The Buffalo Bills (1-2) came into Saturday’s preseason game against the Carolina Panthers (1-2) looking to build off of their 9-3 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on a rainy Saturday. As the preseason winds down, Buffalo is trying to evaluate the players at the end of the roster, so to speak, so that they can see who will be around to help the team during the regular season.
It was a tough battle between the Bills and the Panthers, but Carolina came out on 31-26 thanks to the Panthers’ passing game carrying the team through the contest. The Bills did their best to keep up with Carolina with quarterback Anthony Brown Jr. completing 11-of-12 passes for 102 yards and running back Frank Gore Jr. carrying the ball 18 times for 101 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
After injuries to players like linebacker Matt Milano (torn left biceps) and wide receivers Curtis Samuel (turf toe) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (neck), the Bills decided to rest their starters for this game so players like Josh Allen took the night off. With this game being heavy on evaluation of the bottom half of the roster, here is stock report for the Bills following Saturday’s loss:
Stock Up: QB Anthony Brown Jr.
Aug 24, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Anthony Brown Jr. (5) throws a pass as Carolina Panthers defensive end Kenny Dyson Jr. (55) gives pressure in the fourth quarter pre-season game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Brown has been a busy man over the past week as he went from quarterbacking for the Las Vegas Raiders to being one of the signal-callers for a Bills team needing enough warm bodies under center to get through the preseason. Despite a short turnaround period, Brown stepped to the challenge and had an uber-efficient throwing performance and even ripped off a 13-yard run as well to show how he can be a dual-threat is his bid to one of the backups for Buffalo.
Stock Down: K Tyler Bass' Long Game
Aug 24, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass (2) attempts a field goal with punter Sam Martin (8) placing the ball in the fourth quarter pre-season game against the Carolina Panthers at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
It’s hard to take away a substantial amount from this kind of preseason game given that the Bills were being cautious with the players that they know they will be depending on once the regular season begins. For someone like Bass, who has been solid kicking the football overall, is still having his struggles on long-range kicks as he missed a 51-yard field goal. That will be something for Bills fans to monitor as this season progresses.
Stock Up: RB Frank Gore Jr.
Aug 24, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills running back Frank Gore Jr. (20) tries to break a tackle by Carolina Panthers cornerback Lamar Jackson (31) in the third quarter pre-season game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
As mentioned above, Gore went off for 101 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries as he was clearly the lead back for Saturday’s tilt against the Panthers. It’s clear that James Cook is the starting running back for the Bills heading into this regular season, but it should be noted that players like Gore and Ray Davis are making decisions amongst who to keep in the running back very hard for Brandon Beane and company.
Stock Down: Bills Passing Game
Aug 24, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Ben DiNucci (15) throws a pass in the second quarter pre-season game against the Carolina Panthers at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
While Anthony Brown Jr. and Ben DiNucci played well despite being put under pressure to keep Josh Allen from having to play any more snaps in a preseason that hasn’t been kind to the Bills, the passing game has left a lot to be desired. Buffalo put up 164 passing yards on 27 attempts while the Panthers dropped 340 yards on only 10 more attempts. Granted, the starters did not play in this one so the hope is that the passing offense won’t continue to be this limited.
Stock Up: CB Te'Cory Couch
Aug 24, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills cornerback Te’Cory Couch (33) tackles Carolina Panthers cornerback Anthony Brown (35) during the second half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Couch did not make any plays that made it into the box score during his coverage reps, but what he did in other facets of the game is what makes his performance more encouraging. Couch is trying to get one of the cornerback spots for the Bills and on Saturday, he showed that he was willing to do the little things for his position as he piled up 10 tackles (eight solo) and also picked up a sack.
Stock Down: Special Teams
Buffalo Bills cornerback Kyron Brown chases the Carolina Panthers’ D’Shawn Jamison during the second half of the preseason game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Aug. 24, 2024.
While there was already talk about special teams earlier in this piece, this section will focus on the coverage game as the Panthers ripped off three kick returns of at least 13 yards, with Ihmir Smith-Marsette putting up a 46-yard return to set Carolina up with great field position. Most of the players in this game for Buffalo will most likely be part of the special teams unit during the regular season so the hope is that this portion of the team can be improved before the games start counting towards the record.
