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Health Watch

• The Panthers came out of their preseason opener against the Bills without any major injuries. Of course, you could argue a concussion is major. That’s what CB Teddy Williams suffered in the second half.

• RB Jonathan Stewart was a surprise scratch, but it wasn’t injury-related.

“Jonathan had a couple really good physical days this week, and the thought there is to not expose him to anything we didn’t need to,” coach Ron Rivera said after the game. “The less he’s exposed to certain situations, the better. Especially on turf.”

• When LB Shaq Thompson warmed up pregame, he looked ready to make his NFL debut. But even though he dressed in full pads, the Panthers decided to play it safe with the rookie’s iffy hamstring.

“The doctors and [head trainer] Ryan Vermillion really felt one more day of limited work would have been good,” Rivera said. “Our objective is to get him ready, hopefully, have a good couple of days against Miami in terms of practice, and then play well against them come Saturday night.”

• 75 percent of Carolina’s starting defensive line watched from back in Charlotte: DE Charles Johnson (calf), DT Star Lotulelei (foot), Kawann Short (back).

• OL Amini Silatolu (calf), OL Davonte Wallace (concussion), CB Lou Young (hamstring) also didn’t make the trip.

• CB Bené Benwikere, who missed the first week of training camp with a tight hamstring, was back in his No. 1 nickel role.

Top Plays

• 9:20 second quarter, Kelvin Benjamin 2-yard touchdown reception

This is what 6-5, 240 pounds vs. 5-3, 193 pounds looks like:

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The fade-stop score gave the Panthers’ first-team offense something to be proud of after it sputtered at the start.

“We wanted to come out and get that train going. We came out of slow with this being our first game,” Benjamin said. “I feel that we came out slow as an offense, we picked it up once we started to get going, so that’s the good note to end on.”

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• 1:55 second quarter, Brenton Bersin “block”

Bersin scored the Panthers’ second touchdown, a 12-yard reception from Derek Anderson early in the third quarter. But let’s go with this play because a.) it looks great; b.) Bersin deserves honesty points.

On the replay, it looks like he laid out IK Enemkpali, the LB who broke the jaw of Jets’ QB Geno Smith this week. Yet afterward, when asked about his big hit, Bersin said:

“The one where I tripped? I almost fell on my face after it.”

He then explained he was supposed to run a drag on the play, but before getting into his route, he needed to give tight end Ed Dickson help with a chip. Instead:

“I tripped over him while I was getting into my route, so it’s a plus and a minus,” Bersin said. “Ed came and said thank you for it afterwards.”

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• 1:05 fourth quarter, Brandon Wegher 42-yard touchdown reception

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The Bills led 24-17 when the Panthers got the ball back on their 9-yard line with 1:48 to play. 43 seconds later, Joe Webb dumped off to the undrafted rookie running back.

“It was just a regular checkdown, and on my way out, I noticed to my left there was a wide-open field, so I knew that’s the way I was breaking after I caught the ball. Joe found me and I just took off,” Wegher said.

Moments later, Webb connected with Paul Browning for the winning two-point conversion.

Offensive MVP

Benjamin: The best player so far in Spartanburg dominated the Panthers’ most important series of the night. Before his touchdown, Benjamin began the drive by drawing a 25-yard pass interference call on Stephon Gilmore.[vc_row_inner no_margin=”true”][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][gap][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][gap][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner]On the next play, Benjamin somehow caught this and bounced up uninjured.[vc_row_inner no_margin=”true”][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][gap][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][gap][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner]He was flagged for taunting Corey Graham, which turned a 19-yard reception into a 4-yard gain.

Benjamin finished with three receptions on five targets for 36 yards.

Defensive MVP

LB Adarius Glanton: Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis each played just six snaps, opening up opportunities for Glanton and A.J. Klein. They racked up 16 tackles in the first half, with Glanton totaling nine then and 10 for the game.

Other Observations

• Despite the late rally by his young guys, a decent job by the defensive starters, and that touchdown drive from the first-team offense, Rivera wasn’t happy after the game:

“[I’m] real disappointed in what happened in second quarter, third quarter with our defense. That was unacceptable and that really upset me. That bothers me.”

The Bills scored all 24 of their points in the second and third quarters, with a couple touchdowns coming on drives where the Panthers had a heck of a time containing quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

Double-digit penalties and struggles to get off and stay on the field didn’t help.

“We had too many penalties. We had 10 penalties, which was unacceptable. I get it when you have guys you’re trying to shuttle in and out for special teams. But some of the other things that went on were not acceptable,” Rivera said.

“Three for 11 on third downs, not acceptable. Six for 14 on defensive side, not acceptable. Those things really bothered me, they’re things we need to get fixed if we talk about being a good football team.”

• This helmet-popping moment from cornerback Charles Tillman aside, LeSean McCoy and the Bills dominated the ground game.

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Buffalo had a 37:10 to 22:50 advantage in time of possession, thanks largely to a rushing attack that outgained Carolina by 133 yards.

The Panthers won’t win many games like that in the regular season, and by looking at those numbers, it’s a wonder that Rex Ryan’s team lost.

“I don’t care how bad you outplay a team, I hate losing,” the Bills’ new coach said.

“We had 206 yards rushing to their 73. I think they had three at halftime. So when I say we outplayed them, we did. There is no denying that.”

• Since we’re always ready to ding them when they sputter in the red zone, this is worth pointing out: The Panthers converted both of their trips inside the red zone into touchdowns.

• A dozen Panthers caught passes, including multi-catch performances by receivers Benjamin, Devin Funchess and Damiere Byrd.

“A lot of guys got a lot of opportunities, and some guys did some really nice things. I was really pleased with it. All of our guys had opportunities to make plays,” Rivera said.

“Cam just missed [Corey Brown] by a stride. He hit Kelvin with a big one. Teddy Ginn made a big one for us. Funches had a couple opportunities as well. Then the young guys that were out there got some opportunities, which was good to see. I mean, it’s going to be tough on us because we’ve got some really good young football players.”

In the battle for what could be the sixth and final wideout spot, Bersin and Jarrett Boykin each wound up with a catch, but Bersin’s was in the end zone.

• With Stewart held out, Fozzy Whittaker started but gained just three yards on five carries. Jordan Todman later provided a spark with three carries that went for 23 yards. Fifth-round pick Cameron Artis-Payne didn’t have much room to run. He picked up just 24 yards on eight carries.

• WR-turned-TE Marcus Lucas caught both of his two targets, totaling 36 yards. Lucas still seems unlikely to earn a roster spot, but it would be good for Brandon Williams to return from his groin injury sometime this week.

• Cornerback T.J. Heath has been a nice Spartanburg story. The 27 year old has made a number of plays after he was added when Chris Houston suddenly retired. But he was on the wrong side of a great play by the Bills.When E.J. Manuel launched a perfect pass to Deonte Thompson, Heath had good coverage. He mistimed his jump, though, and the ball landed in Thompson’s hands for a 51-yard touchdown.

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• It was strange being in a press box without seeing former Panthers’ head of PR Charlie Dayton, who retired at the end of last season. Friday was the first game Dayton missed in 20 seasons.

Coming Up

Players have most of the weekend off. They’ll be back in the Wofford dorms Sunday night and on the practice field Monday afternoon.[line][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]