The video above is a live stream of WBTV and affiliated programming, and may not be directly related to the article below.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - The Carolina Panthers lost their season-opening game for the fifth year in a row on Sunday, thanks to a historically awful defensive performance.
The visiting Chicago Bears scored the second-most points ever in a Week 1 game, as they blew Carolina out, 59-37.
Chicago’s 59 points were the most ever allowed by the Panthers in any game in their 32-year history. Also telling of just how bad the Panthers’ defense was is that the Bears became the first team in 104 years to run for six touchdowns in a season opener.
The Bears had 14 drives and scored on nine of them, including eight touchdowns. Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams passed for two and ran for two scores, while running backs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai both had 100-yard rushing games and combined for four touchdowns. In all, the Bears offense racked up a whopping 552 total yards.
Meanwhile, the Panthers offense was good. Very good, in fact. But nowhere near as good as Chicago’s.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young accounted for four total touchdowns -- three passing and one rushing -- and racked up 371 total yards. Those numbers weren’t the product of garbage time, either. Carolina scored 31 of their 37 points in the game’s first 36 minutes, and when the Panthers got to 31, the score was tied.
---> Also Read:Caleb Williams and Bears trounce Panthers 59-37 in highest-scoring season opener in NFL history
Carolina was plagued by three turnovers, two of which were particularly untimely. The first came in the form of a Jimmy Horn muffed punt, which led to a Bears field goal. The second turnover came right before halftime when Young simply tried to make something happen heading into the break and Chicago intercepted his pass.
The third turnover was perhaps the most crushing, when wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan fumbled after a long catch and run while the Panthers were trying to rally in the fourth quarter.
Despite the Panthers’ strong offensive showing, head coach Dave Canales said in his postgame press conference that his team wasn’t good enough in any phase of the game.
“We didn’t play good enough in any phase of the game to win today, so we have to all collectively take that,” Canales said.
Moments later he seemingly conceded that 37 points should have been enough to at least be in position to win, but then seconds later said the offensive performance wasn’t good enough to “beat this [Bears] team.”
“Offensively speaking, like shoot, we just have to do whatever it takes to win,” Canales said. “We can’t take moral victories on points scored or different things.”
Next up for the Panthers is a road game against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. That matchup is scheduled for next Sunday, Sept. 20 at 1 p.m.
The Panthers allowed the most points ever in their Week 1 matchup with the Bears.
The Panthers allowed the most points ever in their Week 1 matchup with the Bears.