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00:00Fox Sports welcomes you to the following presentation of the National Football League.
00:16We'll see Carolina's offense to start the day, so let's check in down to the field with
00:21Pam Oliver.
00:21Hey there, Adam, with a strong rushing attack, and of course, Josh Allen.
00:27The Carolina Panthers defense could have their hands full today, but for the Panthers, it's
00:32what that's exciting them the most is what's happening with their own ground game.
00:37With number one and number two punch, we've got Hubbard and Dowdle.
00:43The Panthers, well, their own run game is helping to power an offense that's on the
00:49offense.
00:49What empowers that tandem?
00:51Well, that's what I have covered before the game.
00:54He said, it's because we're so strong and physical.
00:57Dowdle told him increasingly it's going to be a wrong day for the defense.
01:02We have two guys who can get the job done.
01:05Might see a little bit of what's called a pony package.
01:08Maybe both of those backs out there at the same time.
01:12The Buffalo one to toss and deferred, so the veteran, Matt Frater, will kick away.
01:15And speaking of which, right on cue, here is Rico Dowdle from the one-yard line.
01:23And he'll get past the average field position spot, just past the 30-yard line.
01:28So that's where Carolina will set up with the red rifle, the venerable Andy Dalton.
01:34He takes over a quarterback, knows the Bills pretty well.
01:36All six of those prior starts as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals.
01:40He makes his first start of the season today.
01:42How does the offense change a little bit with Dalton?
01:44Yeah, I think that's the million-dollar question.
01:46And we had a chance, obviously, to talk to head coach, play caller Dave Canales.
01:49And he said, about 80% of what we would do if Bryce was under center will stay true today.
01:55The biggest difference is probably going to be the design.
01:57Quick game, getting the ball out of Andy's hand.
02:00He's very comfortable throughout his career playing from the pocket.
02:04We're going to go right to the ground with Chuba Hubbard getting the first carry of the day.
02:08And he'll pick up a few.
02:09I think the biggest question is going to be, with all that quick game,
02:13it really becomes a replacement, Adam, of some of these early first and second down runs
02:17that Carolina's been able to hang their hat on.
02:20So the balance for Dave Canales is don't get away from what you've been good at,
02:24which is obviously the run game, the two backs you just heard Pam talk about.
02:27But also make sure the play calling works with your veteran quarterback.
02:31Back to back, Chuba Hubbard runs to start the day.
02:42Moving laterally, short game, good play by Dorian Williams.
02:46We'll keep an eye on the linebackers today for the Buffalo Bills.
02:49They've been dealing with some injuries between Matt Milano and Terrell Bernard.
02:53Third down at six coming up.
02:55And there is the defensive-minded Sean McDermott, the former coordinator of the Panthers.
03:01And you see what he's done after the bye week.
03:03He and his old William and Mary teammate Mike Tomlin have been very good over the last decade after the bye.
03:10Third down at six.
03:11Extra body for Buffalo gets to Dalton.
03:22It is a sack.
03:23And it's Ed Oliver.
03:25In just his third game of the year, he's already got his third sack of the season.
03:31Well, first time now we're going to see Michael Hoyt.
03:34He was a free agent signing.
03:36Watch the disruption in the middle.
03:38You're going to see that's what made Oliver just be unblocked.
03:42Brady Christensen, the right guard, number 70, just trips over Cade Mays.
03:46But it's the physicality of Hoyt, him, Larry Ogunjobi.
03:50Two free agent defensive linemen signed.
03:53Both had to miss the first six weeks due to suspension.
03:56And they're happy to have Hoyt in there, especially on third down.
04:00So the former Buffalo Bills, Sam Martin, last three seasons in Buffalo.
04:04Boots one away to Khalil Shakir.
04:07Stays inbounds at the 20.
04:10And he's able to shuffle ahead for a few.
04:11That's a nice 50-plus yard punt from Sam Martin.
04:15And Jatavian Sanders was there for the stop.
04:20So a three and out forced by the Buffalo defense.
