CHARLOTTE — Now that it's July, we're officially in the ramp-up to training camp and the start of the 2025 season.
So now's a good time to catch up with the Panthers' opponents this year and see what they've done this offseason to impact this year's matchup.
We'll go through these in order, so stay tuned for our breakdowns of the whole schedule.
OPPONENT: Josh Allen
All-time series: The Panthers trail in the Bills series 2-6. (Carolina is 1-2 at home and 1-4 at the only stadium in New York).
Last year: The two teams faced off in the preseason last year, but the last time the Panthers faced the Bills in the regular season, it was during the previous AFC East rotation in 2021. That game was a 31-14 loss for Carolina. The last win against the Bills came in 2017, a barn burner of a game that the Panthers won 9-3. That's also the only matchup the Panthers have won in Charlotte. Graham Gano was the only scorer that day, knocking through three field goals, none more than 34-yards.
But it was a defensive showcase. While Cam Newton was sacked six times, the Panthers defense was even more stringent. Julius Peppers first home game back in Charlotte was capped with two sacks on Tyrod Taylor and the Bills offense as a whole only put up 176 total yards.

2024 rankings and results
Record: 13-4
Total offense: 10th
Total defense: 17th

Personnel moves
Key additions in free agency: WR Josh Palmer, DE Joey Bosa, LB Shaq Thompson, DT Larry Ogunjobi, WR Laviska Shenault, CB Dane Jackson, G Kendrick Green, CB Tre'Davious White, WR Elijah Moore. In total, signed 17 free agents.
Key additions in the draft: CB Maxwell Hairston, DT T.J. Sanders, DE Landon Jackson, DT Deone Walker, CB Jordan Hancock, TE Jackson Hawes, CB Dorian Strong, OT Chase Lundt, WR Kaden Prather.
Changes from last year: The Bills loaded up on corners in free agency and the draft, after trading Kaiir Elam to the Cowboys and Rasul Douglas becoming a free agent. Wide receivers Amari Cooper and Mack Hollins also departed in free agency, but the Bills have developed a knack for plugging and playing pass-catchers season-to-season, thanks to Josh Allen's ability to distribute the ball to multiple receivers, and take over a game himself when need be.
The Bills added long-time Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson as well, bringing veteran experience to their front-seven. The club also brought in two punters in free agency after the Panthers signed Sam Martin this spring.
This will be the first season since 2016 that the Bills won't have Micah Hyde in their secondary. The long time safety announced his retirement after the season.

What to watch for in 2025: The Bills have been on the precipice for the past five years. Since the 2020 season, they have finished 1st in the AFC East, but fell in either the divisional round or AFC championship. Four of those five losses came to the Chiefs. So much of the Bills success and game plan on offense is to run everything through Josh Allen. The reigning MVP responds more often than not. The question in 2025 will remain, yet again, whether or not that's enough, and can the defense hold up in what will likely be a showdown against the Chiefs for the conference once again.
When the Bills come to Bank of America Stadium in Week 8, it will be the first time in the 2025 season the Panthers will face a 2024 playoff team.
View all the action from the Panthers' game in Week 3 of the preseason against the Buffalo Bills.





























































































