Bears’ offense erupts as QB Caleb Williams, RB D’Andre Swift power them to 59-37 win over Panthers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Get ready for a season at the speedway.

The Bears’ offense was historically prodigious and overwhelming, and it’s just getting started. They raced away from the Panthers 59-37 to begin the season Sunday with a franchise record 552 yards and the most points they’ve scored in an opener.

It was their third-most points all-time, falling just short of the 61 they put up in 1965 and ’80.

Nearly every part of coach Ben Johnson’s offense was firing at full force, starting with quarterback Caleb Williams and running back D’Andre Swift, and it was more than enough on a day when the Bears’ defense sputtered throughout.

Those lapses — there were many — contributed to this being the highest-scoring Bears game ever, but that’s a topic for another time.

They won because the coach who promised to enliven their offense and the quarterback who set out to create history did exactly that against the Panthers.

Williams was as advertised after an offseason of hype as he completed 21 of 29 passes for 269 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers for a 124.1 passer rating. He also ran for 65 yards, including touchdown scrambles of nine and 29 yards.

He did it all, even meeting Johnson’s demand of completing 70% of his passes at 72.4%.

Swift, fresh off signing a three-year, $33.8 million contract extension, rewarded the Bears with 124 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries. The Panthers finally surrendered when he ran through them for a 28-yard touchdown to put the Bears ahead 59-37 with 3:40 left. They pulled starting quarterback Bryce Young for their final drive.

The offense’s surge was especially impressive given the Bears’ nightmarish start to the game. In the first four minutes, they committed three penalties, lost a fumble and trailed 7-0.

From there, though, they scored on 9 of 12 full possessions.