Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - You wouldn't think having a 4-3 record would be a big thing for an NFL team, but certainly it is for the Buffalo Bills' opponent this Sunday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
This is the latest in a season the Carolina Panthers have had a winning record since 2019.
The Panthers will bring a three-game winning streak into this matchup, their longest such win streak since 2021.
After a 1-3 start, the Panthers have beaten the Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets. All three games have been decided by one score. Carolina beat the Dolphins and Cowboys by three points each, and held on for a seven-point victory over the winless Jets.
But the Panthers lost starting quarterback Bryce Young in the Jets game with a high ankle sprain. That means the Bills could be in line to face 37-year-old Andy Dalton on Sunday.
Young's play had improved slightly during the win streak, but the Panthers' passing game was still very limited. It remains to be seen if Dalton can change that.
This would be the first game not started by Young since Week 3 of the 2023 season. The offensive game plan would probably undergo a slight change since Dalton does not have the mobility that Young brings to the field.
Dalton has thrown just 13 passes this season while seeing time in three games. He might not be asked to do much, because the three-game winning streak has been sparked by the Panthers' running game, specifically the running of Rico Dowdle.
Dowdle rushed for 209 yards in the win over Miami, and then totaled 183 yards to help knock off Dallas, the team that released him.
Hopefully Bills coaches used the bye week to come up with a plan that will improve their run defense. The Bills are 31st in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per-game, and dead last in yards per-carry.
Dowdle might be sharing carries on Sunday with Chuba Hubbard, who had been starting prior to suffering an injury. Hubbard returned last week, and had 14 carries, while Dowdle rushed 17 times.
But Dowdle has clearly been the more effective back this season with an average of 5.6 yards per-carry, where Hubbard is only at 3.7. As a team, Carolina has the league's third-best rushing attack, averaging 140 yards a game.
As for the passing game, Carolina is tied for 26th in yards per-game. Young was only averaging 184 yards per-game.
The top target has been Tetairoa McMillan, who leads the team in catches (30) and receiving yards (413). The next best is Xavier Legette, the Panthers' first-round pick in 2024, with 17 catches for 142 yards. Most of those yards came last Sunday when he had a career-high 92 yards in the win over the Jets.
Jalen Coker's return, after missing six games with an injury, is expected to boost their passing attack.
Carolina has scored just 15 touchdowns in seven games, and their 20 points per-game average is tied for 23rd in the league.
Pass protection has been a problem, as Carolina's offensive line is 22nd in pressure rate allowed.
Defensively, Carolina has made significant progress when it comes to stopping the run. In 2024, the Panthers had the third-worst run defense in NFL history.
Now, they did give up 200 yards on the ground to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the opening game this season, but it has been much better since then. Carolina has held each of its last three opponents under 100 yards rushing, and are currently ranked eighth in the league in run defense.
Linebacker Christian Rozeboom leads the team in tackles, while defensive end Derrick Brown tops Carolina in sacks (3.5) and cornerback Jaycee Horn has a team-leading three interceptions.
The defense did suffer a key loss when starting outside linebacker Pat Jones II was lost for the season due to a back injury.
Carolina is tied for 13th in points per-game, seventh in total yards and 10th in passing yards allowed per-game. They are just 22nd in third-down efficiency and are 25th in sacks allowed per-pass play.
However, the Panthers did record six sacks last week against the Jets, which was one more than they had over their first six games combined.
Special teams have not been special, when it comes to returns. Carolina is ranked 30th in both kick and punt returns. Trevor Etienne, younger brother of Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, has been their main return man.
Their coverage units have seen mixed results. While their kick coverage is second-best in the league, their punt coverage is dead last.
Former Bills punter Sam Martin is handling those duties for the Panthers.
Meanwhile, kicker Ryan Fitzgerald has been very good for Carolina. He is 13-of-14 on extra point attempts, and is 12-of-13 in field goal attempts. That includes going 5-of-6 from 40-plus yards.
In terms of common opponents with the Bills, Carolina destroyed Atlanta, 30-0, but were trounced by New England, 42-13.
The Panthers are a perfect 3-0 at home this season.
Meanwhile, the Bills have never lost a game coming out of the bye week in the Sean McDermott era.
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