- Matchup: Chicago Bears vs Carolina Panthers
- Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
- Venue: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
- Broadcast: FOX
- Betting Odds: Panthers +2.5
- Point Total: 47
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Bank of America Stadium will be the battleground for the Carolina Panthers (coming off an 8-9 season) as they aim to topple the Chicago Bears (11-6 last year) this Sunday. The Bears are entering as favorites, with a spread of 2.5 points, while the over/under is set at 47.
Concluding their previous season with an 11-6 record, the Chicago Bears faced the Los Angeles Rams in their last game, suffering a narrow defeat, 20-17. D’Andre Swift led the Bears’ rushing attack, recording 76 yards on 19 carries (averaging 4.0 yards per carry). Colston Loveland showcased impressive stats with 56 yards from 4 catches, averaging 14.0 yards per catch. Quarterback Caleb Williams completed 23 of 42 passes for 257 yards and 2 touchdowns, although he also threw 3 interceptions, resulting in a QB rating of 59.3. Chicago’s defense yielded 111 rushing yards on 31 attempts, averaging 3.6 yards per rush. In pass defense, the Bears allowed 20 completions on 42 attempts for a total of 229 yards, achieving a completion rate of 47.6%. As the game concluded, the Bears executed 81 plays for 417 total yards, which included 39 rushing attempts netting 160 yards and an average of 4.1 yards per carry.
In terms of offensive performance, the Bears averaged 25.9 points per game last season. They excelled in the ground game, ranking 3rd in the league with an average of 144.5 rushing yards per game, accumulating a total of 6,282 yards throughout the season. The Bears achieved 190 first downs and were penalized 120 times for 970 yards. They turned the ball over 11 times, including 7 interceptions and 4 fumbles. Chicago scored 28 passing touchdowns and 19 rushing touchdowns last year.
Defensively, the Bears ranked 23rd in the league, allowing 24.4 points per game. They gave up 5.0 yards per rush, averaging 134.5 rushing yards per game. In passing defense, Chicago permitted 3,863 yards, ranking 22nd in the NFL, allowing 227.2 passing yards per game with a completion rate against of 66.6%. Overall, the Bears conceded a total of 361.8 yards per game, placing them 29th in the league. They allowed 32 passing touchdowns and 15 rushing touchdowns, totaling 2,287 rushing yards over the season.
Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers concluded their season with an 8-9 record. In their closing game, they faced the Los Angeles Rams, losing 34-31. Quarterback Bryce Young threw for 264 yards, completing 21 of 40 passes with 1 touchdown and a passer rating of 71.2 while also throwing 1 interception. His yards per attempt stood at 6.6. Jalen Coker was a key receiver for the Panthers, catching 9 passes for 134 yards (averaging 14.9 yards per reception). Rusher Chuba Hubbard managed 46 yards on 13 carries, averaging 3.5 yards per attempt. Overall, Carolina accumulated 333 yards on 62 plays (5.4 yards per play). On the ground, they averaged 3.8 yards per attempt, totaling 83 rushing yards on 22 carries. The Panthers’ defense allowed 29 rushing attempts for 116 yards (4.0 yards per carry) while their passing defense had a completion percentage allowed of 57.1%, ceding 295 yards on 24 of 42 passes.
Last season, the Panthers averaged 295.6 yards per game, ranking them 27th in the league. Their rushing attack averaged 116.3 yards per game, totaling 1,977 rushing yards for the season. The Panthers also recorded 12 interceptions and surrendered 11 fumbles, achieving 170 first downs. Additionally, they were penalized for a combined 762 yards, which ranked them 29th in the league in terms of penalties against their offense. Carolina finished the season with 3,048 passing yards, averaging 179.3 yards per game, placing them 26th in the league. Their offensive scoring output ranked 27th overall, averaging just 18.3 points per game.
Defensively, the Panthers allowed an average of 22.4 points per game, which placed them 15th in the NFL. They conceded 20 passing touchdowns and allowed an average of 203.9 passing yards per game, also ranking 15th overall. On the ground, they allowed a total of 2,096 rushing yards (averaging 123.3 per game) and 20 rushing touchdowns over the season. The Panthers’ defense was on the field for 1,016 plays in total, ranking them 9th in the league for total plays faced. Overall, they garnered 21 takeaways, including 6 forced fumbles and 15 interceptions, allowing a total of 380 points throughout the season.
Who will emerge victorious in this thrilling Bears-Panthers matchup against the spread?
Prediction: Go with the Panthers +2.5
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