The Bills defense put together a strong effort against Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers offense, but the offense could not match their performance.
Buffalo Bills Insider Chris Brown provides the details. Here is his report:
In a nutshell:
The Bills defense put together a heck of an effort against Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers offense, but Buffalo’s offense could not match their performance. Although the Panthers managed just three field goals until the late stages of the game, the Bills offense was stuck in neutral for most of the day and could manage only a field goal in a 9-3 loss to Carolina.
Tyrod Taylor and the offense couldn’t get anything going in the first half managing just 39 total net yards on 16 plays with no drive lasting more than six plays. LeSean McCoyand the Bills run game was bottled up as the Panthers fast flowing defense always seemed to be in position. The offense had just 176 total net yards in the game.
Buffalo’s defense was effective both against the run and the pass, holding the Panthers to less than three yards per carry, logging six sacks and holding Carolina 0-for-3 in the red zone.
The Bills offense had the ball with 2:35 left down six and two timeouts left at their own 25. They got as far as the Panthers 33-yard line, but a fourth down pass to an out breaking Zay Jones was behind him and he couldn’t pull the pass in. It would’ve set up first and goal with a timeout to go and seven seconds remaining.
The loss dropped the Bills to 1-1 on the season.
How it went down:
-The Panthers scored on their opening drive as they covered 59 yards on 13 plays before a QB pressure by Jerry Hughes on a 3rd-and-7 forced Carolina to settle for a 34-yard field goal and an early 3-0 lead, midway through the first quarter.
-Carolina was kept out of the end zone a second time in the first half when Jordan Poyerbroke up a pass intended for Russell Shepard. Graham Gano put a 28-yard field goal up and through for a 6-0 lead late in the first half.
-Buffalo finally got on the scoreboard with 11 minutes left in the game when Stephen Hauschka put a 45-yard field goal attempt off the right upright and through to make it 6-3 Carolina.
-The Panthers drove the length of the field on the ensuing possession, but the defense held Carolina out of the end zone as Gano hit his third field goal of the game for a 9-3 lead with 2:35 remaining in the game.
Subplots:
-LeSean McCoy had more yards receiving (34) than he did rushing as he had just 9 yards on 12 carries.
-Tyrod Taylor was the team’s leading rusher with 55 yards on eight carries. He went 17-25 passing for 125 yards.
-Cordy Glenn did not come out with the team after halftime due to an ankle injury. He did not return to the game. Dion Dawkins stepped in at left tackle.
-Buffalo’s offense managed just 39 total net yards in the first half on 16 plays. They had just seven minutes of possession time to Carolina’s 23.
-Jordan Poyer had a touchdown-saving hit on Kelvin Benjamin in the end zone that forced him to drop the pass from Cam Newton on the Panthers first drive of the game. He also had a touchdown-saving pass breakup in the end zone near the end of the half to force another field goal.
-Marcell Dareus left the game in the first half with a right ankle injury, but he eventually returned.
-Jerry Hughes, Lorenzo Alexander and Eddie Yarbrough all had sacks in the first half.
-Buffalo’s inactive players for the game were Brandon Tate, Joe Banyard, Vladimir Ducasse, Conor McDermott, Khari Lee, Jelani Jenkins and Jerel Worthy.
Up next:
The Bills return home to host the Denver Broncos for a 1 pm kickoff next Sunday, Sept. 25.