Buffalo beat Carolina 29-14 on Saturday in its Week 1 preseason matchup, setting the tone at Highmark Stadium. All three sides of the ball showed flashes in the victory, each working through all of the new aspects that come with a 2026 season filled with change.

Here is what the Bills had to say about their first day in the new operation:

The defensive front dominated in first game action under Jim Leonhard

In his first game in the blue and re, outside linebacker Mike Danna stole the show for Buffalo in the second half, picking up a pair of sacks rushing off the right edge. Each came just two plays apart from one another, using his speed to beat the tackle to the outside on both occasions.

After coming up with the first sack, Danna got a read on the second and jumped at the opportunity to bring down the quarterback again.

"Something in their protection kind of told me it was going to be a pass," Danna said. "I just tried to burn the edge as quickly as I could, and I was fortunate enough to come up with a good play."

Second-round rookie OLB TJ Parker earned a sack of his own in the win, getting some help from pressure generated by both DL T.J. Sanders and OLB Javon Solomon who directed the quarterback into his lap.

Picking up a sack in his first NFL game action, despite being a preseason game helped set the tone for Parker, helping prove to himself that he definitely fits the part.

"I was super excited about the opportunity to just get out here in front of the fans, to really show what I can do, and show my coaches and teammates what I can do, so they can count on me," Parker said.

"It definitely helps my confidence," Parker added. "It lets me know that I've got to keep working, keep going. I'm not satisfied with just one, I want multiple. I want to be able to do it again and continue to get better."

Kani Walker comes away with the first ever interception at Highmark Stadium

Undrafted rookie corner Kani Walker had the play of the day defensively against the Panthers, reading a screen play to his side and flying down for an interception.

The 23-year-old flew down from his spot out wide after recognizing the screen before the snap, planting his body in the trajectory of the pass and coming down with the pick in his first NFL game action.

For Walker, the chance to make a big play in his first opportunity meant the world, still reflecting on it as he came off the field at the end of the fourth quarter.

"I definitely was still processing that moment, and honestly, it was just like a thank you to my opportunity, and thank you for everything that has come to me," Walker said. "I'm thankful for the hard times that I've had, and thankful for the moments that I learned because I've been through a lot, and I don't stop, and I'm never going to choose to stop, and I'm gonna continue going."

As an undrafted free agent pickup, Walker has been going through training camp with an underdog mentality and a chip on his shoulder.

Realizing postgame in the locker room that his interception was the first to ever happen at Highmark Stadium, the magnitude of the moment was magnified even more.

"Coming out here every single day, I feel like [my work] has been paying off," Walker said. "But I still have room to grow. That's just one of those heartfelt moments. That was a lovely moment to have, especially just to prove who I am to the people."

Tyler Bass kicks for the first time since last year's preseason

After missing all of the 2025 season, kicker Tyler Bass saw game action for the first time on Saturday. The 29-year-old got his fair share of opportunities against the Panthers, attempting four kicks, and two extra points.

Getting back on the field against another team was a big step for Bass, after grinding all offseason to come back for this season fully healthy.

"It felt good," Bass said. "I've been working really hard, so it felt good. I was just embracing it… [thinking,] 'swing the same, do the same thing you did at practice, at the game.'"

The first preseason game of the year was also the first chance Bass has had to kick in a game at Highmark Stadium, still learning the ins-and-outs of the new building.

With makes from 33, 46 and 29 yards out, Bass got a chance to feel what it takes to knock kicks down in a new atmosphere along with new ways to limit negative weather conditions. His lone hiccup of the day coming on a 45-yard field goal that he missed in the second quarter, though he did make both of his extra point attempts.

"The more you're in there, you just build confidence with it," Bass said. "It did a good job of blocking out wind, and it felt good."

The miss went wide right, but had the distance to get through the uprights. Bass knows exactly what caused him to not knock it down, regrouping and making the rest of his attempts in the win.

"I was just quick," Bass said. "It's something I want to clean up. I was just a little ahead of it, and ended up just pushing it. But I was happy to get a few more opportunities after, to clean that up."