On a picture-perfect afternoon at the new Highmark Stadium, Josh Allen led the Buffalo Bills on a pair of scoring drives as the Bills kicked off the preseason with a 29-14 win over the Carolina Panthers in the first game ever played in Buffalo’s new palace.
Today’s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off by recapping Buffalo’s win in its preseason opener and examining which players are on the rise and who saw their stock take a hit in Week 1 of the preseason.
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Check out the assessments below and then let us know your thoughts on the game in the comments section.
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 15: Keon Coleman #0 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates his touchdown with teammates during the first half against the Carolina Panthers at Highmark Stadium on August 15, 2026 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Observations and standouts from Buffalo’s 29-14 win over Carolina
Bills fans have heard all offseason about how quarterback Josh Allen and new wide receiver D.J. Moore have been working on their chemistry, and on Saturday, in the team’s preseason debut, that on-field-rapport and big-play potential was on display for all to see as Allen connected with Moore for three catches for 61 yards, including a 32-yard gain on a short crossing route the very first time Allen targeted Moore.
Allen started the game and engineered two scoring drives, including a his nine-yard TD pass to Keon Coleman on a play where Allen navigated pressure in the pocket, stepped up, allowed Coleman to find a gap in coverage and rifled in a nine-yard TD strike, the first touchdown scored in new Highmark Stadium.
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Allen completed 6 of 8 passes for 111 yards and one TD, Moore finished with three catches for 61 yards, Khalil Shakir caught both of his targets for 41 yards, and James Cook ran five times for 21 yards as Buffalo’s starting offense was on the field for two series.
What else stood out from the win? Defensive tackle Deone Walker was a handful, repeatedly getting into the backfield and finishing with three tackles, a sack and a quarterback hurry; running back Ray Davis accounted for 53 yards of offense (four catches for 32 yards and three rushes for 21 yards) while backfield mate Ian Wheeler carried the ball seven times for 41 yards with a TD; defensive back Jordan Hancock had a pair of tackles for a loss among his four stops; outside linebacker Mike Danna had a pair of sacks; rookie edge rusher T.J. Parker recorded a sack and looked very comfortable in Jim Leonhard‘s defense; backup QB Kyle Allen was an efficient 14 of 16 (87.5%) for 108 yards in relief of Josh Allen; and undrafted rookie cornerback Kani Walker continues to make big plays, anticipating a fourth-quarter pass and coming away with the interception.
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 15: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers gets sacked by Deone Walker #96 of the Buffalo Bills during the first half at Highmark Stadium on August 15, 2026 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bills react to preseason victory
Hear from quarterback Josh Allen, head coach Joe Brady, wide receiver Khalil Shakir, defensive tackle Deone Walker, and other members of the Bills following Buffalo’s 29-14 win over Carolina.
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 15: Khalil Shakir #10 and Keon Coleman #0 of the Buffalo Bills celebrate during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers at Highmark Stadium on August 15, 2026 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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