback in Caleb Williams. The defense, though, had its share of issues, and that remains part of the picture as the new season begins.
Carolina enters with its own momentum after winning the NFC South, so this opener carries more weight than a typical early-season tune-up. The Bears still look like the stronger side, but the expectation here is for a game that stays competitive longer than some would like in Chicago.
Alyssa Barbieri sees the Bears getting it done 27-20. She called it a favorable matchup on paper, but stressed that it is “far from a gimme game” for a Panthers team with talent on both sides of the ball. She expects this one to be tighter than the Bears’ blowout win over Carolina in 2024, but still believes Chicago finds a way to “escape Carolina with a 1-0 start.”
Brendan Sugrue also has the Bears winning, 27-23. In his view, the difference comes from “some timely takeaways on defense courtesy of Young,” while Williams turns in a steady season debut. Sugrue noted that would give Chicago its first Week 1 road victory since 2020 and its first one in front of fans since 2008.
Mike Pendleton is the most bullish on Chicago’s offense, picking the Bears 35-17. He framed Week 1 as a chance for Ben Johnson to make a statement and said the Bears will need to do the things they emphasized all offseason: “Start early, don’t play hero ball, and lean into their high-powered offensive unit.”
Vincent Parise has a closer version, with Chicago winning 24-20. He pointed to Johnson’s offense and Williams as the difference, while also warning that this has the feel of a Week 1 letdown, something that happens often around the league. Still, he believes the Bears can handle it and begin the year 1-0.
Ariana Pensy also expects a tight finish, taking the Bears 28-21. She said the first game of the season is tough to read because of the limited preseason work for both teams, but believes Chicago can control the clock with the run game and “probably” force a turnover or two on defense.
Randy Holt rounds out the group with a 28-20 Bears pick. He pointed to the limited preseason sample, but said the offense looks to be in “a really good place.” He also made clear that Carolina will not be easy to push around, even if this is one of the few games where Chicago is viewed as a clear-cut favorite.
The Bears and Panthers meet in a Week 1 NFC matchup that gives Chicago a real chance to start fast, but the predictions all lean toward a game that asks for a full four quarters before the outcome is decided.
In Other News...
Panthers Suddenly Have A Trade Decision Fans Did Not Expect
The Ravens receiver room took a hit in Week 1, and that has already pushed Xavier Legette into the early trade conversation as a possible name for Carolina to consider. Baltimore lost Ja'Kobi Lane to a fractured wrist, and Zay Flowers also went down, leaving the team with a clear need at wideout and prompting outside speculation about whether the Panthers might listen if an offer came their way.
For Carolina, Legettes underwhelming debut only sharpened the discussion around his place in the offense. He still carries the kind of upside teams keep tabs on, but the question now is whether the Panthers see him as part of their long-term plan or as a movable piece if Baltimore comes calling. No deal has been reported, but the idea alone adds an unexpected layer to what was supposed to be a straightforward start to the season. [Read more 🡒]
Dave Canales Is Already Calling Out A Panthers Problem
The Panthers left Week 1 with plenty to clean up, and Dave Canales did not wait long to make the point. After Carolina was tied at halftime against the Bears before the game slipped away badly in the second half of a 59-37 loss, the new head coach said the defense needs to be more consistent. For a team still trying to establish an identity under Canales, it was a reminder that competitive stretches are not enough if the group cannot sustain them.
Canales framed the issue as bigger than one side of the ball, stressing execution and consistency across all phases moving forward. The opener showed flashes of what Carolina wants to be, but it also exposed how quickly a game can turn when the details stop lining up. The challenge now is whether the Panthers can turn that message into something more dependable before the early-season hole gets any deeper. [Read more 🡒]
Caleb Williams Added To Panthers Fans Frustration After That Loss
Week 1 brought plenty of frustration for Panthers fans on the scoreboard, but Caleb Williams added a little extra to the mood after Chicagos 59-37 win. The Bears quarterback did his damage through the air and on the ground, throwing two touchdown passes and running for two more while piling up 269 passing yards and 65 rushing yards in a game that never felt under Carolinas control for long.
After the final whistle, Williams was seen shaking hands and offering praise to Panthers defensive coordinator Dave Canales, and the exchange quickly spread across social media. For a fan base already trying to digest a rough opener, the moment only sharpened the sting of a night when Chicago looked poised, efficient and fully in command. [Read more 🡒]