The Chicago Bears opened the 2026 NFL season with one of the wildest games in recent league history. Chicago defeated the Carolina Panthers 59-37 on Sunday, producing an offensive explosion that put the Bears in the NFL record book for a rather unusual reason.
Bears become first team to accomplish this
According to OptaSTATS, the Bears became the first team in NFL history to score at least 50 points while allowing at least 30 points in their first game of a season.
That perfectly captures just how strange Sunday’s game was.
Chicago’s offense was nearly unstoppable, scoring 59 points and piling up 550 yards of total offense. Caleb Williams accounted for 334 yards and four touchdowns, throwing for 269 yards and two scores while adding 65 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
The Bears also received a monster performance from D’Andre Swift, who rushed for 124 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries. Kyle Monangai added another 100 rushing yards, including a 61-yard touchdown.
In total, Chicago scored eight touchdowns.
A historic day for Ben Johnson’s offense
The 59 points were also the most the Bears have ever scored in a season opener, surpassing the previous franchise record of 45 points set in 1948. Only the 1973 Atlanta Falcons, who scored 62 points in their opener, have scored more in a Week 1 game.
That makes the performance even more impressive considering the Bears were facing a Carolina team that won the NFC South in 2025.
Of course, there is one obvious concern.
While Chicago’s offense was spectacular, the defense gave up 37 points and allowed Bryce Young to throw for 361 yards and three touchdowns. Carolina actually tied the game at 31-31 early in the third quarter before the Bears finally pulled away.
Still, head coach Ben Johnson couldn’t have asked for a better offensive debut to begin his second season in Chicago. The Bears didn’t just win their opener—they made NFL history while doing it.
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