NFL Week 1 Winners and Losers: Bears' offense looks every bit as good as Ben Johnson said it would be

September 13, 2026

The Chicago Bears launched their 2026 campaign with a record-setting offensive explosion, defeating the Carolina Panthers 59-37 in Charlotte. The combined 96-point total established a new all-time high for an opening-week contest in NFL history.

Chicago's 59 points eclipsed its previous franchise standard for a season opener, which had stood at 45 points since a 1948 matchup against the Green Bay Packers, while also marking the first time the squad crossed the 50-point mark in any game since 2012.

Quarterback Caleb Williams fueled the dominant outing, connecting on a pristine early touchdown strike to set the tone for the afternoon. Prior to the game, Fox analyst Jay Glazer relayed that Ben Johnson noted Williams had advanced so rapidly beyond his teammates in grasping the offensive scheme that the coach actually urged him to slow down.

Elsewhere around the league, an injury to Kyler Murray prompted Carson Wentz to enter the lineup under center for the Minnesota Vikings.