CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Ben Johnson said he slept well Saturday night at the Bears' team hotel, sensing that quarterback Caleb Williams was more than ready for the season opener.
Chicago's coach had good instincts.
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Chicago Bears cornerback Malik Muhammad (24) reacts after a play during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (30) scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
Chicago Bears wide receiver Jahdae Walker (9) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (4) scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) runs to score a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, looked like a league MVP candidate on Sunday, throwing for 269 yards and two touchdowns and running for 65 yards and two more scores as the Bears trounced the Carolina Panthers 59-37 in the highest-scoring season opener in NFL history.
“I could kind of tell (Saturday) night when we did our quarterback meeting one last time that he was just on top of it,” Johnson said. “Everything he was rattling out, like where my eyes need to be and what I’m thinking. ... So I went to bed and just slept really well.”
Johnson's prolific Bears broke a franchise record for points in an opener, a mark that had stood since 1948, when Chicago hung 45 points on Green Bay at Wrigley Field.
The 59 points were the most allowed by the Panthers since they began play as an expansion team in 1995.
D'Andre Swift, who received a $33.75 million contract extension earlier this week, paid immediate dividends for the Bears, rushing for 124 yards on 18 carries with three touchdowns, while Kyle Monangai had 100 yards on the ground, including a 61-yard touchdown burst in the second half.
“He's had a good week, huh?” Johnson said of Swift. “He earned (the contract), every step of it. We really value what he brings to the table. He has had a great spring and I don't think anybody in our camp is surprised he is out of the gate in strong fashion.”
It was the fourth-most points in Bears history. The most came in their notorious 73-0 win over Washington in the 1940 NFL title game.
“That's how we want to look each week,” Williams said. “That's who we want to be each week.”
Chicago and Carolina scored eight more points than the previous record of 88 set in Tampa Bay’s 48-40 win over New Orleans in 2018.
Although Carolina's Bryce Young fell to 0-4 in openers, it was by far the best season debut of his career. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for a score.
Jalen Coker, who emerged as Carolina's No. 2 receiver last year, had eight catches for a career-high 138 yards and two TDs.
But the Panthers were done in three turnovers — a muffed punt by Jimmy Horn, a fumble by Tetairoa McMillan fumble and a pick by Young — and a leaky defense that committed untimely penalties.
The Bears put up 552 yards on offense and had 26 first downs. They were 10 of 14 on third-down conversions.
“It was an incredible day by the Bears,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said. “There were some things that we did to give a really good offense more opportunities. They don’t need any more opportunities. They were already creating their own.”
The Bears turned the ball over on their first possession, but quickly recovered and scored seven touchdowns on their next 12 drives, including the final four possessions to close the game.
Williams showed pure command, completing several pinpoint passes while racking up 196 yards through the air in the first half, including a perfectly placed 22-yard touchdown strike to Cole Kmet.
“He couldn't have put ball in a better spot and Cole made a heck of a catch there, too,” Johnson said.
He also showed the elusiveness that makes him hard to contain. He ran for 52 yards and two TDs — including a 29-yard scamper — before the break as the Bears took a 31-24 lead into the locker room.
Chicago's lead might have been bigger had it not been for a questionable decision by Johnson.
With the Bears leading 21-14, Johnson went for it on fourth-and-1 at the Chicago 21, but Williams came up short on a QB sneak.
“I felt pretty about the call,” Johnson said.
In the end, it didn't matter. Mistakes ended the Panthers' hopes in the second half.
After Chuba Hubbard scored his second TD to tie the game at 31-all, Carolina defensive end Derrick Brown was flagged for a late hit on Williams, allowing a drive to continue. That led to Swift's 1-yard TD run.
The Panthers went for it on fourth down near midfield on their next possession but Young couldn't connect with McMillan on a lofted pass down the left sideline. Chicago cashed in on the next play as Monangai broke through a hole in the middle and raced 61 yards for a 45-31 lead — a play that Williams called his favorite of the game.
“That's a crushing thing when you're in that situation when you are midfield and you get a downhill run like that,” Williams said.
On Carolina's next drive, McMillan fumbled, giving the Bears the ball back. Williams cashed in with a scoring strike to a wide-open Jahdea Walker for a 52-31 lead with 6:27 remaining.
Bears: LT Braxton Jones left late in the third quarter with an upper-body injury. CB Tyrique Stevenson injured his shoulder. Neither appeared to be serious.
Panthers: DT Bobby Brown left in the second half with a back injury.
Bears: Host Minnesota next Sunday.
Panthers: At Atlanta next Sunday.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Chicago Bears cornerback Malik Muhammad (24) reacts after a play during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (30) scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
Chicago Bears wide receiver Jahdae Walker (9) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (4) scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) runs to score a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — The governing body of Premier League referees admitted an “error of judgment” after Erling Haaland’s hotly contested goal settled the 199th Manchester derby on Sunday.
