BUFFALO, N.Y. (CHARLOTTE SPORTS LIVE) — In the Panthers’ final preseason game, they won against the Buffalo Bills, 31 to 26.
It was the starters’ only game and drive, before the regular season, and boy they did not disappoint.
Bryce Young and the offense marched 85 yards in 12 plays with a drive-ending eight-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Matthews. Young finished the drive 6/8 for 70 yards. Chuba Hubbard, the only running back to get a carry in that series, ran the ball three times for 15 yards.
A good amount of the plays on that drive, and throughout the game, were play-action, which is something coach Dave Canales said the team will do a lot of this season.
On the defensive side for the starters, they gave up a field goal after a 16-play, 61-yard drive. It looked like K’Lavon Chaisson had an interception but the referee called the play dead and Canales didn’t challenge the ruling.
The Bills scored a touchdown with 5:53 left in the half. On the extra point conversion, there was a penalty against the Panthers. Instead of trying the extra point again, the Bills went for two and scored, taking an 11-7 lead.
On the following drive, Ihmir Smith-Marsette put the Panthers in a great field position with a 46-yard return. Five plays later, Mike Boone punched it in from five yards out to take the lead back.
Eddy Pineiro made a 45-yard field goal as time expired to give the Panthers a 17-11 lead. Jack Plummer replaced Young for the rest of the half and went 10/15 for 84 yards.
Into the third quarter, Plummer passes to Terrance Mashall Jr. for a 15-yard gain before completing a pass to David Moore, resulting in a successful two-point conversion.
The Bills scored a touchdown at 2:35 left in the quarter, trailing the Panthers 25-19.
In the final quarter, Plummer threw a pass to Jalen Coker with a 36-yard gain to touchdown, shooting Panthers to 31-19.
Bills’ KJ Hamler secured a 1-yard touchdown with an extra point kick from Tyler Bass.
The game ends with the Panthers’ first and only win for the preseason, 31-26.
