Chicago Bears at Carolina Panthers – Where to Watch, Stream Info, TV Channel, and Live Updates (September 13, 2026)

Two teams with unfinished business open their seasons against each other at Bank of America Stadium, and the gap between their ambitions makes for a genuinely compelling watch. Chicago arrives as defending NFC North champions, coming off an 11-6 campaign that ended a division title drought stretching back to 2018. The Bears are not a team coasting on momentum — they are a franchise that has rebuilt deliberately under general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson, now entering Johnson’s second year with expectations that have shifted from hopeful to serious.

Carolina is operating from a different kind of pressure. The Panthers finished 8-9 last season yet claimed the NFC South title — a division crown that raised questions as much as it answered them. Head coach Dave Canales and GM Dan Morgan are now tasked with proving that finish was a foundation, not a fluke. Eight consecutive losing seasons loom over this franchise, and the only way to put that history to rest is to win games that matter against teams that are genuinely good.

This is exactly that kind of game.

Chicago Bears at Carolina Panthers Game Information

Game Date: September 13, 2026
Game Time: 01:00 PM ET
TV Channel: FOX
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Live Stream: Fubo (free trial)

Game Preview

Chicago sits second in the NFC North entering the season, with the division title defense framing every game on their schedule. The Bears last repeated as NFC North champions in the 2005-2006 seasons, and that drought gives this opener real weight — every early result shapes the path back.

Carolina, meanwhile, leads the NFC South at 0-0 but carries the burden of proving last year’s division title was earned. For a team trying to end eight straight losing seasons, a strong start against a legitimate NFC contender would send a message that the rebuild under Canales and Morgan has genuine traction.

Carolina Panthers Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 0-0
Rankings: #15 in Conference, #4 in Division

Chicago Bears Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 0-0
Rankings: #6 in Conference, #2 in Division

What to Watch For

Without player statistics on hand, the broader competitive frames carry the weight here. For Chicago, the central question is whether Ben Johnson’s offense — which helped drive an 11-6 turnaround in his first season — can sustain that production against a Panthers defense that has had a full offseason to prepare for it. Second-year head coaches with strong debut seasons face a different kind of scrutiny, and how Johnson’s unit performs in a road opener against a division winner will tell us something real about this team’s ceiling.

For Carolina, the pressure falls on Dave Canales to show that his system produces consistent results rather than a single fortunate season. The Panthers went 8-9 and still won their division — which means they know how to survive, but surviving and competing are different things. A win here, against a Bears team with genuine NFC aspirations, would do more for Carolina’s credibility than any preseason projection. That tension — between a team defending something earned and a team trying to prove something real — is what makes this matchup worth watching from the first snap.

Carolina Panthers Injury Report

Patrick Jones II – Back (Did Not Participate In Practice)
Bobby Brown III – Back (Full Participation In Practice)
Jonathon Brooks – Groin (Full Participation In Practice)

Chicago Bears Injury Report

Tyson Bagent – Back (Did Not Participate In Practice)
Ozzy Trapilo – Knee (Limited Participation In Practice)
Rome Odunze – Leg (Limited Participation In Practice)
Grady Jarrett – Rest (Full Participation In Practice)
Joe Thuney – Rest (Full Participation In Practice)
Xavier Woods – Groin (Limited Participation In Practice)

Carolina Panthers Upcoming 2026 Schedule

September 13, 2026 vs Chicago Bears
September 20, 2026 at Atlanta Falcons
September 27, 2026 at Cleveland Browns
October 04, 2026 vs Detroit Lions
October 18, 2026 at Philadelphia Eagles
October 25, 2026 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
October 29, 2026 at Green Bay Packers
November 08, 2026 vs Denver Broncos
November 15, 2026 at New Orleans Saints
November 22, 2026 vs Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears Upcoming 2026 Schedule

September 13, 2026 at Carolina Panthers
September 20, 2026 vs Minnesota Vikings
September 28, 2026 vs Philadelphia Eagles
October 04, 2026 vs New York Jets
October 11, 2026 at Green Bay Packers
October 18, 2026 at Atlanta Falcons
October 22, 2026 vs New England Patriots
November 02, 2026 at Seattle Seahawks
November 08, 2026 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
November 22, 2026 vs New Orleans Saints

Our game previews are produced programmatically using real-time data via Sportradar and AI writing tools. Articles are regularly reviewed for accuracy before publication.