04:23And that will set things up for Josh Allen, the reigning MVP,
04:26who's never lost three consecutive starts in the NFL.
04:30He'll take over.
04:31He had that bad taste in his mouth to the point where he referenced a phone call from his grandmother after one of those losses.
04:39He said, my grandma called me and said, I just want to see you smile.
04:43And that's usually the demeanor that we see.
04:45The calm, easygoing Josh Allen, who's trying to snap out of this skid.
04:48Four turnovers the last two games.
04:56This is a key element, trying to get one of the best backs in the NFL going,
04:59and an excellent James Cook run for double-digit yards to start the day for the Bills.
05:03Yeah, so obviously the conversation always starts and stops with Josh Allen,
05:08one of the best players in the league, reigning MVP.
05:11But there's really been a very intentional transformation to this offense.
05:15I think Sean McDermott and Joe Brady, the offensive coordinator,
05:18over these last probably season and a half have said,
05:21okay, we don't want Josh Allen to have to play hero ball, line up in the gun like they are here,
05:26and play 100% of the downs where it's on his back.
05:29A lot more heavy personnel, a lot more run game emphasis.
05:33That's all on purpose.
05:34Little extensions of the run game here.
05:36The screen to Shakir, and a short gain.
05:39It'll be second down.
05:43Just 34 points the last two games for this Buffalo offense,
05:47which is still, despite those two games, in the top four in the NFL in scoring at 28 a game.
05:52Yeah, they started out and scored over 30 the first four weeks of the season,
05:55then, of course, had the two-game skid, and now coming off the bye.
05:59So it's a ball control.
06:00They want to minimize possessions.
06:02They're going to continue to lean early in these drives on the ground game.
06:06Something we're going to talk a lot about.
06:08They love to play with two and three, multiple tight ends, big bodies,
06:13try to run at what wants to be a very light defense of Carolina.
06:17Underneath throw went off the hands of his intended target in Dalton Kincaid.
06:22And Christian Roseboom, leading tackler for the Panthers, was in the area.
06:26That ball hits the deck, and it's third down and long.
06:29As now you look at this Carolina Panther defense, we talked about it in the open.
06:33I mean, you talk about remarkable turnarounds in the league.
06:36It just gives you hope for a lot of fans out there.
06:38If one on the side of your ball of your team is struggling, you can turn it around fast.
06:43I mean, no team had given up more points over a season than the Panthers did last year.
06:48And to say they've improved would be a pretty significant understatement.
06:56Ty Johnson is the back.
06:58Screen pass to the left.
06:59Looking for space in the line to gain.
07:01And sure enough, the Bills convert once again.
07:05Mike Jackson missed that tackle on Shakir.
07:08That allows Khalil to take it to midfield and into Panther territory.
07:11Hey, you look back a year ago in the Josh Allen MVP season, only one team had more percentage of their yards after the catch.
07:21Shakir, Dalton Kincaid, they got a lot of guys that can turn short throws into long runs.
07:27Joe Brady really values trying to get the ball out of Josh's hand because in a lot of the drop back game, he is going to hold it and extend.
07:34And that's part of his magic.
07:35So now here's some of the heavier personnel.
07:39They run it with Cook.
07:40Another excellent run for James Cook.
07:43Got pushed out of bounds by Roseboom.
07:45That's good enough for double-digit yardage and a first down.
07:50All right, so here's some of that heavy tight end package.
07:52I have a feeling they're going to want to major in Jackson Hawes.
07:56He's number 85, the rookie tight end.
07:59They treat him almost as a tackle.
08:00In years past, Buffalo ran some of the most jumbo personnel, meaning they would take one of the tight end positions and put an extra sixth lineman.
08:08With the rookie Hawes, they don't feel like they have to do it.
08:11And they think that three tight end package, 13, they think that's their best personnel grouping.
08:18Here's Cook.
08:19And a strong first down run.
08:22Excellent opening drive for Buffalo, which has scored the most opening drive touchdowns in the league five times out of their six games.
08:28Meanwhile, Carolina's been outstanding on defense to open up their ballgames.
