The Buffalo Bills fell short against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, with the offense was held out of the end zone all day in a 9-3 loss. This was a defensive battle from start to finish - the Panthers controlled the clock for 23 minutes of the first half and held Buffalo to three points, while the Bills kept Carolina to an 0-for-3 performance in the red zone, holding them to nine points.
Buffalo’s offense struggled all day, scarcely making positive progress through the first half. The receivers had issues separating from cornerbacks, and LeSean McCoy was mainly bottled up by Carolina’s defensive line and athletic linebackers. The defense gifted them one more chance with two and a half minutes left, and the Bills drove to field goal range, but Zay Jones wasn’t able to adjust to a difficult throw from Tyrod Taylor, dropping a pass that would’ve put the team at the goalline.
Buffalo’s defensive line came to play today. They sacked Cam Newton six times. Jerry Hughes led the way with two, while Eddie Yarbrough, Shaq Lawson, Jordan Poyer, and Lorenzo Alexander each notched one. Cam Newton found some holes in Buffalo’s zone defense, converting multiple third downs with his arms and his legs. Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess combined for 145 yards on 10 catches, but when it mattered the Bills came to play. They played outstanding in the red zone, forcing three field goals.
Injury report
Cordy Glenn left the game with an ankle injury and didn’t return. Marcell Dareus was hampered most of the day with a foot injury, but still played through the game. E.J. Gaines aggravated his shoulder injury but returned to action.
Panthers tight end Greg Olsen injured his foot, and didn’t return to the red zone.
Notes
- Yarbrough earned his first career sack.
- McCoy had one of the worst rushing days of his career, finishing with 9 yards on 12 carries.
- McDermott failed in his bid to be the first Bills head coach to start his career 2-0.
- Taylor finished 17/25 for 125 yards, and did most of his damage on the ground with eight carries for 55 yards.
- This is yet another instance where Taylor failed to make magic happen while trailing in the fourth quarter. In his career, with fewer than four minutes remaining and his team trailing, Taylor has as many sacks and interceptions (11) as he does touchdowns and first downs.
- It was a tough day for the rookie Jones, who dropped multiple passes including the potential game winner.
- After being walked down the field for most of the first half, the Bills defense clamped down on the Panthers, holding them behind midfield for the entire third quarter.