‘For at least one day, they seemed to have the answers. James Cook provided explosive plays, running for 216 yards and two touchdowns, as the Bills rolled past the Carolina Panthers 40-9 on Sunday afternoon in Charlotte.’
BillsBeat - October 27, 2025
Carucci Take 2: Big win doesn’t necessarily mean Bills are back
‘Still, as comfortable a margin as the victory was, it did not necessarily make a resounding statement that the “Bills are back!” The game probably said more about the ineptitude of the Panthers and journeyman quarterback Andy Dalton, who became a starter after an ankle injury Bryce Young suffered last week, than it did about the Bills. Dalton set up two touchdowns and a field goal with an interception and a pair of fumbles (he had a third fumble that he recovered). Dalton also was sacked seven times while throwing for 175 yards.’
James Cook’s career day carries Buffalo to dominant victory
‘“James is playing outstanding right now,” quarterback Josh Allen added about his running back. “Our offensive line is giving him a lot of holes, but he’s making some unbelievable cuts and outrunning people. He’s doing what James Cook does.”’
Thad Brown: Bills look great in Carolina, but what did they prove?
‘Buffalo finished with seven different defensive linemen registering at least half a sack. The D-line played well, but not that well. A chunk of those sacks came thanks to excellent coverage courtesy a secondary featuring two rookies getting their first ever defensive play time. Max Hairston and Jordan Hancock seemed fine enough in their debut. Not spectacular, but no big mistakes either. Bills fans will sign up for an afternoon without repeated facepalms. It’ll require an all-22 film review to get a better handle on their performance, but the seven sacks and nine points allowed speak volumes.’
Bills wallop Panthers as Cook goes over 200 yards
‘James Cook led the way offensively for Buffalo, rushing for 216 yards and two touchdowns, while Khalil Shakir added a 54-yard receiving touchdown for good measure. Defensively, Buffalo was as strong as they have been all season long, sacking Andy Dalton seven times and forcing three turnovers.’
“Starting fast;” James Cook speaks about career day vs Panthers
‘“That’s what we harped on all week, just starting fast, and setting our identity as a football team and I feel like we did that early and often,” said Cook.’
Bills 40, Panthers 9 | Final score, game recap + highlights
‘Running back James Cook III came out on the field ready to have an explosive afternoon for the Buffalo Bills.’
Top 3 things we learned from Bills vs. Panthers
‘Buffalo’s 40 points scored is the most coming out of the bye in the McDermott era and their 9 points allowed is the fewest in that span.’
'Different attitude, different energy' | Buffalo gave a full-team effort in Sunday's win against Carolina
‘”If you go back and watch that play, [Moore], he was coming from the other side, making a really key block, allowing [Shakir] to spring free and that’s the effort. It’s not going to get talked about in the box score, but … Moore, makes that play there,” Allen said on Sunday. “I’ve got to be better for [Moore]. I missed him on a deep out earlier in the game, but for him to not care about that, to put his head down, go make an extra block for a guy, speaks a lot about the character that he has.”‘
BillsBeat - October 26, 2025
As homecoming awaits, here's how Shaq Thompson has gone from afterthought to integral part of Bills' defense
‘“I used to do that, but I try to stay away from that now,” Bills linebackers coach Al Holcomb said with a laugh Friday, asked about whether he ever ribs Thompson about his baseball career. “I don’t want him to put his hands on me and get physical with me. I’m a little bit older at this point. I might crumble if he gets too close to me. So, I try to stay away from that, but he knows I know all the dark secrets, and I do give him a hard time, just as he gives me a hard time.”‘
Four keys for the Buffalo Bills to beat the Carolina Panthers
‘The Bills have 44 penalties this season for 351 yards. McDermott has certain penalties that especially irk him. “The line of scrimmage penalties are 100% within our control and those are not negotiable, McDermott said. “And then the holding penalties are, again, technique in this case and controlling what we can control.” But the Bills are making those corrections. “That’s been addressed, it’s been looked at,” McDermott said. “The spotlight has been shined on that area in particular. And we have to be better because it’s impacting offensive drives, it’s impacting defensive drives as well. So it’s hard to win when you’re actually hurting yourself without the offense or the opponent even doing anything.”’
Bills numbers to know for Week 8: How will they stop the Panthers' rushing attack?
‘Carolina ranks fourth in rushing EPA, third in rushing yards per game (140.1) and eighth in yards per carry (4.7), according to Next Gen Stats. The Panthers’ 23 rushes of 10-plus yards are more than all but seven NFL teams. They aren’t going to use one back, either. Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard are expected to split carries for the second week in a row. Dowdle’s 551 rushing yards are third most in the NFL. He ran for 389 yards in wins over the Dolphins and Cowboys. 0Hubbard rushed for 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024. The Panthers are fifth in ESPN’s run block win rate metric, but how will their offense look without a mobile quarterback? Andy Dalton isn’t a threat to run like Bryce Young.’
Bills-Panthers: Who you got? Buffalo News writers make their predictions for Sunday's game
‘Who would have thought this Week 8 game in Carolina would mean so much to the bills? the opponent isn’t a pushover, either. the Panthers have won three games in a row, and their rushing attack has been one of the NFL’s best. the bye week wasn’t enough time for the coaching staff to fix all that’s ailed the defense, but the bills will be well-prepared for this game. they’ll tackle better and, on offense, Allen will use short and intermediate passes to pick apart the Panthers. this won’t be the blowout some projected when the schedule was released. However, it will be a much-needed win for a team that needs an infusion of confidence.’
Bills Mailbag: Joe Brady's play-calling a source of growing frustration
‘Whether it’s lamenting being “too cute” or getting right to the point about those failed plays, McDermott’s frustration has been readily apparent the past couple games when it comes to those plays in particular and just how generally hard everything has looked for the offense. I’m willing to bet Brady put in some long days over the bye week searching for some answers. We’ll find out starting against Carolina how many he was able to unearth.’
From the taproom to the tailgate: A game day guide to Bills beers and ciders
‘Just starting out? Reach for something light, like approachable lagers such as Thin Man’s Pills Mafia Light, Pearl Street/RiverWorks’ Buffalo vs. Everybody Light or Community Beer Works’ Let’s Go Pils. Want some hops? Try Ellicottville Brewing’s Fan Zone IPA, a 5% hazy IPA with notes of peach, apricot and stone fruit. Or are you craving something darker? There’s Big Ditch’s Make Me Wanna Stout, a coffee and cream stout brewed with Revolution coffee beans from Public Espresso. Even if you’re not a beer drinker, Clarksburg Cider has you covered with Shout! hard cider.’