08:33They have yet to give up an opening drive touchdown.
08:38This is where a lot of the improvement that you talked about, Greg, has come for Carolina.
08:43Obviously, having Derrick Brown certainly helps that.
08:45This is the test against one of the great rushing attacks in Buffalo.
08:48Yeah, he's a star in this league.
08:49They missed him big time last year.
08:51Missed time due to injury.
08:53And it was almost like getting another first-round pick this year going into the season.
08:56And here's Cook again, another first-down run into J.C. Horn.
09:01So, those last three games, they hadn't given up a run of longer than eight yards.
09:06And James Cook is starting to put together some really strong runs, already a couple of double-digit yardage runs.
09:12Yeah, we're going to see both teams really take plays out of each other's playbook.
09:17They both want to establish early down runs.
09:19They're going to use that to set up the downfield passing game.
09:22And the difference coming in, though, on paper is if you're Carolina, you say,
09:25I don't mind teams running at me.
09:27It's actually probably the strength of our defense, not a great pass-rush group up front.
09:31So, right now, it's strength on strength.
09:34And Buffalo's off to a good start.
09:37And now they switch it up with Ty Johnson.
09:39Not the same success that you saw with Cook.
09:42Turk Wharton is there for the stop.
09:44Short gain, if anything at all.
09:45Saw a lot of continuity, right, or a lot of connection between these two franchises.
09:51Of course, Joe Brady was the offensive coordinator in Carolina in 20 and 21 when Matt Rule was the head coach.
09:56He got let go in December of that year.
09:58He's been on staff with Buffalo the last several seasons and has been the O.C. the last couple.
10:02Yeah, and I think one of the biggest reasons they made that change to Joe Brady,
10:05I just, I think Joe allows them to operate this offense the way Sean McDermott wants it to be run.
10:10He wants to maintain possession.
10:12He wants to have long, sustained drives.
10:15And more than anything else, last year, plus 24 in the turnover differential this year, they're not so good.
10:22Allen, all of his outlets were covered up, so he slings it for Ray Davis.
10:27It's going to be ruled an incomplete pass in front of Nick Scott, the safety.
10:31So, a third down and long in the high red area for Buffalo.
10:36And then you take a step back.
10:38You say, okay, having said everything we did about how Buffalo wants to play and Josh Allen and the scheme,
10:43if you're the Carolina Panthers, slow, long, methodical drives.
10:48If I'm Carolina defensively, I'm signing up for that every day of the week.
10:51Don't let Josh Allen beat you as a scramble runner.
10:54Don't let him beat you as a scramble passer.
10:56And then get down in the red zone, get down to third down, and just compete to get off the field and force field goals.
11:06Tenth play of this Buffalo drive.
11:08Allen's under pressure, and down he goes.
11:10It is Trevin Wallace.
11:12First sack of the season for the second-year man out of Kentucky who's done great work at the inside backer spot.
11:21Yeah, you're going to see Wallace.
11:22He's lined up right here.
11:24The issue is they've got three defenders, and for whatever reason,
11:29Connor McGovern, they pushed the line the other way.
11:32This was a big issue against Atlanta in their last game before the bye.
11:35A lot of free rushers, a lot of unblocked defenders, some confusion up front on which way to send the offensive line,
11:42and it gets them again.
11:45So it'll be Matt Prater from 45 yards out.
11:48He's had an excellent season since being signed a few days before the opener.
11:52In for the injured Tyler Bass.
11:54He gets Buffalo on the board, but Carolina does not allow the touchdown.
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12:13Buffalo is coming off a bye week after back-to-back losses.
12:16Carolina has won four of five.
12:18They're over 500 for the first time in four years.
12:22Just the ninth-ever meeting between Buffalo and Carolina.
12:26Real NFL quarterback club 1996 for Sega Saturn vibes we have in this particular game today.
12:32Speaking to a person of a very specific age and niche group.
12:36There's a lot of kids that have no idea what you're talking about.
12:38Right, exactly.
12:38But you know what I'm saying, and I know what I'm saying, and that's all that matters.
