Week 2 Recap: Panthers 23 – Bills 24
By James Kriger
The Bills played their second home game in 2 weeks as they took on the Carolina Panthers. Both teams went into the game with 0-1 records and it was close game all the way the final seconds. Below are the more notable highlights from the game.
Panthers win the toss and elect to receive the ball, after marching down to the Bills 20 yard line Mario Williams sacked Cam Newton for a loss of 6 yards. On the next play Kiko Alonso intercepts a Newton pass on the 19 yard line.
EJ Manuel’s first pass is to full back Frank Summers for a gain of 34 yards and the Bills easily move the ball to the Carolina 20 before being shut down. Dan Carpenter’s 42 yard field goal attempt is wide right
Marcell Dareus was injured during Carolina’s drive but soon after returned to the game.
The Bills defense plays strong and Mario Williams gets his 2nd sack of the day on 3rd and 2 for a loss of 5 yards forcing a punt.
CJ Spiller had a nice 21 yard run but are eventually forced to punt 4 plays later after an overthrown pass to Robert Woods
Carolina did not do much on their possession and are soon forced to punt
First penalty of the game is on Buffalo and is a 5 yard false start infraction
Carolina’s Josh Thomas was injured and headed to the locker room.
After missing a 42 yard field goal attempt Dan Carpenter try’s for a 55 yarder goes right down the middle
Carolina 0 – Buffalo 3
The Bills force a punt in only 3 plays, Manny Lawson took a 5 yard neutral zone infraction on the punt giving Carolina a 4th and 4 and still forcing them to punt.
The Bills took a 10 yard holding penalty on a 28 yard run from Spiller and the Bills punt 3 plays later.
Carolina does not do much on their possession and Mario Williams gets his 3rd sack of the game on a 3rd and 10 for a loss of 7 yards and resulting in a Panthers punt.
Buffalo gets stuffed on their running game and after a 2 yard pass to Scott Chandler on 3rd and 5 the Bills punt.
Searcy gets a 10 yard holding penalty and the Panthers drive 90 yards in 10 plays capped off by a 13 yard touchdown pass to Greg Olsen
Carolina 7 – Buffalo 3 End of 1st Half
The Bills start the second half with the ball and EJ manuel connects on his first 5 passes before Robert Woods is called for offensive pass interference
Carolina lost 2 players due to injury on the drive
After a failed at attempt at 3rd and goal on the 2 yard line Buffalo settles for a field goal
Carolina 7 – Buffalo 6
Buffalo gets a defensive pass interference penalty early into the drive
Dareus and Mario Williams split the 4th sack of the game for a loss of 11 yards on 3rd and 7 and Carolina is forced to punt
Buffalo gets a defensive holding penalty on the punt which results in an automatic first down for the Panthers
4 plays later Cam Newton throws a 40 yard touchdown pass to Ted Ginn
Carolina 14 – Buffalo 6
The Bills respond by driving 80 yards in 8 plays on a scoring drive capped off with a 4 yard touchdown run by Fred Jackson, the Bills attempt a 2 point conversion which is good on a pass to Robert Woods
Carolina 14 – Buffalo 14
The Bills defense comes back very aggressive and give the Panthers nothing to work with but take an unnecessary roughness penalty negating a 4th and 12
The Bills defense continues to play strong however and the Panthers are forced to punt 4 plays later
On the second play of the drive EJ Manuel is sacked and fumbles the ball which is recovered by Carolina inside the red zone.
Kiko Alonso brings tremendous pressure on 1st and goal on the 4 and forces Newton to make a pass for a loss of 5 yards.
Bills defense continues to bring pressure and the Panthers settle for a field goal
Carolina 17 – Buffalo 14
On the second play of the Bills drive EJ Manuel throws his first NFL interception giving Carolina the ball at the Buffalo 26
On 3rd and 4 Kiko Alonso sacks Cam Newton for a loss of 1 and Carolina settles for a field goal
Carolina 20 – Buffalo 14
CJ Spiller starts off the drive with a 46 yard run but the Bills are forced to try a 48 yard field goal and the kick is good.
Carolina 20 – Buffalo 17
The Panthers mainly ran Tolbert down to the Buffalo 21 yard line but the defense tightened up and forced a 39 yard field goal
Carolina 23 – Buffalo 17
Buffalo gets the ball back with 1:38 remaining and no timeouts as they used them all trying to keep time on the clock during the Panthers drive
EJ Manuel moves the ball fluidly until he throws an interception inside the red zone with 0:21 left on the clock, the Panthers were called for pass interference on the play giving the ball back to the Bills and setting up 1st and 10 on on the Carolina 11 with 0:14 remaining
After a 9 yard scramble by Manuel he then hit a wide open Stevie Johnson in the corner of the end zone for a touch down. The drive was 9 plays for 80 yards in 1:36.
Carolina 23 – Buffalo 24
Carolina got the ball back at their own 40 with one second left and Kiko Alonso sacked Cam Newton for a loss of 16 yards. End of game
Carolina 23 – Buffalo 24 Final