Riding a three-game win streak, Carolina heads back to Bank of America Stadium as they face the Buffalo Bills looking to remain one of five teams undefeated at home (3-0 this season).
Buffalo travels to Carolina following their Week 7 Bye. As a starter, Buffalo QB Josh Allen is 7-0 following a Bye Week, with his team outscoring opponents by an average of nearly 11 points per game. In Buffalo’s last visit to Carolina, they were held to three points in a Panthers 9-3 win (09/17/17), tied for the second-fewest points ever allowed by the Panthers to an AFC opponent.
This is the ninth matchup between the two teams, with Buffalo holding a 6-2 series edge against the Panthers, including a 2-1 mark at Bank of America Stadium. In their last meeting, the Panthers lost 14-31 in Buffalo (12/19/21).
Among the key connections are Panthers General Manager Dan Morgan, who spent three seasons in Buffalo (2018-20) as the director of player personnel before joining Carolina’s front office (2021) as the assistant general manager. Buffalo Head Coach Sean McDermott, who was hired in Buffalo (2017) after six seasons as the Panthers defensive coordinator (2011-16), and Buffalo General Manager Brandon Beane’s, start in the NFL came with Carolina in 1998, where he spent 19 seasons (1998-2016) with the Panthers before joining the Bills.
About Carolina
- After ranking 32nd in total defense last season the Panthers are seventh this season, allowing 295.7 yards per game. They are top 10 against both the run and the pass this season.
- In the second half of this season the Panthers have the number one points per game margin and are tied for the second-best turnover margin. That has helped the Panthers rank as one of the three teams (Kansas City and the Los Angeles Rams) to rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive expected points added.
- On the season the Panthers have averaged 140.1 rushing yards per game, the third best average in the league. They are top 10 in yards per carry. – averaging 4.7 yards per carry, while their 2.29 explosive runs (runs of 12+ yards) are the eighth most per game this season.
- On the season Rico Dowdle ranks third in the league with 551 yards rushing, including a league-leading 468 yards since week 5. Among players with at least 50 carries, Dowdle’s 5.6 yards per carry leads the league, while his 11 explosive runs (12+ yards) are tied for the third more in the league.
- As as outside corner in coverage as the nearest defender this season, Jaycee Horn has allowed a 53.4 passer rating – the 5th lowest in the league among 69 cornerbacks with 100+ coverage snaps as an outside corner.
- This season DT Derrick Brown is tied for the third most run stops with 17 and has the 4th highest run stop percentage, recording a stop on 16.5% of the run snaps he has played this season. Through the first seven games Brown has 3.0 sacks and five passes defended, the only interior defensive lineman to do so.
About Buffalo
- The Bills are 8-0 following a bye week in the Sean McDermott era (since 2017). The offense has averaged 27.5 points per game and the defense has allowed 17.6 points per game after a week off since 2017. Buffalo’s defense averages two takeaways per game following a bye week since 2017.
- Buffalo’s offense ranks top 10 in several categories: 1st – averages 151 rushing yards per game, 3rd – averages 378.3 total yards per game, 4th – averages 27.8 points per game, 5th – averages 46.9% score percentage per drive.
- Buffalo’s defense has posted notable numbers this season: 2nd – allow an average of 167.2 passing yards per game, 9th – allow 6.6 passing yards per attempt, 9th – allow a 55.6% red zone efficiency rate.
- QB Josh Allen ranks top 10 in multiple categories. 1st – 156.1 passer rating when targeting TE Dalton Kincaid (per Next Gen Stats), 6th (tied) – 14 total touchdowns, 7th – averages 7.8 passing yards per attempt, 9th – averages 68.5% completion percentage.
- James Cook III is 2nd in the NFL with 12 touchdowns on the road since the beginning of last aseason. His 12 TDs also mark the most over a 10 game span on the road in Bills history.
Panthers vs Bills
Series Meetings:…………………………………………………………. 8
Season Record: ……………………….2-6 (Home: 1-2 / Away: 1-4)
First Game: …………………………….CAR 9 vs. BUF 31 (09/10/95)
Last Game: ……………………………. CAR 14 at BUF 31 (12/19/21)
Current Streak: …………………………………………………… Lost 1
Last CAR Home Win: ………………….CAR 9 vs. BUF 3 (09/17/17)
Last CAR Home Loss: ………………CAR 9 vs. BUF 20 (10/25/09)
Last CAR Road Win: …………………. CAR 13 at BUF 9 (11/27/05)
Last CAR Road Loss: ………………CAR 14 at BUF 31 (12/19/21)
Most CAR Points: …………….. 24, CAR 24 at BUF 25 (12/09/01)
Most BUF Points: ….. 31, 2x, last CAR 14 at BUF 31 (12/19/21)
Total CAR Points: ……………………………………. 115 (14.4 Avg.)
Total BUF Points: ……………………………………. 173 (21.6 Avg.)
Largest CAR Margin: …………… 6, CAR 9 vs. BUF 3 (09/17/17)
Smallest CAR Margin: ………… 4, CAR 13 at BUF 9 (11/27/05)
Largest BUF Margin: ………… 22, CAR 9 at BUF 31 (09/10/95)
Smallest BUF Margin: .. 1, 2x, last CAR 23 at BUF 24 (09/15/13)
Most Points (Both): ………… 49, CAR 24 at BUF 25 (12/09/01)
Fewest Points (Both): ………… 12, CAR 9 vs. BUF 3 (09/17/17)
How to Watch
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET FOX: Play-by-Play: Adam Amin; Analyst: Greg Olsen; Sideline: Pam Oliver
Radio: WRFX 99.7FM in Charlotte market –Play-by-Play: Anish Shroff; Analysts: Luke Kuechly & Jake Delhomme; Sideline: Kristen Balboni
Per Release