Panthers' Defense Shattered in Season Opener | Fayetteville News

The Carolina Panthers’ 2026 season opener was a brutal wake-up call as they surrendered a franchise-record 59 points to the Chicago Bears, who dominated with 291 rushing yards and 269 passing yards from Caleb Williams. Despite Bryce Young’s strong outing—361 yards, 3 TDs, and a rushing score—the defense couldn’t contain Chicago’s onslaught, which included three straight touchdowns early and two more in the third quarter. The Panthers tied it twice but fell behind for good, ending with a 59-37 loss. High hopes from last year’s division title now face serious defensive questions as the team heads into a rebuilding season. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.cbs17.com/sports/carolina-panthers/panthers-defense-disappoints-against-bears-in-record-setting-loss/ More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/31b47a893fa1d4ca Report issues to [email protected].