As the Carolina Panthers (0-2, 0-2 ATS, 0-2 O/U) and the Buffalo Bills (1-1, 1-1 ATS, 1-1 O/U) prepare to wrap up their preseason on Saturday evening, both teams are aiming to finalize their lineups with a strong performance. The Panthers are still searching for their first win after a tough loss to the Jets last week, while the Bills recently secured a narrow victory against the Steelers.
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Carolina Aims for a Breakthrough
The Carolina Panthers enter this crucial matchup eager to establish momentum. After experiencing a dismal season with 15 losses last year, they made several offseason changes, including hiring David Canales as the new offensive coordinator. Their quest for improvement has not yet yielded results, as they fell 17-3 in their preseason opener and narrowly lost 15-12 to the Jets, despite being favored by 1.5 points.
Quarterback Bryce Young is under the spotlight once again. The 23-year-old, who was the first overall pick last year, is looking to bounce back from a challenging rookie season, during which he threw for 2,877 yards with an 11:12 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The Panthers have brought in veteran Andy Dalton for guidance, but Dalton’s recent injury kept him from practice until last week. The competition for the third-string quarterback spot is heating up, with Jake Luton and Jack Plummer vying for the role. Plummer, a promising undrafted player from last year, impressed in his limited preseason action, completing 56% of his passes for 128 yards.
The Panthers boast depth in their running back lineup, although they are currently facing injury concerns with Chuba Hubbard’s knee issue, leaving his availability for Week 1 uncertain. Rookie Jonathan Brooks is expected to step up, while veteran Miles Sanders, who rushed for 432 yards last season, remains a key player.
Carolina’s receiving corps features talent, highlighted by Dionte Johnson and promising rookie Jonathan Mingo, who amassed 418 receiving yards in his inaugural season. Depth players like David Moore and Mike Strachan may also contribute in this matchup.
On the defensive side, Carolina has shown resilience against the run, largely thanks to standout defensive lineman Derrick Brown, who received a significant contract extension after recording 103 tackles in 2023. Linebacker Shaq Thompson’s return from injury will be crucial as the Panthers aim to build on their impressive pass defense, which ranked third last year, despite struggling against the run.
Last season, the Panthers averaged a mere 13.9 points, the lowest in the league, while their defense allowed an average of 24.5 points, placing them 28th overall.
Buffalo Looks to Build on Recent Success
The Buffalo Bills are eager to close out the preseason on a high note, following a strong performance against the Steelers. Despite winning the division titles in recent years, the Bills are still chasing the ultimate championship. The offseason brought significant changes, including the hiring of Joe Brady as offensive coordinator and Bobby Babich as defensive coordinator. The team also traded away star receiver Stefon Diggs. After struggling in their preseason opener with a 33-6 loss, the Bills bounced back with a gritty 9-3 victory over Pittsburgh.
Star quarterback Josh Allen will not take the field in this game, resting alongside other key starters. Last season, Allen threw for 4,306 yards with a 29:18 touchdown-to-interception ratio. With backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky injured, Buffalo added depth by signing Ben DiNucci and Anthony Brown recently. DiNucci, who has not seen regular-season action since being drafted in 2020, completed 3 of 5 passes for 20 yards last week.
The running game will rely heavily on James Cook, who tallied 1,122 rushing yards last season. Depth players Ty Johnson and Darrynton Evans are expected to carry the load, with Evans recording 48 rushing yards in the preseason. The receiving core has undergone substantial changes, with the departures of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. Khalil Shakir is set for a bigger role, while rookie Keon Coleman, selected in the second round out of Florida State, aims to make an impact.
Buffalo’s defense remains a strength, although they’ve lost several key players, including Micah Hyde, Leonard Floyd, and Tre’Davious White, in the offseason. The secondary still features solid contributors like Rasul Douglas. Last season, the Bills ranked seventh in pass defense and 15th against the run.
The Bills scored an average of 26.5 points last season, which placed them sixth in the league, while allowing only 18.3 points, ranking them fourth.
Best Bets for Carolina Panthers vs. Buffalo Bills
The Carolina Panthers have shown promise in their preseason matchups, particularly on defense. They held the Patriots to 17 points in their opener and limited the Jets to just 15 points last week. In contrast, the Buffalo Bills struggled in their first game, suffering a heavy defeat of 33-6.
With the Panthers possessing depth at quarterback, they may have an advantage. Veteran Andy Dalton brings valuable experience, while Jack Plummer has performed well in the preseason. The Bills face significant injury challenges, particularly at quarterback, with Mitch Trubisky sidelined and the team needing to rely on new signings Ben DiNucci and Anthony Brown for depth. Additionally, the Bills are likely to rest their offensive starters in this game.
