The Carolina Panthers were without Bryce Young in Week 8, turning to Andy Dalton for the spot start against the Buffalo Bills. The veteran quarterback struggled against a stingy Buffalo defense, leaving the Panthers in semi-panic mode with their quarterback situation uncertain.
Dalton’s outing marked his first significant opportunity of the season, but he managed just 175 scoreless passing yards and threw one interception. His struggles raised several questions for head coach Dave Canales after the game. Canales stated the team will take its time with Young’s recovery, emphasizing, “But again, we gotta be smart, we gotta see where we’re at.”
Young was ruled out late in the week due to an ankle injury sustained in Week 7 against the New York Jets. He had been considered doubtful earlier in the week, prompting the Panthers to prepare for the possibility of playing without him. While Young has not exactly lit up the box score—he has yet to top 200 passing yards in any game since Week 2—he has provided solid results. The former No. 1 overall pick led Carolina to a surprising 4-3 start in his first seven games before Dalton encountered Buffalo’s formidable defense in Week 8.
Even if Young had been healthy and in the lineup, the result might not have differed much. The Bills boast a top-10 rushing defense and an elite pass rush, posing a significant challenge to the Panthers’ offensive strengths.
**Panthers Fall Apart as Bills Get Back on Track in Week 8**
The Panthers would likely have been underdogs even with Young under center, but they appeared lifeless with Dalton starting. Carolina entered the game riding a three-game winning streak but managed only 244 yards of total offense and reached the end zone just once.
After a strong 5-0 start, the Bills came into the matchup with opposite momentum, having lost their previous two games. However, none of those factors seemed to matter as Buffalo took control early and never let up.
Josh Allen threw for a modest 163 passing yards but did not need to do more. The Bills leaned heavily on running back James Cook, who torched Carolina’s struggling run defense with 216 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Looking ahead, whether it’s Bryce Young or Andy Dalton taking snaps, the Panthers will aim to rebound in Week 9 on the road against the Green Bay Packers. Facing a Micah Parsons-led defense presents no easy bounce-back opportunity as Carolina seeks to regroup and find its footing.
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