Sunday’s matchup in Charlotte brings together two teams that spent 2024 at 5-12 and then turned right around and won their divisions the next season. It also puts the top picks from the 2023 and 2024 NFL drafts on the same field, with Carolina’s Bryce Young facing Chicago’s Caleb Williams.
There’s a little extra bite to this one for the Panthers, too. Chicago got the first overall pick from Carolina in the 2023 trade package that also included a haul of selections and wide receiver D.J. Moore, who is now with the Buffalo Bills.
The Bears have had the upper hand in this series for a long time, and they’ve been especially tough on Carolina lately. Chicago owns a 9-4 edge overall, has won the last four meetings dating back to 2017, and handled the Panthers 36-10 at Soldier Field in 2024.
The last time these teams met in Charlotte was 2020, when Carolina fell 23-16. The Panthers did, however, beat Chicago 29-21 in the 2005 NFC Divisional Playoffs.
Opening day has not been kind to Carolina either. The Panthers have lost their last four season openers, dating back to 2022, and those defeats have come by a combined 123-54.
Chicago’s defense enters the season with a reputation built on turnovers. In 2025, no team in the league had more interceptions or takeaways than Ben Johnson’s group, which finished with 23 picks and 33 takeaways. But the Bears will have to replace a big chunk of that production, with Kevin Byard, Tremaine Edmunds, and Jaquan Brisker - responsible for 12 of those interceptions - now with the Patriots, Giants, and Steelers, respectively.
One player Carolina may hope slips under Chicago’s radar is Jalen Coker. While the Bears are likely to keep plenty of attention on 2025 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan, Coker closed last season strong, posting 28 catches for 378 yards and four touchdowns over his final six games, including the playoff meeting with the Rams.
Chicago also brings a promising young pass catcher of its own. Tight end Colston Loveland, the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, led the Bears with 58 receptions and 713 receiving yards as a rookie, while tying for the team lead with six touchdown catches. He added 12 catches for 193 yards in Chicago’s two postseason games.
Carolina’s linebacker group has a new look, too, and Devin Lloyd is a big part of it. The first-time Pro Bowler in 2025 signed a three-year deal with the Panthers after four seasons in Jacksonville. He filled the stat sheet for the AFC South champions a year ago, helping a defense that led the NFL in run defense, and now joins Bobby Okereke in a rebuilt linebacker room.
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 🡒]