Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills closed out their preseason slate of the 2024 campaign with a 31-26 loss to the Carolina Panthers at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.
Bills fans got their last look at the team until the roster is cut down from 91 to 53 players this Tuesday.
The Bills' run game was the name of the game this time around, with a few big defensive stops as well.
The Panthers received the ball first, and took to the field with their first-string offense with quarterback Bryce Young. The unit marched down the field for a quick touchdown in its only action of the game.
Young was able to make good work in the air and with his legs as well, capping the drive with a touchdown pass to tight end and former Bills wide receiver Jordan Matthews.
On Buffalo's opening offensive drive of the game, the unit, quarterbacked by Ben DiNucci, moved down the field swiftly, but failed to find a way to even the game. However, Tyler Bass was called on for a 31-yard field goal attempt to cut into Carolina's early lead.
The Panthers looked to extend their lead under new quarterback Jack Plummer, but did not succeed after a drop on third down by rookie wide receiver Xavier Legette led to a Panthers punt.
Just past the halfway mark of the second quarter, the Bills got the ball back and marched down the field for their first touchdown drive of the preseason.
DiNucci and the Buffalo offense put together a six-play, 61-yard touchdown drive, capped off with an 18-yard touchdown from running back Darrynton Evans. The drive did not end there, though, as the Bills converted a two-point conversion with tight end Tre' McKitty catching a bobbled pass to give the Bills an 11-7 lead.
Carolina answered back quickly, driving down the field to take the lead with less than three minutes left in the second quarter after running back Mike Boone punched it in for a five-yard touchdown.
After the Bills went three-and-out with less than two minutes remaining in the half, the Panthers were able to put three more points on the board as they got into field goal range for kicker Eddy Pineiro, who successfully converted a 45-yard field goal as time expired in the half.
The Bills opened the half with Anthony Brown under center now, but failed to do much on their first chance to close the gap on the scoreboard.
The Panthers extend their league further on their first drive of the second half. Carolina went nearly the length of the field in 12 plays, and found the end zone again with wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. catching a touchdown pass from Plummer from 15 yards out. Plummer also successfully completed a two-point conversion attempt to extend the lead to 25-11.
Buffalo answered back just about four-and-a-half minutes after Carolina's touchdown with running back Frank Gore Jr. blasting away at the Panthers defense. Gore Jr. eventually scored his first touchdown of the preseason with a five-yard run up the middle. The Bills attempted another two-point conversion and converted with Brown finding wide receiver Xavier Johnson over the middle.
Just six seconds into the fourth quarter, the Panthers capped off a five-play drive to extend their lead with a 36-yard touchdown pass from Plummer to receiver Jalen Coker. After a failed two-point conversion attempt, the Panthers' lead sat at 31-19.
The Bills looked to answer back right away, but were ultimately held to a 51-yard field goal attempt from Bass, which he missed wide to the right.
Following a Buffalo defensive stop, the Bills got another chance to close the gap with time continuing to tick away in the game.
The Bills' running game was the centerpiece of the second half with Gore Jr. continuing to put on a very impressive performance until he exited the game late in the fourth quarter with a minor injury.
However, that didn't stop Buffalo from punching it into the end zone on the ground, as wide receiver K.J. Hamler was called on to be the running back and score from one-yard up the middle.
The Panthers were eventually able to close out the game and secure the win after Plummer found Coker for 12 yards on a 3rd-and-11 with just under two-minutes remaining in the game, and no timeouts remaining for the Bills.
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GAME RECAP
First Quarter:
- 7-0 CAROLINA: Panthers Touchdown (8:12) - Bryce Young fires a strike over the middle to Jordan Matthews for an 8-yard touchdown. (Eddy Pineiro's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 12 plays, 85 yards, 6:48
- 7-3 CAROLINA: Bills Field Goal (0:53) - Tyler Bass' 31-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 16 plays, 61 yards, 7:19
Second Quarter:
- 11-7 BUFFALO: Bills Touchdown (5:53) - Ben DiNucci tosses short to Darrynton Evans, who scampers in for an 18-yard touchdown. (Buffalo's two-point conversion attempt is successful)
Drive info: 6 plays, 61 yards, 2:41
- 14-11 CAROLINA: Panthers Touchdown (2:55) - Mike Boone rushes up the middle for a 5-yard touchdown. (Eddy Pineiro's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 5 plays, 51 yards, 2:58
-17-11 CAROLINA: Panthers Field Goal (0:04) - Eddy Pineiro's 45-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 10 plays, 42 yards, 1:05
Third Quarter:
-25-11 CAROLINA: Panthers Touchdown (7:01) - Terrace Marshall Jr. catches a touchdown pass from Jack Plummer for 15 yards. (Carolina's two-point conversion attempt is successful)
Drive info: 12 plays, 90 yards, 5:01
- 25-19 CAROLINA: Bills Touchdown (2:35) - Frank Gore Jr. rushes five yards up the middle for a touchdown. (Buffalo's two-point conversion attempt is successful)
Drive info: 8 plays, 60 yards, 4:31
Fourth Quarter:
-31-19 CAROLINA: Panthers Touchdown (14:54) - Jack Plummer lobs a pass to Jalen Coker for a 36-yard touchdown. (Carolina's two-point conversion attempt is unsuccessful)
Drive info: 5 plays, 70 yards, 2:36
-31-26 CAROLINA: Bills Touchdown (1:57) - K.J. Hamler rushes up the middle for a yard 1-touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good.)
Drive info: 9 plays, 67 yards, 3:33
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
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What's next:
The Bills are off next weekend after the roster goes from 91 players to 53 on Tuesday.
The regular season officially kicks off on Sunday, Sept. 8 against the Arizona Cardinals at Highmark Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. ET on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.