For the first time, former No. 1 overall picks from consecutive drafts will start against one another when Caleb Williams and the Bears take on Bryce Young and the Panthers Sunday in Charlotte. Williams was the first overall selection in 2024 and Young was the first overall selection in 2023. Each quarterback and his respective team is looking to prove their playoff appearance in 2025 was no fluke.
Winners of 11 games and the NFC North in 2025, the Chicago Bears enter Year 2 under head coach Ben Johnson while the Carolina Panthers despite finishing 8-9 are looking to build on their first NFC South title since 2015.
Ben Johnson reinvigorated the franchise and elevated the play of QB Caleb Williams as the Bears won their first division title in eight years and won a playoff game for the first time in nearly two decades in 2025. As Johnson did with Williams in Chicago, Dave Canales drove the development of his quarterback, Bryce Young who threw for over 3000 yards for the first time in his career as the Panthers earned a playoff berth for the first time in nearly a decade.
Storylines to watch include the play in the trenches. Williams was sacked just 24 times last season. If he is kept upright, he will test the mettle of a revamped Panthers’ defense. While Bryce Young’s season was not as prolific, he showed flashes that he can be a winning quarterback in the NFL. The Bears are not expected to have a stingy defense, but Carolina has suffered injuries along the offensive line already this year. In addition, Chicago excelled at generating takeaways last season. Young’s ability to avoid sacks and costly turnovers will be pivotal for the Panthers.
Let’s dive into the numbers and see if we can’t find a sweat or two.
NBC Sports has all the latest info and analysis you need, including how to tune in for kickoff, odds from DraftKings, player news and updates, and of course our predictions and best bets for the game from our staff of experts.
Game details and how to watch Bears vs. Panthers
- Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
- Time: 1PM ET
- Site: Bank of America Stadium
- City: Charlotte, NC
- TV/Streaming: FOX
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Latest Game Odds for Bears vs. Panthers
The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:
- Moneyline: Chicago Bears (-170), Carolina Panthers (+142)
- Spread: Bears -3
- Total: 47.5
Money on the Panthers has moved this line from the Bears favored by 2.5 to the Monsters of the Midway favored by 3. Bettors expect points as the Total has shot up from 44.5 to 47.5.
Peacock offers one of the most comprehensive live sports streaming lineups available today, bringing together the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, Premier League, NCAA football, NCAA basketball, golf, motorsports, and major global sporting events in a single service.
Rotoworld Bet Best Bets
Expert picks & predictions for Bears vs. Panthers
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NFL calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, betting trends, and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Sunday’s game between the Bears and the Panthers:
- Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
- Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Bears -3.0.
- Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Total UNDER 47.5.
Bears vs. Panthers betting trends and stats
- The Bears were 12-7 against the spread this season
- The Panthers were 11-7 against the spread last season
- Chicago was 9-9-1 to the OVER last season
- Carolina was 8-10 to the OVER last season
Quarterback matchup for Bears vs. Panthers
- Bears: Caleb Williams
2025 Statistics: 17GP, 3942 Passing Yards, 27 TDs, 7 INTs, 58.2 QBR - Panthers: Bryce Young
2025 Statistics: 16GP, 3011 Passing Yards, 23 TDs, 11 INTs, 47.6 QBR
Top Playmakers: Bears vs. Panthers
Chicago Bears
- WR Luther Burden III
2025 Statistics: 15GP, 47 Receptions on 60 Targets for 652 Yds, 2 TDs - TE Colston Loveland
2025 Statistics: 16GP, 58 Receptions on 82 Targets for 713 Yds, 6 TDs - RB D’Andre Swift
2025 Statistics: 16GP, 223 carries for 1087 Yds, 9 TDs
Carolina Panthers
- WR Tetairoa McMillan
2025 Statistics: 17GP, 70 receptions on 122 targets for 1014 Yds, 7 TDs - WR Jalen Coker
2025 Statistics: 11GP, 33 receptions on 43 targets for 394 Yds, 3 TDs - RB Chuba Hubbard
2025 Statistics: 15GP, 134 carries for 511 Yds, 1 TDs
Bears vs. Panthers Injury Update
Chicago Bears
- WR Rome Odunze (calf) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
- QB Tyson Bagent (back) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
- FS Xavier Woods (groin) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
- OT Ozzy Trapilo (undisclosed) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
Carolina Panthers
- RB Jonathan Brooks (groin) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
- LB Patrick Jones II (back) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest and tools for the NFL, including game predictions, player props, futures, and trends!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
