The 2026 NFL season kicks off with the Chicago Bears heading to Charlotte to play the Carolina Panthers. This game will take place at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, September 13, at 1:00 PM. Fans can catch the action on FOX as both teams look to start their campaigns on a strong note.
Ben Johnson leads the Bears as head coach, with Press Taylor as the offensive coordinator and Dennis Allen handling the defense. On the other side, Dave Canales takes charge of the Panthers, alongside offensive coordinator Brad Idzik and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. The Panthers enter as underdogs with a moneyline of +131, while the Bears are favored at -155.
Bears Preview
The Chicago Bears are coming off a mixed preseason with two wins and one loss. They defeated the Tennessee Titans 24-15 in their most recent game, showing strong passing with 291 yards. Zavion Thomas stood out with 140 receiving yards and a touchdown.
The Bears’ offense was strong last season, ranking 6th in offensive yards. They were particularly effective in rushing, ranking 3rd with 144.2 yards per game. Caleb Williams was a key player, leading with 3,942 passing yards and 27 touchdowns.
The Bears face injury challenges as they head into the season. Key players like Ray-Ray McCloud III and Jonathan Garvin are out for several games. Others, including Jaylon Johnson and Elijah Hicks, are listed as questionable.
Panthers Preview
The Carolina Panthers had a productive preseason. They secured wins against the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Arizona Cardinals. Their only loss came against the Buffalo Bills. In these games, the Panthers showed strong passing and rushing capabilities.
During the preseason, the Panthers’ offense was consistent. Against the Jaguars, they had 238 passing yards and 147 rushing yards. Their defense also performed well, limiting turnovers and forcing several from opponents. Key players like Kyle Trask and Miles Davis contributed to the team’s success.
In the regular season, the Panthers had room for improvement on both sides of the ball. Last season, they ranked 26th in offensive yards per game. Their defense was better, ranking 15th in opponent scoring. The team will look to build on this and improve their standings.
Betting Prediction
The Bears have a strong offense, ranking 8th in points per game with 25.9. They also rank 6th in total offensive yards per game. This shows that they can move the ball effectively and score consistently.
The Panthers struggle on offense, ranking 24th in points per game with 18.3. They also rank 26th in total offensive yards per game. This indicates that they may find it hard to keep up with the Bears’ scoring ability.
Defensively, the Bears have some challenges, but they excel at forcing turnovers, ranking 1st in takeaways. The Panthers’ defense ranks 15th in points allowed per game. Given these stats, the Bears are likely to cover the spread.
- Pick: Bears -2.5 (-122)
