The Chicago Bears face the Carolina Panthers in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season with plenty of intrigue going into the contest.
Many games in the league are worth watching for Chicago fans. Both teams are coming off division-winning seasons and hope to keep riding the momentum of their success.
So, going into the game, what is everything Bears fans need to know before they play the Panthers? Here is a quick roundup of everything Chicago needs to know before kickoff.
Everything Bears fans need to know before their Week 1 Panthers showdown
How to watch the game
All NFL games can be streamed live on YouTube TV through a subscription of NFL Sunday Ticket. Chicago and Carolina markets will be able to watch the game on their local FOX stations.
Injury news for Bears-Panthers showdown
According to Ian Rapoport, Bears wide receiver Rome Oduzne will be playing in the game despite dealing with a calf injury. Chicago has three other players who are listed as questionable for the game: QB Tyson Bagent (back), OT Ozzy Trapilo (knee), and Xavier Woods (groin).
The Panthers will be without outside linebacker Patrick Jones II for the game, as he deals with his back injury. Running back Jonathon Brooks and defensive tackle Bobby Brown III don't have statuses for the game, but were listed on the team's injury report.
Top storylines for the Bears-Panthers game
Chicago's biggest question mark is how they'll use Odunze in the offense. With him not at 100%, questions remain about whether he'll play much or whether the team will be conservative because of his lower-body injury.
The Bears' defense has some missing pieces after Coby Bryant's injury and defensive tackle Gervon Dexter's trade to the Atlanta Falcons. The defense will look different in 2026, but after finishing in the bottom 10 in total defense last season, can it turn things around?
Carolina has its own questions as it tries to figure out whether Bryce Young is the guy at quarterback. With injuries to their defense, their lack of a pass rush is a major concern.
Prediction for the Bears vs. Panthers
Everyone knows the Bears have one of the top offenses in the NFL, but this game comes down to whether the defense can create turnovers like they did last year or at least pressure the quarterback more consistently. The Panthers are no pushover of a team, but the Bears need to start the season on the right foot with a win.
Read more: Bears can fix their Roschon Johnson mistake after extending D'Andre Swift
Prediction: Bears 27, Panthers 17
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