Bears 59, Panthers 37: The Highest-Scoring Season Opener in NFL History

The Chicago Bears beat the Carolina Panthers 59-37 in front of 72,597 people at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, and the two teams combined for 96 points, the most ever scored in a season opener in NFL history. The final score has never occurred before in a regular-season NFL game.

It was not a blowout that built slowly. Carolina tied the game three separate times, at 21, at 24 and at 31, and each time Chicago scored again within minutes to go back in front. The third tie didn't hold either: the Bears answered with back-to-back third-quarter touchdowns, a 1-yard run and a 61-yard run, and did not look back.

The Numbers

Quarterback Bryce Young threw for 361 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, and added a rushing touchdown on a scramble that tied the game 21-21 in the second quarter. It's the second-most passing yards of his career and the second-most in a Panthers season opener, behind only Cam Newton's 422 yards against Arizona in 2011. Young's first-quarter touchdown pass to running back Chuba Hubbard was the 50th of his career, making him the fourth quarterback in franchise history to reach that mark, joining Newton, Jake Delhomme and Steve Beuerlein.

Wide receiver Jalen Coker caught eight passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns, all career highs. His 51-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter was the second-longest of Young's career and the second-longest reception of Coker's. By the team's own count, Coker is the first Panther with at least 135 receiving yards and two touchdown catches in a game since Steve Smith did it in Week 1, 2011, also against Arizona.

Carolina's 37 points and 478 total net yards are both the most in a season-opening game in team history. The Panthers' 24 first-half points are their most in any half since a Week 16 game against Detroit in 2022, and it still wasn't enough to lead at the break: Chicago scored with 22 seconds left in the second quarter to go up 31-24 at halftime.

Chicago's Caleb Williams threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two more, and D'Andre Swift carried 18 times for 124 yards and three touchdowns. Carolina turned the ball over three times, one interception and two lost fumbles, and was flagged 11 times for 84 yards to Chicago's 12 for 57.

Head coach Dave Canales did not let the turnovers carry the whole explanation. "What I do know is 17 points off turnovers doesn't equal 59 points," he said afterward. "We could have helped that. We could have not extended drives with penalties. There were some things that we gave a really good offense more opportunities. They don't need any more opportunities. They were creating their own."

Three Debuts and a Missing Answer

Linebacker Devin Lloyd, who signed with Carolina in free agency this past March, led the team with 13 combined tackles in his Panthers debut. Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips recorded three tackles and a sack, the 29th of his career, in his own debut. Cornerback Will Lee III recovered a fumble forced by linebacker Bobby Okereke on Chicago's opening drive, the third player in franchise history to record a defensive fumble recovery in his NFL debut, according to the team.

Right tackle Monroe Freeling, the club's first-round pick in April, made his first career start. Outside linebacker Princely Umanmielen, starting in place of the inactive Patrick Jones II, recorded the second full sack of his career.

Asked what went wrong on defense, Canales did not offer a diagnosis. "We'll see," he said. "I got to look at the film and just make sure I see who is responsible for what and the adjustments ... I don't want to make any declarations about anything until I get to actually watch the film."

Young drew no distinction between the offense's 37 points and the final score. "We didn't play good enough in any phases of the game to win the game today, so we have to all collectively take that," he said. Asked about the frustration of scoring 37 and still losing, he was flatter still: "The Panthers lost today. You know, we're a team. There is no one or two sides. Yeah, there is no consolation prizes. We didn't get the job done today."

What's Next

Carolina opens the season 0-1. The roster built at the end of August produced three season debuts on defense and a new starter at right tackle Sunday; none of it changed the final margin. Canales holds his next media availability Monday afternoon, and the club's next injury report follows later this week.

The full schedule has Carolina at Atlanta next. The preseason went 3-1, including a win over Arizona. The regular season does not carry a record over from August.