The Buffalo Bills (4-2) are 7.5-point favorites in Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers (4-3) at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The game will kickoff at 1 pm on FOX.
Here's a list of additional notes for this week's game:
- Bills have won 10 straight games after the bye week since 2015 - the longest active streak in the NFL
- Josh Allen is 7-0 in games following a two-game losing streak
- Carolina has won its last four home games
- Andy Dalton is 4-2 vs. Bills all-time
- Dalton is 1-5 as a starter in Carolina
- Bills are 32-9 in 1 pm kickoff games since 2020 - the .780 winning percentage is the best in the NFL over that span
The Bills are 6-3 SU in their last nine outings, yet it still feels like they need a response here following two shaky losses.
They scored 30+ points in each of their first four games this season and, while they may not hit those heights here, I expect Sean McDermott's squad to do just enough to slow down a dangerous Carolina rushing attack.
This doesn't feel like a spot for Buffalo to slip to a third straight setback.
Final score prediction: Bills 29 - Panthers 16
The Bills are coming off the bye, which was needed after losing two straight. The Panthers have won two straight behind their physical run offense and a physical defense. The Bills have had run-defense problems, but I think they are better here at stopping it. Josh Allen gets back on track. Bills take it.
Pick: Bills 28, Panthers 20
The Panthers could steal this one.
Florio's pick: Bills 27, Panthers 24.
Simms's pick: Bills 23, Panthers 20.
The Panthers have a 4-3 record and have shown balance on offense around Bryce Young, Rico Dowdle and a defense that ranks in the top 10 against the run and pass. The Bills had a bye week to register back-to-back losses to the Patriots and Falcons. Buffalo is 9-0 S/U after a bye week under Sean McDermott, and that includes a 5-2-2 ATS record. Look for Josh Allen to get right here.
Pick: Bills 34, Panthers 20
Scroll to see the best photos as the Buffalo Bills prepare for Week 8 of the NFL season at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ty Johnson (26). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Brandon Codrington (29). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ed Oliver (91). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Deone Walker (96). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Phidarian Mathis (72). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Mitchell Trubisky (11). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Elijah Moore (18). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Elijah Moore (18). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ja'Marcus Ingram (46). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Elijah Moore (18). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Frank Gore Jr. (20). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Larry Ogunjobi (99). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Reggie Gilliam (41). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keon Coleman (0), Curtis Samuel (1). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Tyrell Shavers (14). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Zion Logue (93). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Shane Buechele (6). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Curtis Samuel (1). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Mitchell Trubisky (11). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ty Johnson (26). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Brandon Codrington (29). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dawson Knox (88), Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Deone Walker (96). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Rob Boras. Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Jordan Phillips (52). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Curtis Samuel (1). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Phidarian Mathis (72). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Elijah Moore (18). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Elijah Moore (18). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Elijah Moore (18). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Khalil Shakir (10). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ty Johnson (26). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Tyrell Shavers (14). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Jackson Hawes (85). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ed Oliver (91). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joe Brady. Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Curtis Samuel (1). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Larry Ogunjobi (99). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Greg Rousseau (50). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Spencer Brown (79), Ryan Van Demark (74). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joey Bosa (97). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ty Johnson (26). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Elijah Moore (18). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keleki Latu (83). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joe Brady. Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Elijah Moore (18). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joe Brady. Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Len Vanden Bos, Tre'Davious White (27). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keleki Latu (83). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Elijah Moore (18). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Mitchell Trubisky (11). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Zion Logue (93). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Elijah Moore (18). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keleki Latu (83). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dalton Kincaid (86), Frank Gore Jr. (20). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joey Bosa (97). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ed Oliver (91). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Tyrell Shavers (14). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Elijah Moore (18). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Khalil Shakir (10). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Mitchell Trubisky (11). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Tyrell Shavers (14). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Kendrick Green (53), Alec Anderson (70). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Spencer Brown (79), Ryan Van Demark (74). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Elijah Moore (18). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ty Johnson (26). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Cam Lewis (39). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Greg Rousseau (50). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
James Cook (4). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Brandon Codrington (29). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Frank Gore Jr. (20). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ryan Van Demark (74), Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Cam Lewis (39). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ryan Nielsen. Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Cole Bishop (24). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Brandon Codrington (29). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joey Bosa (97). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Deone Walker (96). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joe Brady. Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Elijah Moore (18). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Brandon Codrington (29). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Reggie Gilliam (41). Buffalo Bills Week 8 Practice, October 24, 2025 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
With Bryce Young out, it's worth asking how much of a difference there actually is between him and Andy Dalton. Young has certainly improved from the version of him that was benched early in 2024, but most of the progress on the 2025 Panthers has come on the defensive side of the ball. Dalton's and Young's EPA-per-play numbers in the last two seasons are almost identical.
