Bills dominate Panthers in preseason opener at Highmark Stadium
The Buffalo Bills defeated the Carolina Panthers 29-14 in their first preseason game, showcasing strong performances from quarterback Josh Allen, defensive tackle Deone Walker and new coaching staff.
The Buffalo Bills opened their 2026 preseason with a 29-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers at the newly built Highmark Stadium on Saturday. Quarterback Josh Allen completed all five of his drop-back passes for 100 yards and a touchdown, raising his average depth of target to 13.6 yards compared with last season's 7.8 yards.
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady employed a mix of deep routes and play-action passes, while defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard used varied blitz packages that confused the Panthers' offensive line, resulting in four sacks and limiting Carolina to a 4.9 yards-per-attempt passing average.
Second-year defensive tackle Deone Walker, a 2025 fourth-round pick, recorded a sack, two pressures and three tackles in just ten snaps, drawing attention to his development in the interior defensive line.
The Bills also displayed depth in their secondary, with slot corner Dee Alford and safety-nickel hybrids Jordan Hancock and Jalon Kilgore contributing in the game, suggesting increased positional flexibility for the back seven.
Center Lloyd Cushenberry, signed on a one-year deal, performed without allowing a pressure on ten pass-blocking snaps, providing a potential backup option should starter Connor McGovern miss time due to injury.