Orchard Park, NY (WGR550) - The Buffalo Bills open their 2026 preseason schedule at home against the Carolina Panthers on Saturday ay Highmark Stadium. Here are three things to watch in the game:
New Stadium
The team held an open practice last week to debut new Highmark Stadium, but this will be the first-ever actual game being played against an opponent. Every game there will be some people who step foot inside the facility for the first time. For the players and coaches, it will be their first chance to get a feel for their new, permanent surroundings for home games. Where the play clock and game clocks are. The sight-lines for punt and kick returners. And of course, natural grass.
New Coach
Joe Brady will be in charge for the first time as a head coach. While we may not see his true game-clock management and challenge philosophies until the regular season, we will be able to see where, when, and how he interacts with players and other coaches on the sidelines, as opposed to when he was in the press box calling plays the last couple years. But he will still call plays from down on the field, which will also be something to pay attention to.
Starters playing
Brady said anyone who is healthy is going to play. That includes quarterback Josh Allen. He wants to get his players familiar with their surroundings and get some reps inside the new facility and with some new teammates, especially on the defensive side of the ball where Jim Leonhard takes over and will run a brand new scheme than what we've seen for the last nine years. How much will those starters play? We'll see if Brady gets them out really quickly or leaves them in for multiple series.
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