The Bears travel to Bank of America Stadium to open the 2026 NFL season against the Panthers, kicking off Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Kalshi traders have Chicago at 60% to win, with Carolina priced at 40%.
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When and where do the Bears play the Panthers in Week 1 of the 2026 season?
Kickoff is Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1:00 p.m. ET at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
Who is favored to win the Bears vs. Panthers season opener?
Chicago is the favorite on the road. The Bears went 11-6 in 2025, winning the NFC North and a playoff game over the Packers in Ben Johnson's first season as head coach, while quarterback Caleb Williams set the franchise's single-season passing record with 3,942 yards. The one health note to watch is receiver Rome Odunze (calf), who is day-to-day; Johnson has said he is hopeful Odunze plays.
Carolina enters banged up. The Panthers won the NFC South on a tiebreaker at 8-9 and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2017, pushing the Rams to the final possession of a 34-31 wild-card loss. But this week's injury report is one of the longest in the league: starting right tackle Taylor Moton is out with a blood clot, joined by starting edge rusher Nic Scourton (ACL, season-ending), receiver Chris Brazzell II (LCL, season-ending), and starting outside linebacker Pat Jones II, who has been ruled out with a back injury. Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu, who missed last week's preseason game with a knee issue, returned to full practice this week and is expected to play.
Kalshi Power rankings
According to Kalshi's 2026 NFL market-implied power rankings, the Bears enter as the No. 14 team in the league with a Power Score of 31.5 and a 50% playoff qualification price, while the Panthers rank 26th with a Power Score of 24.5 and a 28% playoff price, a 12-spot gap heading into Chicago's Week 1 trip to Charlotte.
What the Kalshi market says
Kalshi's contracts trade in cents, and each one pays out $1 if the outcome happens. A contract trading at 60 cents reflects a market-implied 60% probability.
As of this writing, the winner market has the Bears at 60% and the Panthers at 40%.
What is the point spread for Bears vs. Panthers in Week 1?
Kalshi traders have the Bears favored to win by more than 3.5 points at 44%.
What is the projected point total?
Kalshi traders have the game going over 46.5 combined points at 52%.
What is the biggest storyline in the Bears vs. Panthers season opener?
Carolina's injury report is the headline. Losing a starting tackle and a starting edge rusher for the opener, on top of a receiver already lost for the season, is a lot for a team trying to build on the Panthers' 2025 playoff run.
What are the Bears' and Panthers' expectations entering the 2026 season?
Bears: Chicago finished 11-6 in 2025, winning the NFC North and a playoff game over Green Bay in Ben Johnson's debut season, while Caleb Williams set the franchise's single-season passing record. The Bears enter 2026 as a trendy dark-horse pick in the NFC.
Panthers: Carolina finished 8-9 in 2025, winning the NFC South on a tiebreaker and reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2017 under quarterback Bryce Young, who posted career highs in passing yards and touchdowns. The offseason brought upgrades on defense, headlined by linebacker Devin Lloyd and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, but a rash of Week 1 injuries complicates the start to a season meant to build on that progress.
Conclusion
Kalshi traders currently have the Bears as favorites on the road, with Carolina's injury report the biggest swing factor before kickoff. Kalshi's prices for Bears vs. Panthers will keep moving as the week goes.
What are the score predictions for the Bears vs. Panthers game? Kalshi traders have the game going over 46.5 combined points at 52%, as of this writing.
What is the spread for the Bears vs. Panthers game? Kalshi traders have the Bears favored to win by more than 3.5 points at 44%, as of this writing.
Who is favored to win, the Bears or the Panthers? Kalshi traders have the Bears favored, at 60% to the Panthers' 40%.
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