Location: Bank of America Stadium
Final score: Bills 40 Panthers 9
Records: Bills (5-2), Panthers (4-4)
Next opponent: Bills v. Chiefs Sunday, Nov. 2 at 4:25 p.m. EST
Coming out of their bye week, the Bills dominated on Sunday against the Panthers. Buffalo extended its winning record after a bye to 9-0 and snapped its two-game losing streak with a 40-9 win over Carolina.
Game Recap
Running back James Cook III came out on the field ready to have an explosive afternoon for the Buffalo Bills.
Throughout the afternoon, Cook took advantage of the left side of the field, and his rushing touchdown was no different. Roughly halfway through the second quarter with Buffalo up 6-3, Cook had the third and final touch of the Bills' drive in their own territory.
After making one Carolina defender miss, the running back was left untouched the rest of the way into the end zone. Cook somersaulted to break the plane and log the first touchdown on Sunday between both teams.
Cook started Sunday's game catching a quick toss from quarterback Josh Allen and squeezing through the defense to pick up 12 yards. From thereon out, he was nearly unstoppable, and the Panthers defense had no answer for the Bills run game. Cook had a 153-yard performance in the first half alone, which is the most in the NFL so far in 2025. His 64-yard rushing touchdown was also his second-longest rushing score of his career.
Carolina couldn't contend with Cook in the second half either.
Just behind the Panthers' 20-yard-line, Allen tossed the ball over to Cook who went straight up the middle. He swept by all of Carolina's defenders with ease as they couldn't get a hand on him on his way to tallying his second score of the afternoon.
Cook recorded 216 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries on Sunday.
Even while battling injuries early in the season, Buffalo's defense showed up on Sunday against Carolina.
With under two minutes to go in the first half, the Panthers had a chance to cut the 12-3 deficit knowing the Bills were getting the ball to open the second half. Linebacker Shaq Thompson read the play quarterback Andy Dalton called and signaled the Buffalo defense to shift right after the snap.
Defensive end A.J. Epenesa moved quickly and got his hand up to block Dalton's pass on second-and-seven. Epenesa successfully deflected the pass and found himself with the ball in his hands. The defensive end took it all the way to Carolina's one-yard-line and allowed quarterback Josh Allen to capitalize on the interception, picking up the final yard that ultimately put the Bills up 19-3 at halftime.
As the Panthers attempted to answer with time ticking down in the first half, the Bills defense put up key stops that kept momentum buzzing in favor of Buffalo.
Defensive end Joey Bosa forced Carolina to use its first timeout of the half with 35 seconds remaining after logging his third sack of the season. One completion and a second Panthers timeout later, Bosa was on track to getting his fourth. However, he was called for tripping instead and kept hope alive for Carolina to score.
Inside the five-yard-line, the Panthers were out of timeouts, and they needed the pass game to shine. Instead, the Bills came out of their timeout ready to cap off the first half. Defensive end Greg Rousseau took Dalton down on the next snap. Second ticked down fast, leaving Carolina scrambling to try and set the field goal unit up. The Panthers didn't have enough time and headed into the locker room out of breath and in a point deficit.
Hoping to respond to the Bills' first field goal attempt in the first quarter, running back Rico Dowdle powered through on third down and found open space for a 24-yard gain up the middle well into Buffalo territory.
Dalton scrambled around on second-and-11 trying to find an open receiver but eventually decided to pick up as many yards as possible to avoid a third-and-long situation. As Rousseau bodied him to bring him down, he knocked the ball out of Dalton's hands. Cornerback Christian Benford let the ball bounce up off the ground before scooping it up and extinguishing the Panthers' offensive drive.
Buffalo was rolling with the run game since the first offensive snap of the game, but the rhythm of the pass game came about in the second half. Wide receiver Khalil Shakir stepped up on the Bills' opening possession of the third quarter.
Allen looked to connect with Shakir on second-and-seven near midfield with a short pass. After the catch, Shakir turned, shoved a defender onto the ground and used it as leverage to run down along the right sideline. When running into cornerback Chau Smith-Wade, Shakir pivoted and ran inside the field and into the end zone. This extended the Bills' lead to 26-3 as their defense continued holding Dalton and the rest of Carolina off the board.
After Cook's second touchdown, Dalton came back out on the field and immediately took a sack. Defensive end Michael Hoecht logged the sack for a loss of seven yards and stripped the ball out of Dalton's hands. Defensive tackle came up with the ball at the Carolina 25-yard-line and returned it for six yards, putting Buffalo's offense inside the 20-yard-line. Allen converted this into his second one-yard rushing touchdown and the final score of the day for the Bills.
Check out the best photos from the Bills at Panthers matchup on Oct. 26 at Bank of America Stadium. This gallery is presented by Gabe's Collision.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 28, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, October 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium.
Game Highlights
Key Stats and Facts
- The Bills extend to 9-0 under Sean McDermott after the bye week.
- The Bills are 7-2 against Carolina all-time.
- Buffalo has scored 37 points on its opening, second-half drives, which is most in the NFL.
- James Cook's 79 rushing yards in the first quarter is the most he's rushed in the first quarter since Week 15 in 2023 (46) and is tied for most rushing yards in the first quarter by the Bills in the last five seasons.
- Josh Allen's 44th scramble was the first time he took a sack while scrambling.
- James Cook's 153-yard performance in the first half was the best among all running backs in the NFL in 2025 so far.
- Ed Oliver has three sacks in 2025 – Oliver has at least 2.5 sacks in all seven seasons, which is the second-longest streak by a Bills player to start his career.
- Rookie Maxwell Hairston made his NFL debut on Sunday coming back from injury.
- Joey Bosa logged his 100th career start on Sunday.
Scoring Plays
First Quarter
BUF 3, CAR 0 – M.Prater 45-yard field goal is GOOD
Second Quarter
BUF 6, CAR 0 – M.Prater 43-yard field goal is GOOD
BUF 6, CAR 3 – R.Fitzgerald 48-yard field goal is GOOD
BUF 12, CAR 3 – J.Cook left guard for 64 yards, TOUCHDOWN. M.Prater extra point is No Good, Wide Left
BUF 19, CAR 3 – J.Allen up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. M.Prater extra point is GOOD
Third Quarter
BUF 26, CAR 3 – J.Allen pass short right to K.Shakir for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. M.Prater extra point is GOOD
BUF 33, CAR 3 – J.Cook up the middle for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN. M.Prater extra point is GOOD
BUF 40, CAR 3 – J.Allen up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. M.Prater extra point is GOOD
Fourth Quarter
BUF 40, CAR 9 – C.Hubbard right guard for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. R.Fitzgerald extra point is No Good
FINAL
Milestone Watch
- Josh Allen surpasses Cam Newton in NFL history with 46 games with a rushing and passing touchdown – Newton has 45 career games.
- Josh Allen logged his 10th game with multiple rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown, which leads the NFL all-time.
- James Cook logged his first 200-yard game of his career.
- James Cook recorded a career-high in rushing yards midway through the third quarter.
- Josh Allen has second-most rushing touchdowns (69) behind Cam Newton in NFL history.
- Josh Allen has the third-most touchdowns in Bills history, passing OJ Simpson.
- James Cook is the third Bills player all-time to have 214 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in a game.
- James Cook's 64-yard rushing touchdown was the second longest rushing score of his career (longest was 65 yards against San Francisco in Week 13 of 2024).
- Buffalo's 158 first-half rushing yard performance is the most in team history since Week 6 in 2016 against San Francisco (164).
- Sean McDermott needs two wins to reach 100 combined regular season and postseason wins.
