Week 1 recap: Chicago Bears pull away for a 59-37 opening win behind a dominant ground game

Bears running back D'Andre Swift breaks away for a touchdown run against the Panthers in the fourth quarter Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Bears running back D'Andre Swift trots into the end zone on a rushing touchdown against the Panthers in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Bears running back Kyle Monangai (25) rushes in the fourth quarter against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Bears running back Kyle Monangai, right, is hugged by tight end Cole Kmet after rushing for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Bears fans cheer for their team after a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers in the fourth quarter Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) crosses the end zone for a rushing touchdown in the second quarter against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) rushes the ball to the one-yard line against Carolina Panthers safety Nick Scott (21) in the fourth quarter Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams celebrates his touchdown run against the Carolina Panthers in the first quarter Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Bears tight end Cole Kmet makes a touchdown reception against Panthers linebacker Devin Lloyd in the second quarter Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet celebrates a touchdown reception against the Carolina Panthers in the second quarter Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams runs for a touchdown against the Panthers in the first quarter Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson looks on during the game against the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) throws downfield to wide receiver Rome Odunze (15) in the first quarter against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (15) comes down with a reception as Panthers cornerback Will Lee III (24) defends in the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Bears wide receiver Jahdae Walker celebrates after a special teams play resulting in a turnover in the second quarter against the Panthers on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Bears defensive end Montez Sweat (98) makes a gesture after sacking Panthers quarterback Bryce Young in the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards tackles Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard short of the end zone in the second quarter Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Bears wide receiver Kaden Davis (81) recovers a fumble on a Panthers punt return in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) breaks free for a rushing touchdown in the second quarter against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (10) makes a reception ahead of Carolina Panthers safety Nick Scott (21) in the second quarter Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Bears defensive end Montez Sweat rushes against Panthers guard Robert Hunt on Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Bears fans celebrate after a touchdown from running back Kyle Monangai in the third quarter against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Bears wide receiver Jahdae Walker catches a touchdown pass against the Carolina Panthers in the fourth quarter Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Bears fans cheer for their team after the win over the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Bears wide receiver Jahdae Walker (9) celebrates his touchdown against the Carolina Panthers in the fourth quarter Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos (8) makes a field goal over Carolina Panthers cornerback Chau Smith-Wade (26) in the second quarter Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Bears fans chant, "Green Bay sucks!" as a Panthers fan shows disappointment in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard holds off Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson while driving for the end zone in the second quarter on Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. (15) loses his helmet on a kickoff return against the Chicago Bears in the second quarter Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (4) celebrates a long run ahead of Carolina Panthers cornerback Will Lee III (24) in the first quarter Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, right, hugs Panthers quarterback Bryce Young after a 59-37 Bears win at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) and teammates take the field to face the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Bears guard Joe Thuney celebrates after a 59-37 win over the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

A flag is held before the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers play Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

A Bears fan wearing a foam cheese grater hat makes a facial expression while walking past a worker before a game against the Panthers on Sept. 13, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)