The Chicago Bears' defense really struggled in Week 1, but the story was the offense's incredible performance in their 59-37 win over the Carolina Panthers.
Chicago went for over 500 yards of offense and had one of the best performances in franchise history, falling just nine points short of tying the record for points in the regular season. The defense leaves a lot to be desired after struggling against the Panthers' offense.
There are nine initial observations from the Bears' impressive win over the Panthers. Here's a look at all of them.
Instant reactions to Bears-Panthers Week 1 showdown
Caleb Williams is playing at a whole different level from 2025
Bears fans saw how fast Williams was when he ran the football, and his decision-making was even better throughout the game. He finished the game completing 21-of-29 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns, adding another 65 rushing yards and two touchdowns. It feels as though he put himself in the conversation for the MVP.
Tyrique Stevenson and Jaylon Johnson got exposed
The Bears' secondary struggled throughout the game, and Stevenson struggled more than Johnson. Stevenson got burned multiple times throughout the game, including the 51-yard touchdown catch by Jalen Coker. Johnson at least redeemed himself with the forced fumble in the fourth quarter. With the injuries the Bears had in the secondary, they couldn't afford the two veteran starters to struggle, and they did.
Darnell Wright and Jonah Jackson bullied the Panthers' right side of the line
It felt like every time D'Andre Swift ran the football on the right side of the line, he had so much room to run the ball. A lot of that came from what Jackson and Wright did by steamrolling the Panthers' defenders. It was a big reason the Bears ran for 291 yards as a team.
Speaking of D'Andre Swift, how about that performance?
Chicago's offensive line deserves a ton of credit for how they once again helped the running game roll, but Swift felt like he was a bit more motivated after his contract extension. He rushed for 124 yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns. The Bears might have the best version of Swift they've seen in years in 2026.
Kyle Monangai had a very quiet day at the office...until he didn't
It was the Swift show in Charlotte, but there wasn't a lot of Monangai for most of this game. He only had three carries for four yards, but did have 24 receiving yards in two catches over almost 45 minutes. That changed when he rushed for 61 yards for the touchdown, finishing the game with 100 yards, so it's safe to say the Bears have a special backfield.
Dillon Thieneman shined in his NFL debut with Bears
With so many injuries in the Bears' secondary, it was Thieneman who shined from the secondary. He finished the game with six tackles and one pass deflection. Thieneman was flying all over the field and laying out some big hits. He may not be perfect right now, but he's working toward becoming a great NFL defensive back.
The penalties on the Bears were...a lot to handle
The penalty issues that have plagued this franchise for years still haven't gone away. Chicago was called on 12 penalties for 57 yards. They have to clean that up at some point if they want to contend for a Super Bowl title.
Bears' defense leaves a lot to be desired
There's no sugarcoating it: the Bears' defense really struggled in this game. They allowed 37 points and over 450 yards, and they struggled to slow down the Panthers' offense. Something has to change because if it doesn't, there will be a conversation about defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
Ben Johnson's offense is every bit as good as advertised
Read more: Is Rome Odunze playing today vs. Panthers? Latest updates for Bears WR in Week 1
Johnson's unit had a lot of questions about the wide receiver room and whether they could step up with DJ Moore gone, but they answered the call. Chicago's offense overall had 552 total yards. This offense is going to be elite this season with all the weapons they have.
Add us as a preferred source on Google