The Carolina Panthers were not able to spoil the party over at the new Highmark Stadium on Saturday.
Here are the highlights from Carolina's 29-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills . . .
Panthers return to the end zone - BUF 29, CAR 14
Trask finds wide receiver John Metchie III for a 9-yard touchdown.
Metchie III finds the endzone 💪
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) August 15, 2026
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📲 In-market in the Panthers app pic.twitter.com/IJDflCvaPR
Buffalo leads 29-14 with 20 seconds remaining in the game.
Panthers are picked, Bills capitalize - BUF 29, CAR 7
Quarterback Kyle Trask, on his first drive of the game, throws an interception to Bills cornerback Kani Walker. Buffalo took over at Carolina's 22-yard line.
Kani Walker gets the INT and cheers from @JoshAllenQB 👏
— NFL (@NFL) August 15, 2026
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Three plays later, running back Frank Gore Jr. rushes in a 3-yard score to give
the Bills a 29-7 lead with 4:33 left.
Bills add on - BUF 22, CAR 7
Buffalo running back Ian Wheeler punches in a 6-yard touchdown to finish off an eight-play, 49-yard drive.
Ian Wheeler scampers into the end zone 🦬
— NFL (@NFL) August 15, 2026
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Bills, after a failed two-point try, lead 22-7 with 8:46 left.
Bills extend their lead - BUF 16, CAR 7
Buffalo ends a 12-play. 70-yard drive with a 29-yard field goal by Bass.
Bills lead 16-7 with 1:29 remaining in the third quarter.
Panthers stopped on downs
The Panthers put together a long drive to start the second half. But they're stopped on a fourth-and-2 from Buffalo's 19-yard line, when Bills safety Jalon Kilgore bats down a pass from Pickett.
Carolina turns the ball over on downs after a 15-play, 51-yard touch. Buffalo leads 13-7 with 6:37 left in the third quarter.
Panthers crack the scoring column - BUF 13, CAR 7
The second-team offense, led by quarterback Kenny Pickett, gets the Panthers on the board. Pickett finds wide receiver Ja'seem Reed for a 6-yard touchdown to cap off a 10-play, 83-yard drive.
Give em' six!
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) August 15, 2026
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Reed's second touchdown of the summer makes it 13-7 Buffalo with 31 seconds left in the first half.
Buffalo adds another FG - BUF 13, CAR 0
Panthers outside linebacker Trevis Gipson tallies a sack of Bills quarterback Kyle Allen on a third-and-8 from Carolina's 19.
SACK! Backfield meeting #sack
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) August 15, 2026
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📻 @997TheFox
📲 In-market in the Panthers app pic.twitter.com/vbaNbCMR6J
Buffalo settles for a 46-yard field goal from kicker Tyler Bass and leads 13-0 with 3:22 remaining int the first half.
A third three-and-out for Carolina
The Panthers were able to pick up their first first down of the afternoon, as Young hit Coker for a 9-yard gain. But that play was called back for a 5-yard penalty.
Young is sacked and a third-and-6 and Carolina punts.
Panthers go three and out again
The starting offense fails to move the chains for their second straight possession to open the game. Their drive ended on a batted pass on a third-and-2.
Bills reach the end zone - BUF 10, CAR 0
A scrambling Allen finds wide receiver Keon Coleman for a 9-yard touchdown. The score completes an eight-play, 80-yard drive.
Josh Allen avoids the sack and finds Keon Coleman for the first TD at the new Highmark Stadium!
— NFL (@NFL) August 15, 2026
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Bills lead 10-0 with 5:12 left in the first quarter.
Panthers come up empty on their opening drive
Carolina goes three and out—with a -1 yard-rush by running back Jonathon Brooks, a 6-yard completion to tight end Tommy Tremble and an incompletion from quarterback Bryce Young on third-and-5.
Panthers punt into the end zone for a touchback.
Bills score on opening drive - BUF 3, CAR 0
Bills quarterback completed passes of 21 yards and 33 yards to wideouts Khalil Shakir and DJ Moore, respectively. Buffalo was temporarily stopped by Panthers outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips, who picked up a sack and then a pressure on back-to-back plays.
D.J. Moore's first @BuffaloBills catch of the preseason goes for 33 yards!
— NFL (@NFL) August 15, 2026
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Jaelan Phillips living in the backfield on that first drive pic.twitter.com/4kdcG8gRTo
— Chase Justice WYFF News 4 (@ChaseJusticeTV) August 15, 2026
Inside move by Jaelan Phillips to beat Spencer Brown and pressure Allen pic.twitter.com/oWZPEmUqRx
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) August 15, 2026
They settle for a 33-yard field goal, taking a 3-0 lead with 11:22 left in the first quarter.
Stream Panthers vs. Bills (free trial)
What TV channel is Panthers vs. Bills game on today?
TV channel: Panthers Television Network (Click here for list of local affiliates)
Streaming: Fubo (In market) | NFL Game Pass (Out of market)
Broadcast team: Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Steve Smith Sr. (analyst), Jake Delhomme (analyst) and Carla Metts (sideline)
Panthers vs. Bills start time
Date: Saturday, Aug. 15. 2026
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Location: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y.
Panthers tickets
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Panthers 2026 preseason schedule
- Hall of Fame Game: vs. Arizona Cardinals (Win, 33-30)
- Week 1: at Buffalo Bills (Saturday, Aug. 15 at 1:00 p.m. ET)
- Week 2: at Jacksonville Jaguars (Friday, Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET)
- Week 3: vs. Houston Texans (Friday, Aug. 28 at 7:00 p.m. ET)
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers clobbered by Bills: Highlights from Week 1 of the preseason
