Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills didn’t waste their first real chance to show what this offense might look like when it’s humming.
Even in preseason, the opening stretch against Carolina’s starting defense had the feel of a team already in rhythm. Buffalo’s first-team offense came out sharp, moved the ball cleanly, and put together two early scoring drives that made the Bills look far more polished than a team still in tune-up mode.
Allen was right at the center of it. The Bills quarterback went 6 of 8 for 111 yards and a touchdown, and he did it without turning the ball over on the first two drives. He looked comfortable running the offense, spread the ball around, and kept Buffalo on schedule against the Panthers’ starters.
DJ Moore made an immediate impact as a new target in the mix, hauling in three catches for 61 yards. Khalil Shakir added two receptions for 41 yards, and Allen finished one drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Keon Coleman.
The ground game held up its end, too. James Cook ran five times for 21 yards, giving Buffalo another productive piece during a brief but efficient stretch on the field.
What stood out most was how quickly the Bills got rolling against Carolina’s starting defense. Two scoring drives against the Panthers’ first unit is a strong first showing by any measure, even if it’s only preseason.
There’s still a long way to go before the games count, and Buffalo has plenty left to clean up. But for a first look, this was about as encouraging as it gets: Allen sharp, the passing game explosive, Cook contributing on the ground, and the Bills finding the end zone twice.
For a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations, that’s the kind of opening act that gets attention fast.
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Bills Face A Tough Backfield Decision After Another Preseason Flash
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Ian Wheelers emergence only adds to the logjam, and that leaves Gore in an awkward spot for a player who has done plenty to earn attention. Buffalo still has time before the final 53-man cutdown, but the bigger question may not be whether Gore can keep flashing, it may be whether the Bills can turn that depth into something useful if his value keeps drawing notice. [Read more 🡒]