Rahimi & Grote Show

Mark Grote, Olin Kreutz and Patrick Mannelly reacted to the Bears offense exploding in a 59-37 win against the Panthers in their season opener Sunday. The guys loved what they saw from Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns while adding 65 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground. They unpack every angle of the win and lay out why the opener might not just be smoke and mirrors from a Bears team with sky-high hopes.

In the Best of the Bears this week, Tribune reporter Brad Biggs joined the Haugh & Payton Show to preview the Bears-Panthers game Sunday in Charlotte; Leila Rahimi and Mark Grote discussed how the Bears will look to split up opportunities for their various offensive playmakers; and Haugh, Jarrett Payton and Ruthie Polinsky shared their predictions for the Bears-Panthers game.

In Interviews of the Week on 104.3 The Score, ESPN analyst Matt Bowen joined the Spiegel & Holmes Show to discuss how the Bears' injuries will affect their scheme and approach on the defensive side of the ball; FS1 host Danny Parkins joined the Rahimi & Grote Show to share his lofty expectations for Bears quarterback Caleb Williams in 2026 and to preview the new NFL season; and former Bears offensive coordinator and former North Carolina offensive coordinator John Shoop joined the Haugh & Payton Show to reflect on his mentorship of Chicago head coach Ben Johnson.

It's time for our first game preview episode of the 2026 season! Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote bring you a full preview of Bears-Panthers. What's the latest on the injury front? Will receiver Rome Odunze be good to go against Carolina? And left tackle Ozzy Trapilo continues to make remarkable progress as he recovers from his knee injury. In our first game spotlight of the season, all eyes are on Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. Will we see him take the next steps in his career? We also have our three things to watch during the game and predictions!

Leila Rahimi and Mark Grote previewed the Bears-Panthers matchup Sunday in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.