Carolina @ Buffalo preview
Highmark Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 25, 2009 ) Buffalo 20, Carolina 9
Two teams looking to bounce back from narrow defeats clash when the Buffalo Bills host the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The Panthers' offense sputtered in a 12-7 loss to Seattle in Week 1, while the Bills lost 23-21 to New England on a late field goal. Buffalo has won four of five all-time meetings, including a 20-9 victory in the most recent matchup in 2009.
It's a matchup of young, multi-dimensional quarterbacks in Carolina's Cam Newton and Buffalo rookie E.J. Manuel, who posted a solid 105.5 rating in his pro debut. "Obviously with every play I was continuing to get more and more confidence in myself and continuing to relax, stay calm throughout the whole thing and stay poised as a quarterback," Manuel told reporters. Newton struggled against a strong Seahawks pass defense but should have more success against a Buffalo defense that surrendered 431 total yards last week and is banged-up in the secondary with cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore (wrist) and Ron Brooks (foot) out and safety Jairus Byrd (foot) questionable.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, Fox. LINE: Carolina -1. O/U: 44.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (0-1): Carolina needs to get something going down the field - Newton was 16-for-23 for a career-low 125 yards against Seattle - to open things up for the running game. DeAngelo Williams rushed for 86 yards on 17 carries in the opener, but also fumbled inside the 10 when the Panthers were driving toward a potential go-ahead score. The pass defense struggled a week ago and needs to pressure Manuel after sacking Russell Wilson only once in the opener.
ABOUT THE BILLS (0-1): Buffalo had limited success on offense in Week 1 but needs more from electric running back C.J. Spiller, who fumbled on his second carry and was limited to 41 yards on 17 rushes. The defense was opportunistic, forcing three turnovers, and settled in after a rough first quarter, but couldn't come up with a late stop. The Bills were just 4-for-13 on third down, which led to a lopsided time of possession (37:43) in favor of the Patriots, and it showed as the defense wore down in the fourth quarter.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Newton is the only player in NFL history with more than 8,000 passing yards, 40 passing touchdowns, 1,000 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns in his first 33 games.
2. Bills RB Fred Jackson needs 148 rushing yards to surpass Joe Cribbs (4,445) for the third-most in franchise history.
3. The Panthers are 17-3 when Williams has 18 or more carries.
PREDICTION: Panthers 23, Bills 19