Topic
Game day
The current or most recent Bears game object.
Activity
OPPONENT NEWSDEVELOPING
Wentz expected to start at Chicago while Murray is in protocol
FOX Sports reported Monday that Wentz is likely to start at Soldier Field. Availability still depends on independent concussion protocol; it is not an official depth-chart announcement.
GAMEVERIFIED
Bears 59, Panthers 37
59 points37 points552 total yards291 rushing yards
Chicago opened 2026 with a 59-37 win in Charlotte, the highest-scoring season opener in NFL history and a franchise-record point total for a Bears opener.
GAME PERFORMANCEVERIFIED
Caleb accounts for four touchdowns as Bears score 59
269 passing yards21 pass completions29 pass attempts2 passing td65 rushing yards2 rushing td
Williams completed 21 of 29 for 269 yards and two passing touchdowns, ran for 65 yards and two scores, and finished with a 124.1 passer rating in Chicago's 59-37 win.
GAME PERFORMANCEVERIFIED
Swift: 124 rushing yards, three touchdowns
124 rushing yards3 rushing td
Swift carried 18 times for 124 yards and three rushing touchdowns in the opener, two days after Chicago announced his three-year extension.
GAME PERFORMANCEVERIFIED
Monangai: 100 rushing yards, including a 61-yard touchdown
100 rushing yards
Monangai gained 100 yards on 10 carries, including a 61-yard touchdown run that Williams later called his favorite play of the game.
DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCEVERIFIED
Carolina generated 478 yards against Chicago
361 passing yards
Bryce Young threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns as Carolina piled up 478 yards in a losing effort. Chicago still won 59-37.
RECORDVERIFIED
Highest-scoring season opener in NFL history
The 96 combined points were the most in an NFL season opener. Chicago also set a franchise record for points in an opener, breaking a mark that had stood since 1948.