12:43That's all that matters.
12:44Nobody was expecting a Sega Saturn drop today, but yet here we are.
12:49We've got a fun matchup in week eight.
12:54So they'll mix it up.
12:55We saw Dowell return one and Hubbard as the back.
12:58Now Hubbard's going to return one.
13:00Don't get shy of the 30-yard line.
13:03Back to the sack that ended that last drive.
13:05All right, so it's gone protection, meaning there's only five blockers, and there's six defenders, right?
13:11So either way, if they all come, you can't.
13:14If they're going to take this to the right, Deion Dawkins has to block the inside,
13:19leave the widest guy unblocked for Josh Allen.
13:23Right, so this is just a mistake by the offensive line.
13:26They're sliding to the right.
13:29Dawkins end up fanning to the left, and they leave an unblocked rusher.
13:32Again, something they've really struggled with over the last couple games.
13:37Dalton was a little surprised by that snap, but he handled it well,
13:40and he found the rookie, Tedarola McMillan.
13:42Now their leading receiver.
13:45He's got a dozen yards there and a fresh set of downs for this Panther offense.
13:49Well, we spent a lot of time talking about this run game,
13:53and, you know, for as good as the backs have been, of course, Rico Dowdle,
13:56one of the best stories, one of the best free agent signings in the league.
13:59He's in there now, back sharing with Chuba Hubbard, who was the workhorse last year.
14:03It's their ability to be good both before contact, that scheme and design,
14:08and also after contact is where he does his best work.
14:12He drags a defender with him for a couple extra yards,
14:15so five on that particular play for a guy who's been one of the best rushers
14:19in the entire NFL, especially here in the month of October,
14:23and it's a fascinating matchup against this defensive line, right?
14:27You see his numbers.
14:28Yards after contact are going to be something that you're going to be tracking all day
14:31because the Bills, either they get negative plays
14:34or they give up huge plays after contact.
14:36Yeah, it's kind of funny.
14:36Over half of the rush attempts against Buffalo go for a loss or no gain.
14:42The remainder, they're the worst rush defense in the league.
14:45It's feast or famine.
14:47They faked it to Dowdle.
14:48Dalton backpedaling.
14:49Flag is thrown.
14:50He lobbed it up there for Bryson Tremaine.
14:53In fact, there's two flags thrown, one at midfield
14:56and then one at the Buffalo 35.
14:59I think they're going to get defensive holding.
15:04Holding.
15:05Defense.
15:06Number 21.
15:07Yeah, it's going to be on Jordan Poirier.
15:08The flag guard penalty automatic closed down.
15:11So that's a name that Buffalo fans are familiar with.
15:13Poirier made his season debut against Atlanta two weeks ago.
15:16Yeah, so Mitchell Evans, 84.
15:18He's just a block release guy.
15:20And you can see Poirier, he gets sucked up a little bit on the run action,
15:24panics, and just drags Evans down to the ground.
15:27They love Evans around here.
15:28The rookie out of Notre Dame, young tight end.
15:32Had the game-winning touchdown a couple weeks ago.
15:34They're high on Evans.
15:35They had a big catch against Miami.
15:37Big hit as Cole Bishop bangs into Rico Dowdle, but it's still a gain of five.
15:43Speaking of that, Buffalo defense, they don't have Daquan Jones.
15:48Deion Walker is getting more run, the rookie out of Kentucky.
15:51They brought Jordan Phillips back up.
15:53Matt Milano is out.
15:55Terrell Bernard may be in and out of the lineup today
15:57because he's been nursing an ankle injury.
15:59And then you lost both Taylor Rapp and DeMar Hamlin,
16:02so the depth for the secondary has been hurt.
16:04That's why Poirier is up.
16:07So you're all caught up on everything Buffalo's dealing with on the back end.
16:11Fake to Dowdle.
16:13Dalton running out of time.
16:15He'll fling it out of bounds.
16:16It'll be third and five, and it is Carissa Thompson with a game break.
16:19Hello, CT.
