Can the 2026 Panthers Upset the Bears in Week One?
The Carolina Panthers are 0-2 in season-opening contests under head coach Dave Canales, but they are looking to change that this Sunday when they host Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears. In Canales’ head-coaching debut in 2024, Carolina was annihilated by the New Orleans Saints. Bryce Young threw an interception on the first pass of his sophomore campaign, and the Panthers lost 47-10. 2025 also featured a double-digit Week One loss in Jacksonville against the Jaguars.
This year feels different, though. The atmosphere in Charlotte has changed, and after winning the NFC South last season, the culture has, too. Big-time free agent additions such as Devin Lloyd and Jaelan Phillips solidified the front seven. Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson return as one of the best cornerback duos in the NFL, evidenced by their combined 27 pass breakups and nine interceptions. Young and his weapons had a full summer to keep progressing like they did to round out last season. The Panthers have had the rebuilding team tag on their jersey for far too long, and in 2026, they looked primed to rip it off and prove that their Wild Card appearance was not a fluke.
The aforementioned Williams and his Bears are coming off a magical season, highlighted by a miraculous last-second end zone heave in the playoffs to keep them in a game against the Los Angeles Rams, the same team that defeated Carolina in the Wild Card Round. They are not to be taken lightly, as it seems that their offense has found its two long-term receivers in Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze, who had six touchdowns in 12 games last year, and many people wonder what 2026 could look like for the 24-year-old receiver. He also averaged 15 yards per catch. Head coach Ben Johnson still loves to run the ball, though, and he has some serious talent in the backfield. Led by veteran D’Andre Swift, Chicago's ground game consists mostly of motion-style runs, meaning pulling guards and off-tackle designs are common. Kyle Monangai will also be heavily featured, as he burst onto the scene in the second half of 2025. Monangai finished last year with nearly 800 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
Where the Bears struggle is on defense, and they do so mightily. They ranked 29th in total defense last season and were bottom-five in the NFL at stopping the run. Edge rusher Montez Sweat is an above-average pass rusher, but he continuously makes mistakes while defending the run. Sweat will line up against the Panthers’ 2026 first-round pick Monroe Freeling, as the usual starting right tackle for Carolina, Taylor Moton, is out with injury. Freeling was a late riser on draft boards, and the Panthers picked him due to his violence as a run blocker. Running the ball behind Freeling will be a pivotal point of Carolina’s offense in Week One.
Another way that the Panthers can exploit the Bears’ defense is by spreading the ball all over the field. Carolina has a plethora of receivers for Young to throw to, and every one of them does their own job. Second-year wideout Tetairoa McMillan will be Young’s top target, but McMillan will most likely have to deal with Pro Bowl corner Jaylon Johnson lining up against him. Johnson is terrific in man-to-man coverage, and his press skills could cause problems for the 23-year-old wide receiver at the line of scrimmage. This is where playoff hero Jalen Coker comes into play. The former undrafted free agent from Holy Cross showed up huge in Carolina’s last handful of games, including a 134-yard, nine-reception performance in the playoffs. Coker is a great route runner with a big frame, plus the 24-year-old is also dangerous after the catch.
If Williams and company can trouble the Carolina defense, the Bears should have the edge. With that being said, the Panthers have shown last season that they can keep up with anybody, so even if the Chicago offense gets going, expect Carolina to keep its foot on the gas pedal. This has the makings of a back-and-forth affair and could very well come down to the last possession. Kickoff at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, is set for 1:00 p.m. EST this Sunday.
