Swift scores three as Bears beat Panthers 59-37 in record Week 1 shootout

Chicago opened its NFL season with a 59-37 victory at Carolina on Sunday, with D'Andre Swift scoring three rushing touchdowns as the teams combined for 96 points. BBC Sport reported that it was the highest-scoring Week 1 game in league history and the Bears' biggest points total since 1980.

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The final margin concealed how close the contest remained well into the second half. According to the BBC's report, the teams were tied at 31-31 midway through the third quarter. Chicago then outscored Carolina 28-6 over the remainder of the game, turning that deadlock into a 22-point road win.

Swift finished with 124 yards on 18 carries and added a 10-yard reception, according to RotoWire's report carried by CBS Sports. His first two touchdowns came on one-yard runs in the first and third quarters. The running back completed his three-score afternoon with a 28-yard touchdown run on Chicago's final possession.

Caleb Williams contributed through both the passing and running games. CBS Sports reported that the quarterback threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns while adding 65 rushing yards and two more scores. Kyle Monangai also reached 100 rushing yards as the Bears accumulated 291 on the ground, giving Chicago two running backs in triple figures.

Swift's last touchdown also created an unusual statistical milestone. Chicago led 52-37 before his run with 3:40 remaining, CBS Sports reported. The eventual 59-37 result had never previously occurred in an NFL game, making it the league's 1,096th distinct final score. It was Chicago's first involvement in such a result since a 54-11 defeat by Philadelphia in 2013.

The win begins Ben Johnson's second season after he guided Chicago to its first division title in seven years, according to BBC Sport. The Bears now return to Soldier Field for three consecutive home games. Their official schedule lists Minnesota on September 20, Philadelphia on September 28 and the New York Jets on October 4, before a trip to Green Bay.