Bears Rout Panthers 59-37 in Charlotte, Set NFL Season-Opener Scoring Record

The Chicago Bears beat the Carolina Panthers 59-37 at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday to open their 2026 season, and the game's combined 96 points set an NFL record for a season opener.

The two teams combined for 96 points, the most ever scored in a Week 1 game in league history. For the Bears, the 59 points were the second-most in franchise history, trailing only the 61 they scored against the Green Bay Packers in a 1980 meeting, and the most Chicago has scored in a season opener.

Chicago gained 552 total yards, the third-most the franchise has recorded since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger and the second-most in a game under head coach Ben Johnson. It marked the second straight season the Bears have topped 500 yards in a game, a mark they also reached last year in a 47-42 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Quarterback Caleb Williams ran for two touchdowns and threw a fourth-quarter touchdown pass to receiver Jahdae Walker that pushed Chicago past the 500-yard mark. Running back D'Andre Swift, who signed a contract extension with the team earlier in the week, scored twice on the ground. Kyle Monangai added a 61-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, giving the Bears five rushing touchdowns on the day, only the eighth time in franchise history the team has reached that number and just the third time since the 1970 merger.

The win gave Chicago its first season-opening road victory since 2020, snapping a run of years in which the Bears had either opened at home or lost their first road game of the season.

The Bears took the field without several regulars. Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent was ruled out with a back injury that kept him out of practice all week, elevating Case Keenum to the No. 2 role behind Williams while third-string quarterback Miller Moss was also inactive. Offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo remained out as he continues to recover from a torn patellar tendon suffered during last season's playoffs. Defensive back Xavier Woods, who was questionable with a groin injury, did not play, and defensive linemen Jamree Kromah and Jayden Loving and offensive lineman Jordan McFadden were also inactive.

Wide receiver Rome Odunze, who had been listed as questionable, was cleared to play and took the field for Chicago.

The Panthers, the reigning NFC South champions, stayed close to Chicago through much of the afternoon before the Bears pulled away, with Carolina finishing with 37 points of its own in the loss.

Chicago returns to Soldier Field next Sunday, Sept. 20, for its home opener against the Minnesota Vikings.