For Joey Bosa, he isn’t the new kid on the block anymore.
Now 30 years old and in his first season with the Buffalo Bills, the former No. 3 overall pick in 2016 has seen just about everything an NFL front can throw at him. Yet here he is in 2025, playing some of his best football in nearly half a decade -- and in a Week 8 matchup against the Carolina Panthers, he could be the one to tilt the field.
Through six games, Bosa has been everything the Bills hoped he’d be when they signed him to replace the departing Von Miller.
Twenty-four pressures, two sacks, 18 hurries, and 10 total tackles don’t even tell the full story. His presence alone has forced quarterbacks to rush throws, protections to slide, and offensive coordinators to scrap portions of their game plans.
He’s been the fulcrum of Buffalo’s defensive front -- the type of veteran tone-setter every contender needs.
What makes Bosa’s continued production pop on tape is how seamlessly he’s adapted his game as he’s aged. Once built purely on explosive power and burst off the edge, Bosa has evolved into a technician -- a pass rusher who understands leverage, timing, and the subtleties of hand usage better than most in the league.
Whether he’s setting up tackles with a long-arm bull rush or countering inside on a delayed stunt, Bosa still wins in isolation, but he also wins with intelligence.
Joey Bosa has to have a big game in Week 8 vs. Panthers
Against Carolina, that blend of skill and savvy could be a nightmare for a young quarterback like Bryce Young. The Panthers’ protection unit has struggled to find consistent footing, and Young had to battle an ankle injury that forced him to leave Week 7 early.
While he’s reportedly shed his walking boot ahead of Week 8, he’s still not operating at full mobility -- a dangerous situation with a pass rusher like Bosa closing in.
For Bosa, his versatility will allow the Bills to deploy him creatively. Defensive coordinator Bobby Babich has moved him around the front to exploit matchups, lining him up both on the edge and occasionally shading him inside over guards.
Against Carolina, that flexibility could be crucial. Although really good in Week 7, the Panthers’ line has had trouble handling stunts and delayed pressures, which plays directly into Bosa’s strengths.
Beyond his schematic impact, Bosa brings an element of leadership that the Bills defense has needed.
After years of relying on Miller to be the veteran presence off the edge, Buffalo now leans on Bosa’s experience and discipline. Younger players like Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa have benefited from his mentorship, learning how to attack from different alignments and manage in-game adjustments. That influence doesn’t show up on the stat sheet, but it’s a big part of why the Bills front has remained productive despite offseason turnover.
For Carolina, the offensive game plan will have to account for Bosa on nearly every snap.
If they slide protection his way, it opens up opportunities for others. If they don’t, Young could spend much of Sunday under duress. His internal clock -- already sped up by the Panthers’ inconsistency up front -- will have to be razor-sharp. One mistimed dropback or late progression, and Bosa’s likely to be in the backfield.
This matchup has all the makings of a “veteran statement” type of ballgame.
Bosa’s already shown this fall that his motor hasn’t faded, and against a team still finding its offensive rhythm, his presence could dictate the entire tone of the contest.