The Carolina Panthers haven’t seen a home opener win since way back in 2022, a tough 24-26 loss to the Cleveland Browns that feels like ancient history now. If they can pull off a victory against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, it’d be their first opener win, home or away, since their 2021 victory over the New York Jets. Yeah, the Sam Darnold year. You can practically hear the collective sigh of resignation from their fanbase, because if that tidbit makes you sad, congratulations, you’ve understood what it’s like to be a Panthers fan since 2020.
History’s a Heavy Weight
Let’s be real, the Panthers haven’t exactly been setting the world on fire. Their “most successful” stretches of football since Ron Rivera and Cam Newton left? We’re talking three measly three-week winning streaks across six whole seasons: Weeks 3-5 in 2020, Weeks 1-3 in 2021, and Weeks 5-7 in 2025. Three. That’s it. It’s why, despite a fresh season full of optimism, most fans are walking into this Week 1 matchup against the Bears with a healthy dose of cynicism. FanDuel has the Bears as -3 road favorites, so the odds are already stacked against them. Even with a roster that’s supposedly a big step up from the 2024 and 2025 squads, and a world away from the 2023 disaster, the vibe is “I’ll believe it when I see it.” And honestly, who can blame them? We all know one Week 1 loss, even a blowout, doesn’t sink a whole season, but trying to stop the Chicken Littles from fretting is a losing battle.
The Crystal Ball is Murky
Our own prediction crew is split right down the middle, three picking the home team, three going with the road favorites. Talk about indecision! It gets wilder: their average score prediction is a scant Panthers win, 23 to 22. Get this: that exact score has only happened 16 times in NFL history, and the Panthers actually won one of those games in 2024 against the New Orleans Saints. Crazy, right? The individual takes are all over the place too. Walker Clement is feeling good, predicting a Panthers 24-17 win, even calling for a Devin Lloyd pick off Caleb Williams. But Jonathan DeLong sees a rougher start, Bears 16, Panthers 10, chalking it up to rusty teams and Bryce Young’s Week 1 struggles. Brian Beversluis expects a full-on shootout, Bears 35, Panthers 31, a “wild duel” between the two quarterbacks. And Daniel Belton? He’s got the Panthers winning big, 27-10.
So, what’s it gonna be? This game isn’t just another Week 1 matchup; it’s a chance to finally shake off years of underperformance and show everyone this squad is truly different. A win against the Bears would do wonders for the team’s belief and give the fans something to genuinely cheer for. No pressure, right? Kickoff can’t come soon enough to see how this story starts.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Cat Scratch Reader.
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