Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills fell to the Carolina Panthers, 31-26, in the preseason finale for both clubs on Saturday at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.
Now it’s onto the regular season for the Bills after a 1-2 finish to the preseason.
But before that, here’s the final Arrow Up/Arrow Down of the preseason, starting with the Arrows pointing Down after the loss:
ARROW DOWN:
K - Tyler Bass
Bass came into the game 5-for-5 kicking field goals this preseason, and booted another one from 31 yards in the first quarter.
However, he had a chance for a 51-yard field goal in the fourth quarter and sailed it wide right. That was a kick he needs to make.
C - Keaton Bills
Bills played most of the fourth quarter, snapping the ball to quarterback Anthony Brown, but there were far too many shotgun snaps that Brown had to reach left, right, or down low for.
S - Dee Delaney
Delaney was a touch too slow getting to several plays, including a touchdown catch and run by Terrace Marshall Jr.
CB - Kyron Brown
Brown was beaten cleanly and badly by Jalen Coker for a 36-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Ben DiNucci to Tyrell Shavers failed touchdown
Down 7-0 in the first quarter, DiNucci had a wide-open Shavers for an easy touchdown. However, the ball sailed over Shavers’ head.
Whether it was just a straight out overthrow or Shavers could have done a better job to track it, it was a wide-open receiver for a touchdown, and a play that should have been made.
Red zone defense
The Panthers were inside the Bills' 20-yard line three times and scored a touchdown on each of those possessions.
Third down defense
Carolina converted 8-of-13 third downs for a 61.5% conversion rate.
ARROW UP:
Frank Gore Jr.
Gore Jr. was fantastic running the football, amassing 101 total yards on 18 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per-run. He showed terrific vision bouncing to the edge when a hole closed up, but also ran tough between the tackles.
His dad, Frank Gore Sr., was in the house on Saturday to watch it all happen.
CB - Te’Cory Couch
It felt like Couch was making every tackle on the field, at one point. He was always around the football, and wound up as the game’s leading tackler with a total of nine, plus a sack and a quarterback hurry.
PR/DB - Daequan Hardy
The best play Hardy made may have been the one he didn’t make, and was very important for him.
After some questionable decision-making fielding punts the first couple of games, he smartly decided to let one go while standing at the 4-yard line, which eventually bounced into the end zone. It allowed the Bills to take possession at their own 20-yard line.
Hardy also contributed on defense with a couple tackles, including one for a loss, and a pass breakup.
QB - Anthony Brown
Brown showed really good commander of the offense, especially for a guy who was just signed five days ago. He finished the game by going 11-of-12 for 102 yards, and also running once for 13 yards.
Brown was at the helm for two touchdown drives for the Bills.
RB - Darrynton Evans
Evans carried the ball three times for 15 yards, and also caught three passes for 28 yards, including a nice 18-yard catch-and-run touchdown.
WR - K.J. Hamler
Hamler showed some terrific flexibility, availability, and willingness when he played running back in the fourth quarter after both Evans and Gore Jr. went out with injuries.
He ended up carrying the ball three times for 21 yards, in addition to catching three passes for 11 yards.
WR - Deon Cain
Cain showed a terrific ability to run with the ball in his hands, grabbing three short passes and turning them into 28 yards.
P - Sam Martin
Martin had a really nice day, booting the ball three times for an average gross of 50.0 yards per-punt, and downing one of those inside the Panthers’ 20-yard line.
DT - Gable Stevenson
Steveson put together his best performance of the preseason, collecting a pair of tackles and two quarterback hurries. He was very good at the point of attack.
For a guy who never played football in his life up until two months ago, he’s gotten a lot better in a short amount of time.
Tre' McKitty and Zach Davidson
Both tight ends made a highlight-reel catch in this game.
McKitty had a great grab off a tipped ball for a two-point conversion, while Davidson had a one-handed grab to go along with three other catches.
catches. Combined they finished with five catches for 43 yards, and also the two-point play.
Run defense
The Panthers ran the ball 26 times for 74 yards, which is just 2.8 yards per-carry.
Penalties
After committing 19 penalties over the first two weeks of the preseason, the Bills were flagged just three times for 20 yards.
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