The Buffalo Bills get the first crack at their new stadium on Saturday afternoon, and they’ll do it with Josh Allen and the starters expected to see the field in preseason Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers.
That alone makes this a game worth watching. Allen didn’t take a preseason snap last year, so even a brief appearance gives Buffalo a chance to get its quarterback into a real game rhythm while Joe Brady begins his run as the team’s new head coach after serving as offensive coordinator the last three seasons. Brady wouldn’t say how long the regulars will stay in the game, but the Bills clearly want a clean start in their new home.
Carolina, meanwhile, is also looking for early signs of life from its regulars after playing in the Hall of Fame Game. For most of the Panthers’ main contributors, Saturday is the first real preseason test. That matters for a team trying to build on last season’s first NFC South title and playoff trip since 2017, a run that ended with a 34-31 loss to the Rams after Carolina gave them a scare.
The matchup sets up the usual preseason formula: the team with more depth usually has the edge once the starters step aside. And that’s where Buffalo looks better positioned. The Bills are deeper across the roster, while Carolina’s top players may only be on the field for a few series before the rest of the day belongs to the guys battling for jobs.
With Allen expected to get some work and Buffalo opening its new stadium in front of a home crowd for the first time, the Bills have a strong chance to start this one the right way.
In Other News...
Panthers Starting Defense Just Got An Early Reality Check
The first live look at Carolinas starting defense did not come with much of a soft landing. In its preseason opener, Buffalo moved the ball efficiently against the Panthers first unit, with Josh Allen finding a rhythm early and the Bills offense looking sharp enough to make the short stint on the field feel longer than it was. DJ Moore and Khalil Shakir each helped tilt the action with meaningful yardage, while James Cook added a steady dose on the ground.
For a defense still setting its tone for the season, the result served as an early reminder that the margin for error is thin once real game speed shows up. Preseason reps are about evaluation as much as outcomes, but the Panthers did get a clear snapshot of where the starting group stood against one of the leagues toughest quarterbacks and a well-organized offense. What matters next is how quickly Carolina can clean up the issues before the competition gets more serious. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Preseason Opener Raised Big Questions And A Few Real Reasons For Hope
The first preseason game offered a sharp early look at where the Panthers stand, and it was a mixed one. Carolina lost to Buffalo, but there were a few encouraging signs on defense, where Jaelan Phillips and Princely Umanmielen stood out as pass rushers and Devin Lloyd made his presence felt as well. Even with starters on the field, the secondary had trouble holding up, and the night had the kind of sloppiness that tends to follow a team still sorting out its identity.
There was some useful evidence on the offensive side, too, where Kenny Pickett helped himself in the quarterback battle with a solid showing. Trevor Etienne also added value with his work as a receiver, giving the Panthers another reason to think he can stick on the roster. Still, the bigger takeaway from the opener may have been how long the staff left key players in the game despite the uneven performance, a reminder that the evaluation period is already revealing both hope and some uncomfortable questions. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Young Is Giving Panthers Fans A Reason To Believe Again
Bryce Young has given the Panthers a different kind of buzz at training camp, not with a viral highlight or a bold prediction, but with a steadier presence thats been noticeable on the field. Reports from camp have him operating with more confidence and command of the offense, the sort of progress Carolina has been waiting to see as it tries to build around a former No. 1 pick who still has plenty to prove.
For the Panthers, the encouraging part is less about any one practice and more about the feeling that Young is settling into the job the way a franchise quarterback should. He has stayed focused on the present and has not weighed in on his contract status, which keeps the attention where Carolina wants it for now: on whether this version of Young can keep growing into the player the team needs. [Read more 🡒]