Bears Rout Panthers 59-37 in Week 1
Chicago Bears 59, Carolina Panthers 37 at Bank of America Stadium. Caleb Williams went 21 of 29 for 269 yards with 2 touchdowns.
Quarter Scoring
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bears | 14 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 59 |
 Panthers | 7 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 37 |
Panthers Leaders
Bears Leaders
Team Stats
| Bears | Stat | Panthers |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | 1st Downs | 24 |
| 13 | Passing 1st downs | 17 |
| 11 | Rushing 1st downs | 5 |
| 2 | 1st downs from penalties | 2 |
| 10-14 | 3rd down efficiency | 4-9 |
| 0-1 | 4th down efficiency | 0-1 |
| 70 | Total Plays | 62 |
| 552 | Total Yards | 478 |
| 7.9 | Yards per Play | 7.7 |
| 14 | Total Drives | 13 |
| 261 | Passing | 353 |
| 21/29 | Comp/Att | 23/38 |
| 8.4 | Yards per pass | 8.8 |
| 0 | Interceptions thrown | 1 |
| 2-8 | Sacks-Yards Lost | 2-8 |
| 291 | Rushing | 125 |
| 39 | Rushing Attempts | 22 |
| 7.5 | Yards per rush | 5.7 |
| 4-4 | Red Zone (Made-Att) | 4-4 |
| 12-57 | Penalties | 11-84 |
| 1 | Turnovers | 3 |
| 1 | Fumbles lost | 2 |
| 0 | Interceptions thrown | 1 |
| 0 | Defensive / Special Teams TDs | 0 |
| 34:03 | Possession | 25:57 |
Scoring Plays
15 scores Week 1: Bears Visit Panthers Missing Both Starting Tackles
Read the full recap →The Chicago Bears open the defense of their NFC North title at the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, September 13. Caleb Williams comes off a franchise-record 3,942-yard season, but Chicago's practice week ended with D'Andre Swift and Rome Odunze both leaving early, with Swift's issue reported as cramping and Odunze's right leg pulled as a precaution; the first official injury report is not due until Wednesday. Carolina opens without left tackle Ikem Ekwonu and right tackle Taylor Moton, and without edge rusher Nic Scourton, while Chuba Hubbard and Xavier Legette are expected back for this game.
Carolina's line problem
Rasheed Walker and rookie Monroe Freeling start at tackle, protecting Bryce Young against a Chicago front that added Dayo Odeyingbo and gets Austin Booker back.
Chicago's skill players are the open question
Swift and Odunze were both pulled from Thursday's practice, and Kyle Monangai is week to week, so the Bears' depth at running back is thin if Swift is limited.
Williams and Young, three years on
Carolina's trade-up for Young in 2023 gave Chicago the pick used on Williams. Chicago has won four straight in the series.
Pregame AI Prediction
How the prediction did
Predicted 24-20 (Bears vs Panthers), final was 59-37. Chicago won 59-37 in a game that produced nearly 100 points, matching the projected winner while blowing far past the projected total.
Bears Panthers Two backup tackles against Chicago's pass rush
Young was pressured into two interceptions in joint practices against Houston, and this line is weaker than that one.
Williams' fourth-quarter track record
Chicago won seven games with fourth-quarter comebacks last season, which matters in a game projected to be within a score.
Chicago's injury uncertainty holds the confidence down
If Swift and Odunze are both limited, the Bears' offense loses its top back and its No. 1 receiver in the same week.
The pick assumes Swift and Odunze play. Carolina's tackle situation is the most exploitable weakness on either side.
Venue
Closing Line
Officials
Futures odds for these teams
Super Bowl futures, win totals & where to bet
FanDuel Sportsbook: Get $200 in Bonus Bets When You Wager $5 for 4 Days. New customers only. Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook, verify your account, and make a deposit of at least $5. Place a single online real-money wager of $5+ between 3 AM ET and 11:59 PM ET each day for 4 consecutive days starting from your first eligible wager. Maximum bonus of $50 per day ($200 total). Bonus issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire 7 days after receipt. The 4-day period begins once you're opted in to the promotion. Eligibility and state restrictions apply. See the current offer and full terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com.
21+ and present in select states. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). FanDuel is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas Star Casino, LLC. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, KY, MI, NJ, OH, PA, IL, TN, VA, VT), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-522-4700 (WY), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV).
Fanatics Sportsbook: Up to $1,000 in FanCash Matched Bets. New customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV or WY. Apply the promotion in your bet slip and place a $1+ cash wager (min odds -200) daily for 10 consecutive days starting the day of account creation. FanCash rewards equal the qualifying wager amount (max $100 FanCash per day). FanCash issued under this promotion expires at 11:59 p.m. ET 7 days from issuance. Terms, including FanCash terms, apply - see the Fanatics Sportsbook app.
21+ and present in a state where Fanatics Sportsbook operates. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Touchdown Week may earn a commission when you sign up through our links, at no cost to you. Please bet responsibly.
Panthers Injuries