Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-17 · by Jay Cohen The Associated Press
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and the team focused on moving past their high-scoring 59-37 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 1, as they prepare for their home opener against the Minnesota Vikings. Coach Ben Johnson emphasized that the Bears are not dwelling on last week’s performance and remain grounded ahead of Sunday’s game at Soldier Field. Williams, who had an impressive debut with two passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns, and 269 yards through the air, dismissed any carryover confidence from Week 1, stating it comes from preparation and belief in his teammates rather than past success.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears had an impressive opening game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, scoring 59 points in what became the highest-scoring NFL season opener ever. However, coach Ben Johnson emphasized that they have not scored any points since then as the team prepares for their home opener against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at Soldier Field. Despite Williams' stellar performance with two passing and two rushing touchdowns, and D’Andre Swift's 124 yards rushing and three touchdowns, the Bears are focusing on moving past last week’s success to face a Vikings team that has won six consecutive games, including a recent victory over Green Bay by a score of 39-22. The Bears' defense is also dealing with injuries: right tackle Darnell Wright was sidelined due to a knee injury, while running back Kyle Monangai (hamstring), cornerback Malik Muhammad (ankle), and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo (shoulder) are all listed as limited participants in practice.
Written for “NFL Season Starts” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears put together a dazzling offensive performance in their season opener.
asserted
Williams → put → opener
“We haven’t put up any points this week,” coach Ben Johnson said Wednesday.
asserted
Johnson → put → points
It doesn’t sound as if overconfidence is going to be an issue for Chicago when it faces the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in its home opener at Soldier Field.
asserted
it → sound → Field
The Vikings have won six in a row going back to last season, including a 39-22 victory over Green Bay in Week 1.
asserted
Vikings → win → Week
“You have that one, it’s really like 12 hours, they say 24, but it’s like 12 hours and then from there you move on to the next team,” Williams said.
asserted
Williams → have → team
Led by Williams and D’Andre Swift, the Bears beat the Carolina Panthers 59-37 on Sunday in the highest-scoring opener in NFL history.
asserted
Bears → lead → history
Williams passed for two touchdowns and ran for two TDs, and Swift
asserted
Williams → pass → TDs
The Bears rolled to 291 yards rushing and 552 yards overall.
asserted
Bears → roll → yards
But that’s all in the past now.
asserted
that → ’ → past
“This is a week-to-week business,” offensive lineman Jonah Jackson said.
asserted
Jackson → say → week
“We know we have to perform week in and week out and we’re ready for it.”
asserted
we → know → it
Swift was selected as the NFC Offensive Player of the Week, but he was listed as limited for Wednesday’s practice because of an ankle/knee injury.
asserted
he → select → injury
Right tackle Darnell Wright was held out because of a knee injury, and running back Kyle Monangai (hamstring), cornerback Malik Muhammad (ankle) and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo (shoulder) were all listed as limited.
asserted
Monangai → hold → injury
Swift said he was fine.
asserted
he → say → ?
He also was ready to put Week 1 in the rearview mirror.
asserted
He → put → mirror
“It’s over with already,” he said.
asserted
he → ’ → ?
“So what we’re doing in Week 2, that’s a whole different approach now.
asserted
that → do → Week
We got a big task ahead of us, one that we’re looking forward to, but Week 1 over.”
asserted
we → get → that
The 24-year-old Williams looked decisive in the first game of his second season in Johnson’s offense.
asserted
Williams → look → offense
He also rushed for 65 yards on 10 attempts.
asserted
He → rush → attempts
The performance raised the outside expectations for Williams and Chicago a year after the Bears won the NFC North for the first time since 2018.
asserted
Bears → raise → 2018
But Williams dismissed the idea of any carryover confidence from the offensive display against Carolina.
asserted
Williams → dismiss → Carolina
“The confidence aspect, it doesn’t come from going 1-0 the first week,” he said.
asserted
he → come → ?
“That’s not where it comes from, for at least myself and I would say for this team.
asserted
I → ’ → team
But for myself, it comes from the work, it comes from the belief in my teammates.
asserted
it → come → teammates
It comes from the belief of my coach.
asserted
It → come → coach
And that’s where it stems from.
asserted
it → ’ → where
Williams and the Bears are playing their first home game since they lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round of the playoffs on Jan. 18.
asserted
they → play → Jan.
They went 7-3 at home last season.
asserted
They → go → home
“We talked in the preseason during training camp just how powerful it is to play at Soldier and we need to come away with home victories if we want this season to go the way we want it to,” Johnson said.
asserted
Johnson → talk → victories
The Aporia
