NFL Analyst Isn't Worried About Panthers Defense Despite Week 1 Trouble

The Carolina Panthers dropped their season opener to the Chicago Bears, despite putting up 37 points in the game.

The story from the contest was the Panthers' defense, with the Bears dropping 59 points on Carolina. The Panthers couldn't stop Chicago at all in the game, seeing the hope of a Week 1 win disappear quickly in the second half.

Chicago ran for 291 yards and six touchdowns against the Panthers, showing more problems for this team. The Panthers tried to fix these issues over the offseason, but so far, nothing worked in Week 1.

Carolina invested heavily in the defense over the offseason, adding star pass rusher Jaelan Phillips on a massive four-year, $120 million deal. The team also signed linebacker Devin Lloyd to a three-year, $42 million contract, while also bringing in linebacker Bobby Okereke on a one-year deal.

Additionally, defensive tackle Lee Hunter comes onto the roster from the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, adding more depth. But against the Bears, it didn't matter much.

To his credit, Phillips played well in his Panthers debut, recording two total tackles and one sack. But it wasn't enough for the Panthers to give up almost 60 points in the season-opener.

After the loss, NFL analyst Moe Moton of Bleacher Report took a look at the Panthers' defensive struggles. However, Moton wasn't overly concerned with them; instead, focusing on the Bears' offense being that explosive.

"Carolina's 59-37 loss says more about Chicago's offense than its defensive unit. Last season, the Panthers' defense ranked 27th in scoring and total yards. They needed to add potential upgrades on that side of the ball. Carolina's defense will improve, but it faced a juggernaut last Sunday," Moton wrote.

Chicago is one of the best offensive teams in the league, and Week 1 is always a weird time for teams. The Panthers were still trying to get their legs under them, and taking on a high-powered unit like the Bears didn't give them any help.

While the 59 points are a cause for some concern, the Panthers won't be this bad again. Carolina will make adjustments moving forward, and this is likely the worst that fans will see from the Panthers.

And on the bright side, the offense looked great, which was a genuine worry entering the NFL season. The Panthers will try to regroup in Week 2 as they travel to take on the Atlanta Falcons.