How do you follow up on the most exciting stretch of football that a city has seen in over a decade? That's the question facing Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson heading into the season opener against the Carolina Panthers.
The Bears have been named one of the NFL's most obvious regression candidates heading into the regular season. Johnson's squad will have the chance to prove that narrative wrong in its road battle with Carolina.
These four matchups could decide who leaves Week 1 with a victory and who is forced to face their first failure.
4 matchups to watch in Bears' opener against Panthers
Bears S Dillon Thieneman vs. Panthers QB Bryce Young
As exciting as the Bears' offense is entering the 2026 season, their defense is enough to cast doubt on their Super Bowl chances. After losing multiple key members of the secondary this offseason, Chicago is set to rely on a rookie safety to help hold things down.
Thieneman has the range and versatility to make an impact in Dennis Allen's defense, but his role in this game should be simple: limit explosive plays and allow Caleb Williams and the offense to control the game. If Thieneman and Xavier Woods can keep a lid on Carolina's offense, they'll keep the game from becoming a shootout.
Bears HC Ben Johnson vs. Panthers DC Ejiro Evero
The best football coaches evolve their schemes each year. Johnson's haymaker-seeking scheme was effective in his first year with the Bears, but how can he develop it to overcome the inevitable answers that defensive coordinators find?
His mental battle with Evero, Carolina's DC, will be as important as any matchup on the field on Sunday afternoon.
Bears LT Braxton Jones vs. Panthers EDGE Jaelan Phillips
The Bears are one of the few elite offenses in the NFL with a major question mark at offensive tackle. Jones struggled in pass protection last season, allowing pressure on nearly 7% of his pass-blocking snaps.
He'll face a tough test, lining up across from Carolina's $120 million edge rusher. Phillips has shown flashes of dominance throughout his career, but he has struggled to stay on the field for full seasons. He's capable of wrecking Chicago's game plan if Jones isn't up to the task of slowing him down.
Bears QB Caleb Williams vs. Panthers LB Devin Lloyd
If the Bears' offense can stay on track throughout the game, this should be a relatively easy victory. But Lloyd will do everything he can to cause chaos in the middle of the field. He tied for second in the NFL last season with five interceptions, setting himself up for a big pay raise in free agency.
Read more: 4 winners (and 3 losers) from Bears' quiet 2026 offseason
Williams will need to stay under control, work within the structure of Johnson's offense, and limit mistakes in this game. He can't afford to gift Lloyd the turnover that could shift the tide of the Week 1 battle.
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