We just watched the Bills offense really struggle in consecutive games against the Patriots and Falcons, in large part because the run game wasn't efficient. Josh Allen is obviously the primary driver of the Bills offense, but the offensive line and early-down rushing success are major reasons why Buffalo has been so consistent since Joe Brady became offensive coordinator in 2023. Buffalo has the fourth-highest early-down run rate in the league. Last season, they would have run all over Carolina, as the Panthers finished 2024 as by far the worst run defense in the NFL. This year? It might be tougher. The Panthers are healthier up front and rank third in run defense DVOA.
Verdict: Bet Panthers +7.5
The Bills expect to be facing Andy Dalton instead of Bryce Young (high ankle sprain) coming out of their bye as they try to do some defensive regrouping, especially vs. the run. Buffalo with Josh Allen once modeled its team after the Cam Newton glory days with plenty of former Carolina influence. The Bills need a big get-well game after two losses and get it here.
Pick: Bills win 31-17 and cover the spread.
What we're hearing on the Bills: Coming off their bye week, the Bills are looking to avoid scoring 20 points or fewer in three straight games for the first time since 2020. Carolina has allowed 20 or more points in all but two games this season. QB Josh Allen said the offense's struggles to finish games are very correctable. "Just pulling together as a team, making sure we're staying as one unit, getting back to the fundamentals. Again, just trusting the other 10 guys on the field with you. And you're trusted and expected to do your 1/11th." -- Alaina Getzenberg
What we're hearing on the Panthers: The key to this game could be Buffalo's porous run defense, which ranks 31st in the NFL, giving up 156.3 ground yards per game. RBs Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle can take the pressure off QB Andy Dalton with a rushing offense that ranks third in yards per game (140.1). -- David Newton
Stat to know: Allen is seeking five consecutive games with multiple passing TDs for the first time since Weeks 4-8 of the 2023 season. -- ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Panthers WR Jalen Coker will record at least four receptions. He had zero in his season-debut last week, but I have a suspicion that Coker will eventually take a pretty decent share of the receiving work in the Panthers' offense after recording 1.9 yards per route run last season. -- Walder
Fantasy nugget: Carolina has yet to allow a QB to throw for over 300 yards in a game, and it has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing receivers. However, Khalil Shakir leads the Bills in yards per route run against zone coverage, which is notable because the Panthers play the most zone defense in the league. Carolina also gives up the third-most fantasy points per game to TEs, which bodes well for Dalton Kincaid. See Week 8 rankings. -- Moody
Betting nugget: Overs are 17-7 in Panthers games and 15-8 in Bills games since the start of last season. Read more. -- ESPN Research
Maldonado's pick: Bills 25, Panthers 19
Moody's pick: Bills 27, Panthers 20
Walder's pick: Bills 34, Panthers 17
FPI prediction: BUF, 55.2% (by an average of 2 points)
Moton: Bills (-7.5)
The Panthers' 3-0 home record makes them an intriguing underdog against the Bills, who lost consecutive games before their Week 7 bye.
Moreover, Buffalo lost by 10 to the Atlanta Falcons, who failed to score in a 30-0 road loss to Carolina in Week 3. If you followed that, this should be a competitive game that makes you sweat while on the Bills' side.
However, Buffalo is coming off a bye week, and Carolina will likely start 37-year-old Andy Dalton while Bryce Young recovers from a high ankle sprain.
With Dalton as their starting quarterback, the Panthers are 1-5, and they lost all five games by 10 or more points. The refocused Bills win big in Carolina.
Sobleski: Bills (-7.5)
Despite a unanimous choice in the Bills' favor, a pathway exists for the Panthers to keep this game close. They can run the ball quite well, while the Bills field one of the league's worst run defenses.
However, Buffalo is coming off a bye, with two weeks to prepare for that specific area. With quarterback Bryce Young out of the lineup, the Bills can load the box and concentrate on slowing Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard, without too much worry that Dalton is going to exploit the approach at this point in his career.
Otherwise, Josh Allen and Co. should be able to move the ball, even against Carolina's top-10 defense.
Predictions
Bills Davenport, Gagnon, Hanford, Knox, Moton, O'Donnell, Sobleski
Why Gennaro picked the Bills: Both teams want to run the football -- the Bills lead the league in rushing yards per game (151.0) while the Panthers rank third (140.1) -- but only one has demonstrated the ability to stop the run. With Derrick Brown back in place as the beastly centerpiece of Ejiro Evero's defensive front, Carolina ranks eighth in rush D (92.6 ypg), having given up a grand total of 131 ground yards (at just 2.5 per carry) during the team's current three-game win streak. Meanwhile, Buffalo's been a sieve against the run all season, allowing the second-most rushing yards per game (156.3) and the most rushing yards per play (5.8). Consequently, I like the home team to win the ground war and keep the game close, regardless of whether it's Bryce Young (ankle) or Andy Dalton under center. At the end of the day, though, the Bills have a 6-foot-5, 237-pound trump card in Josh Allen. The reigning MVP hasn't been playing like a reigning MVP of late, taking back-to-back losses before last week's bye. But this only reinforces the notion that we get a fresh, feisty performance from a man who's never lost three straight NFL games.
