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Carolina Panthers look to build on preseason win over Buffalo Bills

By Raphael Garcia

ORCHARD PARK, NY - AUGUST 09: DJ Moore #12 of the Carolina Panthers hurdles through Buffalo Bills defenders during the second half at New Era Field on August 9, 2018 in Orchard Park, New York. Carolina defeats Buffalo in the preseason game 28-23. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - AUGUST 09: DJ Moore #12 of the Carolina Panthers hurdles through Buffalo Bills defenders during the second half at New Era Field on August 9, 2018 in Orchard Park, New York. Carolina defeats Buffalo in the preseason game 28-23. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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The Carolina Panthers had to come from behind to get a preseason win over the Buffalo Bills, shining a light on where the team needs to improve.

The NFL preseason is an opportunity for fans and organizations to get a grasp of who will fit into the final roster in a few weeks. One game into the Carolina Panthers preseason and there’s different storylines on both sides of the ball that will continue during the next few weeks. After a 28-23 victory over the Buffalo Bills, these are the top narratives for the Panthers

Offensively, the Panthers looked good through four quarters of play on Thursday. Initially the group was getting off to a slow start, but by the end of the game, it seemed like things were coming together.

Four different quarterbacks played on Thursday and many eyes were on Cam Newton as he continues to develop under new offensive coordinator Norv Turner. One of the big narratives this season is whether or not Newton can improve from a completion percentage angle. Throughout his career, he’s averaged a 58 percent completion rate, but he’s continued to aim for 60. Thursday night, he completed 6-of-9 passes and orchestrated a drive down the field for a score.

Taylor Heinicke and Garrett Gilbert continued their battle for the backup position. This is one of the biggest needs for the Panthers and it will be interesting to see which man gets more reps during the preseason to take that position. Kyle Allen is a rookie from Houston and is expected to be the odd man out when the decision is made.

When it comes to rookies, eyes were on wide receiver D.J. Moore. Moore is expected to complement Devin Funchess as a speed option on the outside. He caught four passes for one touchdown, the longest of which came on a 32-yard reception. In fact, the Panthers had a very diverse showing in the receiving unit that ended the night with 20 receptions for 298 yards and two touchdowns. It will be interesting to watch how Moore blends in with Funchess, Samuel, Greg Olsen and Christian McCaffrey — giving Carolina a dynamic passing attack.

Defensively, the Panthers didn’t look so great. They gave up 23 total points, 17 of which came in the first half. They struggled to get off of the field as the Bills converted 7-of-12 third-down conversions. The Bills had 338 yards through the air, another area of concern for the Panthers as they’ve continued to struggle in limiting the oppositions’ passing game. Carolina has continued to rebuild their defensive secondary and is still looking for answers as to who will become their standout players.

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One game down into the 2018 preseason and there’s a lot to look forward to and build upon for this Carolina Panthers team. Their come-from-behind victory over the Bills shows that there’s a lot of room for improvement and an opportunity for the Panthers to put together some dangerous looks for the teams that will stand across from them in the weeks and months to come. The Panthers next preseason game is on Friday as they welcome the Miami Dolphins to Bank of America Stadium.

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