By Daniel Lacy - After a hard fought game, the Panthers lost to the Bills, 20-18. The Bills were clearly the better team in the first half, but the Panthers, led by Joe Webb, looked much better in the second half and were almost able to stage a comeback. In the end, it came down to a missed PAT and two failed two point conversions. They unexpectedly recovered an onside kick and looked as if they had a chance to win the game, but rookie WR Marcus Lucas lost control of a pass and Buffalo CB Jonathan Meeks intercepted it and ultimately ended the game.
It started off with Buffalo making an impressive drive down the field led by EJ Manuel and a few big runs from CJ Spiller. However, they failed a fourth down conversion near the goal line after LB Chase Blackburn tackled RB Fred Jackson in the backfield. Pushed against their own goal line, the Panthers went three and out after a pair of short runs and an overthrown pass intended for first round WR Kelvin Benjamin.
Buffalo started the next drive with great field position. A pair of passes to first round WR Sammy Watkins got the Bills in field goal range as the put the first points on the board. In the ensuing drive, QB Derek Anderson impressively converted a pair of third down conversions with his legs as the Panthers drove down the field. The drive concluded with probably the most eye opening play of the night, when Anderson threw it down the sideline and Benjamin made the diving TD catch despite tripping while the ball was in the air. It was his only catch of the night, but plays like that solidify his status as the no. 1 wideout on this team. Backup K/P Jordan Gay missed the PAT.
The next two drives ultimately ended in punts, then each team proceeded to put in their second team players. The Bills, led by former Duke QB Thad Lewis, drove down the field to set up a score, but K Dan Carpenter's attempt at a 45 yd field goal bounced off of the left upright. QB Matt Blanchard, who was on the team's practice squad last season, got sacked and fumbled on his first dropback and Buffalo recovered on the Panthers' 28 yd line. RB Bryce Brown proceeded to run twice for 25 yds, and it took RB Anthony Dixon two attempts to plow it into the endzone to put Buffalo up 10-6.
Another Blanchard drive, another three and out. Buffalo muffed the punt but recovered and they had a chance to extend the lead, but they too went three and out, giving the Panthers a chance to put up points with just under two minutes left in the half. However, on second down, Blanchard overthrew WR Tiquan Underwood and DB DaNorris Searcy came up with the interception. Buffalo ended the half with a 42 yd field goal from Carpenter.
Fortunately, QB Joe Webb started off the second half in an attempt to stage a comeback. Unfortunately, the Panthers had been unable to get anything going on the ground all night, and despite the lineup change, they still weren't able to. The first drive consisted of a completion to WR Brenton Bersin and an impressive 3rd down conversion in which Webb scrambled and fought his way through three defenders to pick up a first down. However, the drive stalled around midfield and the Panthers were forced to punt. Brown looked impressive for the Bills all night, picking up a pair of first downs for them on their next drive. However, they were forced to punt, but ended up pinning the Panthers on their own 5. Once again having little room to work with, the Panthers went three and out.
The Bills were already in field goal range after gaining just one first down, but on the next play, QB Jeff Tuel overthrew the receiver and last year's preseason All-Pro CB Josh Norman came down with the interception in the endzone. Webb threw a pass deep down field that was caught by WR Tavarres King and ended up being a 52 yd completion but was called back because of a holding penalty by Canadian LT David Foucault. However, the Panthers were able to drive down the field with a few nice catches in traffic from King as they looked to tie the game. The drive ended with a 6 yd TD run from UDFA RB Darin Reaves, where he outran some players and flat out ran over a couple others. They could've tied the game, but decided to go for two and failed. 13-12 Buffalo early in the 4th.
A good kickoff return from former NC State WR TJ Graham put the Bills in good field position. Brown again gained the majority of the Bills' yards as the drove into the redzone. Dixon attempted to finish it, but the Panthers' run defense wasn't going to let him through this time. The drive ended with a 1 yd pass from Tuel to WR Chris Summers,
Down 20-12 with just under six minutes left, the Panthers had a shot to tie the game. They impressively were able to drive down the field, having to convert on third and fourth down a few times. Struggling to find a rhythm with the wideouts, Webb found TE Brandon Williams open deep in the middle of the field for the 31 yd TD. The went for the two point conversion to attempt to tie the game, but Webb threw it at the feet of UDFA WR Philly Brown. 20-18, Buffalo with about 1:30 left.
The Panthers were forced to attempt an onside kick if they wanted any chance to win the game. Webb completed a pass to RB Fozzy Whittaker then to WR Marcus Lucas. However, Lucas dropped the next pass and Bills' CB Jonathan Meeks caught it out of the air, allowing the Bills to kneel out the rest of the clock.
Preseason games are all about the coaches and front office affiliates observing and evaluating the players on the roster so they can decide who makes the final cut and set the depth chart for the upcoming season. Here are some of my observations:
LB Chase Blackburn has faced some competition for the starting job from second year LB AJ Klein, but played very well this game and looked to have solidified his job. He made a few tackles in the backfield, including one in the beginning of the game near the goal line on fourth down that prevented the Bills from getting points despite an impressive drive.
With RB Kenjon Barner starting, the Panthers weren't able to get their running attack going all night. However, that wasn't entirely his fault. The first team offensive line had a lot of trouble blocking and failed to open up holes for the RBs. They were a little better in pass protection, but Anderson was obviously having to scramble more than he usually does.
Despite having a rough camp, second round DE Kony Ealy played well, logging a few pressures and tackles in the backfield, showing constant effort and hustling whenever he was on the field.
Of the receivers, King looked the best. He finished with 4 catches for 50 yds and would have eclipsed 100 yds had his 52 yd reception not been negated by the penalty. No other WR had more than 3 catches for 23 yds (Philly Brown, who made a few special teams plays but I would've liked to have seen more from him on offense).
TE Brandon Williams was somewhat quiet until the end of the game when he caught the 31 yd TD that almost tied the game. He finished with 3 catches for 50 yds and did a decent job blocking as well. He has great size and speed with a ton of potential, and word is that he improved a lot over the offseason. Given these facts, he has a better chance to make the roster but will have to beat out free agent pickup Ed Dickson for a role in the offense, which is easier said than done.
QB Matt Blanchard, who was on the practice squad last year, struggled mightily for the short amount of time he played. He was in three drives and they ended with a fumble, a three and out, then an interception. If he continues to play that poorly, he might not even make the practice squad.
I think I will wait a week to predict the final roster for the Panthers. I would like to see more from the players on the roster bubble, most notably the receivers, so I can make an estimate on where each player stands. Thanks!
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