Chicago
Bears
0-0
38
FINAL
0
Carolina
Panthers
0-0
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a dominating performance to kick off the 2026 season, the Chicago Bears secured a resounding 38-0 victory over the Carolina Panthers. With playoff aspirations on the line, the Bears made a powerful statement, showcasing their offensive prowess and defensive strength right out of the gate.
Caleb Williams led the charge for Chicago, throwing for 197 yards and three touchdown passes, demonstrating both precision and poise in the pocket. D'Andre Swift was a force on the ground, racking up 167 rushing yards, while Colston Loveland added a solid receiving option with 60 yards. Together, they formed a dynamic trio that kept the Panthers' defense on its heels all game long.
Defensively, the Bears were relentless, with standout performances from Kyler Gordon, who recorded four total tackles, and Montez Sweat, who contributed a sack. However, it was Jaylon Johnson's two interceptions that truly shifted momentum, thwarting any chance of a Panthers comeback and solidifying Chicago's dominance. The Bears' defense was the driving force behind this shutout, making it clear that they mean business this season.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | YDS | TD | INT | RTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caleb Williams | QB | 13 | 11 | 197 | 3 | 0 | 158.3 |
| Bryce Young | QB | 25 | 16 | 187 | 0 | 3 | 46.9 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D'Andre Swift | HB | 19 | 167 | 8.8 | 1 | 25 | 0 |
| Bryce Young | QB | 2 | 23 | 11.5 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| Tommy Tremble | TE | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Kyle Monangai | HB | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| A.J. Dillon | HB | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Xavier Legette | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Caleb Williams | QB | 1 | -1 | -1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chuba Hubbard | HB | 7 | -9 | -1.3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colston Loveland | TE | 5 | 60 | 12.0 | 1 | 21 | 0 |
| Zavion Thomas | WR | 1 | 57 | 57.0 | 0 | 57 | 0 |
| Luther Burden III | WR | 1 | 44 | 44.0 | 1 | 44 | 0 |
| Jalen Coker | WR | 4 | 41 | 10.3 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Darren Waller | TE | 2 | 37 | 18.5 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Chuba Hubbard | HB | 5 | 37 | 7.4 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| Rome Odunze | WR | 4 | 36 | 9.0 | 1 | 22 | 0 |
| Tommy Tremble | TE | 2 | 33 | 16.5 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Tetairoa McMillan | WR | 1 | 22 | 22.0 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| Xavier Legette | WR | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaylon Johnson | CB | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Devin Bush | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Montez Sweat | LEDG | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kyler Gordon | CB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tre'von Moehrig | FS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dayo Odeyingbo | REDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jaycee Horn | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Devin Lloyd | WILL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Scott | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chau Smith-Wade | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Okereke | MIKE | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T.J. Edwards | WILL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dillon Thieneman | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Jackson | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cam Lewis | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Sanborn | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Skyler Thomas | FS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jaelan Phillips | REDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grady Jarrett | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jordan van den Berg | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Keyshaun Elliott | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jackson Kuwatch | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Fitzgerald | K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cairo Santos | K | 1 | 1 | 5 | 42 |

