For weeks, it was speculated that the Chicago Bears would open up the 2026 season in Seattle against the defending champion Seahawks on opening night. Even top insiders were convinced it was likely. So you can imagine the surprise when news broke that it instead would be a Super Bowl rematch with the New England Patriots. People were confused. Why would anybody want to watch that game after how dull the actual Super Bowl was, especially with how much controversy Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is involved in? Regardless, it left people wondering what fate awaited the Bears.
Now we know. Jordan Schultz revealed that Chicago will travel to Carolina for an opening-day showdown with the Panthers. It will be a showdown of two playoff teams from last season and two former #1 draft picks in Caleb Williams and Bryce Young. That should create some fun buzz in and of itself. That is before you remember it’ll also be a matchup between Bears head coach Ben Johnson and Panthers head coach Dave Canales, two of the best offensive play callers in the league.
The potential for fireworks on opening day will be high.
The Chicago Bears better not treat Carolina like a gimme.
Yes, the team finished 8-9 last year. On paper, they weren’t good for much of the season. The Panthers were 27th in total offense, and middle-of-the-road on defense. They merely benefited from playing in a terrible division. This glosses over some truths about how they reached that point. For all the grief people give Young, he actually played good football during most of the second half of last season. In the final seven games, he threw for 1,497 yards, 12 touchdowns, and four interceptions. That included big wins over the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Then he put up 31 points in a rematch against the Rams in the wild card round.
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Three of their four wins in November and December were against eventual playoff teams. It always seemed like the Panthers turned things up a notch when they sensed good competition. So you can bet they will be ready for the Bears this September. That is before one gets into the subplots. Everybody knows Chicago passed on Young in 2023, trading the #1 pick to Carolina for a massive package of picks. One of them ended up being the #1 pick in 2024, which became Williams. It is one of the great what-ifs of the past decade.
This game could carry long-term ramifications.
There is a good chance these two teams could find their way right back into the playoff mix this season. Carolina spent a ton of money upgrading their defense with Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd in free agency. Then they got Young some much-needed protection with 1st round left tackle Monroe Freeling. They acted like a team that feels it is close to a serious run. The Chicago Bears obviously feel the same way. There is a serious possibility that these two teams could end up fighting for a playoff spot a few months from now.
So it may not be a divisional game, but a win against the Panthers would put a crucial tiebreaker in the Bears’ back pocket as they embark on their long season. That is why every game matters. If Chicago wants everybody to take them seriously, it starts with beating quality opponents in their own buildings. Carolina, like other NFC teams, will be eager to knock the Bears off their perch. Conversely, they will want to prove that last year wasn’t a fluke. It should be a fun one.
