Josh Allen wasted little time giving the Bills something to celebrate in the first preseason game at the new Highmark Stadium.
Allen opened Buffalo’s exhibition debut on Saturday in Orchard Park with a scoring drive that ended in a Tyler Bass 33-yard field goal, then came back on the next series and hit Keon Coleman for a 9-yard touchdown. Across those first two drives, Allen went 6 of 8 for 111 yards, took one sack and was forced to throw the ball away once under pressure.
The touchdown came after Allen broke to his right and found Coleman uncovered in the middle of the end zone. Buffalo’s new offensive piece D.J. Moore had already helped set that up, finishing the early portion of the game with 61 yards on three catches before leaving with trainers checking on his right leg.
Moore’s biggest play came on a 32-yard catch early in the series, when he got loose on a crossing route and then powered through Panthers safety Nick Scott to move the Bills inside the red zone. He later added an 18-yard reception on his third catch of the game before getting tackled by Carolina defender Zakee Wheatley.
Moore grabbed his right calf, got up on his own, and walked to the bench area before sitting out the rest of the game. He did not return, and Buffalo’s second-team offense took over on the third series.
Moore stayed on the sideline watching the drive, cleats still on, towel over his head.
Allen’s first series also included a 21-yard completion to Shakir over the middle. On the ground, last year’s NFL rushing leader James Cook picked up 21 yards on five carries in the first quarter.
Buffalo’s defense did its part early, too. After forcing a punt and allowing just five yards on three plays, Allen went back out for a second series. Most of the healthy starters played in the preseason opener, a change from last year, when Allen sat out all of Buffalo’s exhibition games.
The Bills’ defensive starters stayed in until the second quarter and gave up only 17 yards and no first downs across three series in their first action under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard. Second-year defensive lineman Deone Walker posted a sack among his three tackles early.
Kyle Allen handled the backup quarterback work for Buffalo and finished the first half 14 of 16 for 108 yards while taking two sacks. Ray Davis added 21 rushing yards on three carries and 32 more yards on four catches, while Mecole Hardman chipped in with a 27-yard run.
By halftime, Buffalo had outgained Carolina 278 yards to 60 and held the ball for more than 21 of the opening 30 minutes.
Bass, meanwhile, went 2 for 3 on field goals in his first kicking action since last preseason. He missed from 45 yards before connecting from 46.
In Other News...
Bills Mafia Is Already Turning New Highmark Into A Scene
The Bills were only into their first preseason game at Highmark Stadium, and the atmosphere outside already had the familiar edge that comes with Bills Mafia. A journalist on social media reported that a fan tried to climb one of the bison statues near the stadium, a scene that fit neatly with the fan bases well-earned reputation for turning even a tune-up game into an event.
The statues outside Highmark include a large cow, bull and calf, though it was not clear which one drew the attention. Inside, there is also the broken table statue that has become part of the stadiums identity, another reminder that Bills fans do not just show up, they help define the place. Even before the regular season begins, the building already feels like it is surrounded by its own kind of tailgate folklore. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Have 4 More Extension Decisions Fans Should Be Watching
O'Cyrus Torrence is already off the board, and that matters for a Bills team that has spent plenty of time thinking about how to keep its core together. The right guards four-year, $78.4 million extension gives Buffalo a clear signal about where the front office wants to invest, and it also puts a spotlight on the next layer of roster planning as the club looks beyond the most obvious centerpiece deals.
The names worth circling now are Dorian Williams, Ty Johnson, Alec Anderson and Cole Bishop, each in a different spot but all part of the same long-range conversation. Their cases are tied to role, value and the way Buffalo projects them moving forward, which is why these decisions feel more like a roadmap than a list of imminent moves. The Bills do not need to rush any of them, but the way those situations develop will say a lot about how the team wants to shape its depth and keep its cost structure manageable. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allen And Bills Starters Signal A New Approach In Opener
Josh Allen is set to do something Bills fans have not seen from him in over two years when Buffalo opens the preseason against the Carolina Panthers at the new Highmark Stadium. Allen and other healthy starters are expected to play, a notable shift in approach under new coach Joe Brady as the Bills use the exhibition to get their top group on the field early.
For Allen, the chance to get live snaps in the new building carries more than just preseason value. He said he is ready to play and stressed the importance of getting comfortable in the stadium environment before the regular season, a practical step as Buffalo adjusts to its new home and a more hands-on tuneup plan. [Read more 🡒]