James Cook notched a career day against the Carolina Panthers and the Bills Bills defense made a huge statement against Andy Dalton to secure an easy win in Charlotte. Sean McDermott is 9-0 coming out
of the bye during his NFL career. The Bills avoided a three-game losing streak for the first time in Josh Allen’s career.
Bills vs Panthers first quarter recap
The Carolina Panthers took the opening kickoff with backup QB Andy Dalton and went three and out. Jordan Poyer got the start in place of Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin, both on injured reserve. Joe Andreesen was in the game in place of the injured Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard.
From the jump, the Bills rode the running game. James Cook started the first Bills drive with a 12-yard toss run on his way to four carries for 38 yards. After that, they subbed in Ty Johnson for a run for no gain, then a pass to Ray Davis couldn’t find the mark, so the rotation continues as does the ineffectiveness of it. On third and 10, the Panthers brought pressure away from the Bills offensive line slide and brought down Josh Allen for a four-yard sack. Matt Prater was true. Bills 3, Panther 0
The Bills saw the rookie debut of first-round pick Maxwell Hairston in their second defensive drive, taking the spot of Tre’Davious White. Carolina got a couple first downs through the air and via penalty to move into Bills territory before Rico Dowdle busted off a 24-yard gain. A couple plays later, Andy Dalton was flushed from the pocket and trying to just pick up a few yards when Greg Rousseau hit him from behind and popped the ball loose. Christian Benford returned it six yards to stop the scoring threat. Shaq Thompson was in for Buffalo Joe on that drive.
Buffalo went back to Cook on the first two plays for a combined 30 yards. The Panthers gave up 44 rushing yards in Week 7, and Cook went over that already. Two incomplete passes brought up third and 10, but on National Tight Ends Day, Allen found Dalton Kincaid over the middle for 23 yards. An Elijah Moore reception was correctly overturned on replay, but they picked up the first down into the red zone.
The Bills found a lot of success running behind Dion Dawkins in the first quarter. They finished the first 15 minutes with 79 rushing yards from James Cook on 9 carries, an average of 8.8 yards per rush. Josh Allen was not locked in, going just 3-of-8 for 38 yards.
Bills vs Panthers second quarter recap
The second quarter started with a Dawkins false start but a pass to Dawson Knox made it third and short. A successful tush push was negated by illegal formation on Curtis Samuel, and on 3rd and 6, Josh Allen took a 16-yard sack. Allen has looked bad today — not just bad for him, but bad in general. Prater made the field goal from 43. BILLS 6, PANTHERS 0.
Dalton uncorked a pass on the following drive for 18 yards to move the Panthers into Bills territory on the first play. So well-timed runs moved Carolina near the red zone, but a holding call made it 2nd and 10. A third-and-seven pass couldn’t quite hit, and the Panthers settled for a field goal. Tre White and Joe Andreesen were back in the game for this drive, as the Bills rotate players on the defense. BILLS 6, PANTHERS 3
After a couple plays, Cook took the rock 64 yards untouched for a long touchdown. The best rushing half for any back in the NFL this season. Prater missed the extra point. BILLS 12, PANTHERS 3
The Panthers went three and out with Maxwell Hairston gaining his first NFL tackle.
Then the Bills went three and out, with a Khalil Shakir bobble forcing the punt.
After a nice drive start by the Panthers, A.J. Epenesa jumped a screen pass, bounced off his knee up into the air, and caught it, returning it to the one. A Josh Allen tush push capped the drive. BILLS 19, PANTHERS 3
Carolina put together a really nice ensuing drive. Joey Bosa dropped Dalton for a second-down sack, but on third and 11, the Panthers got 22. They kept moving the ball into Buffalo territory with just 30 seconds left on the arm of Dalton. Bosa brought Dalton down again but it was with his leg, and he was called for tripping, setting up the Panthers with first and goal. But a Greg Rousseau third-down sack, made the Panthers do a jailbreak field goal attempt and they missed it. The Bills kept the 16-point lead.
James Cook has 153 yards, while Josh Allen is 6-of-13 for just 66 yards. Allen does have one rush for a single yard and a touchdown.
Bills vs Panthers third quarter recap
The Bills took the opening drive of the half for a touchdown despite some penalty problems. Some short runs and passes moved the chains, but a big play was a 54-yard catch and run by Khalil Shakir. The safety took a great angle to cut off number 10, but he cut it back to take it to the house. BILLS 26, PANTHERS 3
Buffalo forced a three and out on the ensuing drive. Jordan Phillips came up with a big sack on second down and Andy Dalton couldn’t handle the snap on third down after it bounced off his running back. He fell on the ball and punted.
The Bills matriculated the ball down the field, mostly on the running game once again with a couple well-timed passes from Josh Allen. James Cooked topped 200 yards with his rushing touchdown. BILLS 33, PANTHERS 3
With five minutes left, Dalton was hit as he threw on first down. It bounced right to Deone Walker for the fumble recovery. Michael Hoecht has his first sack with the Bills.
The Bills were already in field goal range, and Allen and company moved them to the doorstep. Another tush push gave the Bills another tuddy. BILLS 40, PANTHERS 3
Carolina moved the ball at the end of the third quarter, and have the ball near midfield.
Bills vs Panthers fourth quarter recap
Carolina kept moving it in the fourth quarter, and Chuba Hubbard got into the end zone with 10:33 left. Carolina missed the extra point on just a brutal day. BILLS 40, PANTHERS 9
After that, it was Mitch Trubisky time. The Bills pulled most of their starters. They got it near midfield before punting.
Another sack of Andy Dalton stalled the Panthers ensuing drive, and Carolina punted.
The Bills got the ball back with 3:19. Carolina had three timeouts plus the two-minute warning but chose to let the clock run.
BILLS WIN!