16:20Hello, Adam.
16:21So Eagles looking for revenge after losing to the Giants two weeks ago.
16:24Saquon Barkley makes a nice cut, and he is gone.
16:27All the way, 65-yard score.
16:30Eagles up early over the Giants, 7-0.
16:32Adam?
16:34So we see Jalen Hurts go for 300 yards last week,
16:37and now this week, right back to the ground game in Saquon Barkley,
16:40the 2,000-yard rusher.
16:46Dowdle next to Dalton, third and five.
16:48And it is Dowdle, and that's confidence to run it on third down and medium,
16:56and he busts it open for a long one before Jordan Hancock catches up to him 24 yards.
17:03Yeah, and this has really been the issue.
17:04If the defensive front doesn't stop the rush,
17:08they're going to add a seventh guy down, Bishop.
17:10It seems like once he gets past the first line,
17:13there's never anyone at the linebacker depth
17:16or at the safety depth coming down to put a lid on these runs.
17:20You know, a lot of people think that playing more guys in the box
17:23is the best way to defend an explosive run game here.
17:26They're going a little wildcat now.
17:27You mentioned that pony package.
17:29They're both in the backfield.
17:30Dowdle, the former high school quarterback,
17:32will handle it with Hubbard and nothing there.
17:34So there's a great example of what you're talking about, Greg.
17:36Yeah, so to finish that last point, people go,
17:39all right, you want to put more guys at the line of scrimmage,
17:42more guys in the box, and it's actually the opposite.
17:45You might give up a couple more medium runs,
17:47but for a defense that has struggled with explosive runs,
17:50nobody's given up more than this Buffalo defense.
17:53Having players play from depth, multiple high safeties,
17:57maybe you're a little lighter at the line,
17:59but you're not going to give up the explosive chunk plays.
18:01That's what kills your run defense.
18:04Exhibit A, two weeks ago,
18:07Bijan Robinson of Atlanta,
18:08who went for 170 and had an 80-yard run.
18:11Exactly.
18:12Dalton pumps.
18:13Dalton, 37 years old,
18:15lost it on the run.
18:16Buffalo's got it.
18:18And it's Christian Benford,
18:19the former Villanova Wildcat,
18:21who takes it away.
18:22It was knocked away by Greg Russo.
18:25Just a great hustle play there by Russo.
18:35Just,
18:36they call it coming out of the stack.
18:38Retrace as a rusher,
18:39and Andy Dalton just doesn't see the pressure coming from behind.
18:43That's the formula.
18:44Take the ball away in Buffalo.
18:46Andy Dalton with the turnover,
18:56the fumble on the scramble.
18:58You said it,
18:58Buffalo has not been as successful as they were a year ago,
19:01taking the ball away.
19:02That was just the sixth takeaway for the Bills that's still under league average.
19:06Yeah,
19:06and now it just makes them even for the year.
19:08After being plus 24,
19:10and of course there's a lot of season left to go,
19:12plus 24 a year ago,
19:13minus one coming into today.
19:15Now they're just at baseline to see if they can continue to add to those totals.
19:22Gilliam,
19:22the fullback in motion.
19:24They give it right back to Cook to start this drive.
19:27And he picks up about six.
19:29So another good run from Cook.
19:31Take a look here.
19:32There's the effort by Russo.
19:33I mean,
19:34Andy Dalton's got the ball tucked.
19:36I think he's just worried about how long is he going to run with Shaq Thompson bearing down.
19:40It's that in-between between get as much as you can,
19:42and then obviously get down before Thompson puts a hit on you.
19:46You see Andy kind of saying,
19:47you know,
19:47that's on me.
19:48My bad.
19:49I didn't love the Wildcat.
19:51I feel like the traditional run game with Dalton was going so well.
19:53The last three carries.
19:55I feel like they got a little cute there in the high red and put him behind the sticks.
20:01Now toss play running to the right side for Cook.
20:03Another first down,
20:04and there he goes.
20:06Shoved out shy of the 50 by Trevin Wallace.