That will be of little comfort to Manchester United after a 1-0 defeat to 10-man Manchester City at Old Trafford.
United was enraged after VAR awarded Haaland his winning strike in the 60th minute.
At first, the goal was ruled out for offside, but after VAR review the onfield decision was overturned, sparking a roar of celebration from the away fans, including Oasis' Noel Gallagher.
United's players were incensed because City midfielder Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position during the buildup. The Premier League said the goal was allowed because, despite diving to head the ball, the Argentine did not get a touch before it reached Haaland at the far post.
However, soccer rules state a player is interfering with play when “clearly attempting to play a ball" or “challenging an opponent for the ball.”
The refereeing body that oversees Premier League matches, Pro Ref, said Sunday evening that the VAR “did not recognize the likely impact” of Fernandez’s position and “should have recommended an onfield review.”
Pro Ref said it had made contact with United to acknowledge an “error of judgment” relating to the winning goal.
United defender Lisandro Martinez, who was challenging Fernandez, had called the goal an “injustice” and coach Michael Carrick was also perplexed.
“I just don't get it, I really don't get it,” he said. “It’s worrying, it really is if that’s how the game is seen by those who are officiating."
Asked at the time if he thought he would get a better explanation from the referee's governing body or even an apology, Carrick said, “I look forward to that.”
While acknowledgement of the error came soon afterward, it was too late to prevent United falling to a second defeat of the season after four games.
City's fans may have felt justice was done after Phil Foden was sent off in the 23rd for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes.
Foden and City's players remonstrated on the field and coach Enzo Maresca said Fernandes should also have been shown a red for the altercation.
With an extra man United hit the post either side of halftime - first from Marcus Rashford's long-range free kick and then Kobbie Mainoo's low shot from the edge of the area.
It was Maresca's first derby since taking over from Pep Guardiola at the end of last season and victory extended City's 100% start to the season. City moved level on points with defending champion Arsenal at the top of the standings.
“The red card changed the plan of the game, but credit to the players and their effort, spirit and togetherness was brilliant,” Maresca said. “It is already an abnormal situation when you are able to win a game with 10 players. It is fantastic. Then this game is a derby so it is even better.”
United is 13th in the standings with just one win from four games.
Carrick's team plays Brighton in the English League Cup on Wednesday, having been knocked out of the competition at the earliest stage against fourth division Grimsby last season. United plays winless Fulham next weekend before the international break.
“We haven’t got as many points as we would have liked at this point, for sure. There’s no getting away from that. But we don’t need a break or a restart. We’ve just got to move on and get winning again,” Carrick said.
Haaland's goal makes him the outright top scorer in the Manchester derby in the Premier League with nine.
He moved ahead of Wayne Rooney and Sergio Aguero, both on eight.
He has reached that total in eight games, compared to Rooney's 21 appearances and Aguero's 13.
It was Haaland's sixth goal of the season in all competitions.
“You can see he’s happy, not only today, even day by day in the training sessions,” Maresca said. "As much as we keep Erling happy, we are all happy. How do you say in English, ‘happy wife, happy life?’
“Happy Erling, happy life.”
City extended its record as the team to have won more games against United at Old Trafford in the Premier League than any other opponent, with 10 victories.
Liverpool is second with eight wins. Arsenal and Chelsea have six.
Coventry's nightmare start to the season continued with a 5-0 home loss to Brighton.
After running away at the top of the Championship last season it has been a rude awakening for Frank Lampard's team since its return to England's top flight.
Four straight defeats leaves Coventry rooted to the foot of the standings without a goal and a goal difference of minus 10.
Brighton led 1-0 at halftime through Charalampos Kostoulas before going on a scoring spree after the break with goals from Malick Yalcouye, Pascal Gross, Lewis Dunk and Yasin Ayari.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
Manchester City's Erling Haaland, left, Manchester City's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Manchester City's Ruben Dias celebrate after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Manchester City supporter Noel Gallagher in the waits stands after the English Premier League soccer match against Manchester United in Manchester, England, Sunday Sept. 13, 2026. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick walks on the pitch at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the English Premier League soccer match against Manchester United in Manchester, England, Sunday Sept. 13, 2026. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Manchester City's Enzo Fernandez, left, kicks the ball past Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez, right, during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo kicks the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Manchester City's Erling Haaland, right, challenges for the ball with Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Coventry City's Jay Dasilva, centre right, and teammates applaud to fans after the English Premier League soccer match between Coventry City and Brighton and Hove Albion in Coventry, England, Sunday Sept. 13, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
Coventry City manager Frank Lampard, centre right, reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Coventry City and Brighton and Hove Albion in Coventry, England, Sunday Sept. 13, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
Brighton and Hove Albion's Malick Yalcouye, left, celebrates with Pascal Gross after scoring their side's second goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Coventry City and Brighton and Hove Albion in Coventry, England, Sunday Sept. 13, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
