What in the absolute world just happened in Charlotte? The Chicago Bears kicked off their season with a ridiculous 59-37 victory over Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, September 13, 2026. This wasn’t just a win; it was an offensive explosion that saw a mind-blowing 96 total points and 1,030 combined yards put up on the scoreboard. Seriously, if you blinked, you probably missed three touchdowns.
Caleb Williams And The Bears’ Offensive Barrage
Caleb Williams was straight-up dealing, and the Bears offense was clicking from the jump, even after an early fumble for a loss. Williams completed 21 of 29 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns, with zero interceptions. He didn’t just throw, though; he showed off his wheels with a 9-yard touchdown run. Running back D’Andre Swift was an absolute machine, turning 18 carries into 124 yards and a phenomenal three touchdowns, including a huge 32-yard burst. Rome Odunze also grabbed two catches for 52 yards, including a 47-yard play that blew open the field. They marched downfield, scoring twice in the first quarter, including Swift capping a 67-yard drive. Chicago held a 14-7 lead after one, and then Williams hit Cole Kmet for a 22-yard score to open the second. After a quick stop and a muffed punt recovery, Chicago tacked on a field goal. Williams even scrambled for another 29-yard touchdown, displaying why he’s such a dynamic threat. By halftime, the Bears were up 31-24, and they just kept rolling, eventually hitting 45-31 by the end of the third. Another Swift run in the fourth, his third of the day, and a short pass to Jahdae Walker sealed the deal.
Bryce Young’s Valiant, High-Flying Effort
You gotta hand it to Bryce Young, though. Despite the massive loss, he battled and put up some serious numbers in this insane Week 1 shootout. Young completed 23 of 37 passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns, with just one interception. Carolina started strong after the Bears’ opening fumble, charging 42 yards downfield and capping it with a 4-yard connection to Chuba Hubbard, who later scored a 2-yard run to briefly tie the game at 31 apiece. Hubbard finished with 87 yards and two scores. The Panthers kept punching back in the second quarter, scoring on three of their five possessions, including a deep 51-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Coker and a 7-yard touchdown run by Young himself. Another Young-Coker connection kept Carolina fighting in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Chicago’s relentless attack. Kyle Monangai even broke loose for a huge 61-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, showing the Panthers had plenty of explosive plays in their arsenal.
This game was an absolute wild ride, proving that some teams are coming into the season with offenses ready to dominate. Chicago will look to keep that red-hot offensive prowess going when they face the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday. Meanwhile, the Panthers will hit the road, hoping to find some defensive answers against the Atlanta Falcons. Both games kick off at 1 p.m. ET.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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