Panthers Drop in Week 2 NFL Power Rankings After Losing to Bears in Week 1

The Carolina Panthers were blown out by the Chicago Bears at home in Week 1, losing by a final score of 59-37.

Carolina and Chicago were tied at 31 before the Bears -- led by Caleb Williams -- scored 28 more points. 

Bleacher Report dropped the Panthers one spot in its Week 2 NFL power rankings. Carolina was at No. 22 in Week 1. They are now at No. 23. 

Dave Canales' group is one spot ahead of the Las Vegas Raiders (1-0) and one spot behind the New Orleans Saints (0-1). 

The Panthers' defense was destroyed by the Bears' offense in Week 1. Carolina gave up 552 total yards, 261 passing yards and 291 rushing yards to Chicago. 

Bryce Young and the offense actually played very well. They scored 37 points and put up 478 total yards: 353 passing yards and 125 rushing yards. 

Carolina's defense must be better moving forward.

Otherwise, the Panthers will miss the playoffs this season after making the postseason in 2025. 

"I saw the guys battle. I saw them play really hard. Toughness, physicality, all that stuff is not the problem," Canales said. "We've just got to make sure we're all connected with the run game, so we're not trying to make a play that's not ours to make, and I think that's what's going to show up without having watched the film. Typically, when it happens that way, it's somebody playing out of their responsibility and not trusting the guy next to them to be able to do theirs, and that's the part where we have to come together, and we've got to make sure that we solidify: just trust your responsibility, play together so we can mitigate some of those big plays.

"We've just got to get back to work. The guys are here. They're ours. We're all together. We're a team. We'll hit it that way. They'll be studs about it. Ask them to do that, just in the locker room, say we're going to come back. Let's be truthful about what it is and let's just take the next step and get better."

The good news is that Young looked like a franchise QB against the Bears. He finished with 361 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown.

Assuming Carolina's defense gets better as the season progresses, the Panthers should be fine.