Bears vs. Panthers Preview for NFL Week 1

The Carolina Panthers are set to host the Chicago Bears on Sunday for their Week 1 NFL matchup, which will be broadcast on FOX.

Both teams are coming off unexpected playoff appearances in 2025, with the Bears winning the NFC North under head coach Ben Johnson and achieving their first playoff victory since 2010. The Bears also made history by recording seven wins after trailing in the final two minutes of games. Meanwhile, the Panthers returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2017, despite a regular season record of 8-9, and secured the NFC South title through a tiebreaker.

Last season, the Panthers struggled offensively, ranking 27th in scoring and total offense, and finished with a -69 point differential, the worst among playoff teams. In response, they invested heavily in free agents this offseason. As the game approaches, the Bears are considered slight underdogs, but there is confidence in their ability to perform well in this opening game.