20:09Good blocking by Jackson Hawes,
20:12who you pointed out.
20:13They kind of use him as the extra lineman as a good blocker at tight end.
20:16Yeah,
20:17so they got four guys they want to use.
20:18They got the three tight ends,
20:19Kincaid,
20:20Knox,
20:20and Hawes.
20:21And then every once in a while,
20:22they'll go two tight ends,
20:23and then a fullback,
20:25who,
20:25Reggie Gilliam,
20:26for all intents and purposes,
20:27is just a tight end.
20:29But he's technically a fullback,
20:31and that's what they were in there.
20:32So you hear people talk about 13 personnel.
20:35That's one back,
20:36three tight ends,
20:36one wide out,
20:3722 personnel.
20:39They're counting Gilliam as a fullback.
20:42Kind of semantics,
20:43but nonetheless equally effective.
20:45And basically lined up as a tight end right now here.
20:47Allen down the middle,
20:48off target.
20:49He was looking for Dalton Kincaid,
20:51who missed their last game against Atlanta with the oblique issue.
20:54So far,
20:56this Buffalo ground game is doing something that the Panthers haven't really seen in about a month.
21:01And very sharp in the run game on defense,
21:04but James Cook is off to an excellent start for the Bills.
21:08Man,
21:08you know,
21:09it's just such an unorthodox way to play against a Josh Allen offense.
21:13You come in typically over the last five,
21:15six years,
21:16you're saying,
21:16all right,
21:16we're just not going to let Josh Allen beat us.
21:18And if they want to run the ball,
21:19we'll let them.
21:21Just this transformation in philosophy makes Buffalo a little tricky.
21:25Extra body for Carolina.
21:27So Allen tried to get rid of it fast,
21:29and what a break on the ball by Mike Jackson.
21:33That was very well read.
21:35It forces third down and long.
21:36Nice job there by Mike Jackson.
21:38He's going to face a lot of action.
21:40He's going to most of the time line up to the wide side of the field.
21:44And J.C. Horn,
21:45one of the best corners in the league,
21:47young,
21:48talented guy,
21:48just teams are going to shy away from him.
21:51And with a team like Buffalo,
21:52who doesn't have a traditional number one featured receiver,
21:56if I'm Josh Allen,
21:57I'm going to continue to stress those zones to the open side of the field.
22:02Look over Ty Johnson is lined up on the nearest side.
22:06Look at Arena League formation.
22:08Allen floats it.
22:09First down.
22:09It is caught by Kincaid.
22:11Tackled by Merrick,
22:14but another big gain of 20-plus yards for Kincaid,
22:18who's coming off a great game against New England a few weeks back.
22:20Yeah,
22:21just a simple short motion,
22:22which gets him a free release.
22:24You'll see Nick Scott there,
22:2521.
22:27Of the Panthers,
22:28I don't know why on third and long,
22:29he feels the need to come up and drive a shorter route.
22:33He's kind of the robber player coming out of the safety.
22:35He's got that crossing route.
22:38Kincaid,
22:39man,
22:39they really missed him last game before the bye against Atlanta.
22:43He's probably their best pass option,
22:45even though he's a tight end,
22:47of course.
22:47He's their leading receiver in terms of yardage.
22:50There's Cook again,
22:51and another good first down run.
22:53The tight end position is something to keep an eye out,
22:55because that is,
22:56at least has been,
22:57a little bit of a weak spot for Carolina's defense.
22:59You've seen some big performances from tight ends over the last month,
23:03and this could be a big day for Dalton Kincaid.
23:05Yeah,
23:05Darren Waller,
23:07of course,
23:07in the big come-from-behind win
23:08against the Dolphins.
23:09We were here in Carolina a couple weeks ago.
23:12Jake Ferguson had a good game,
23:13so that has been an area defending that slot position in general has become an issue.
23:19But Dalton Kincaid,
23:21man,
23:21they're going to continue to look his way along with Dawson Knox.
23:25They feel really good about that tight end win.
23:28Think it.
23:29Allen
23:30trying to find some space down the sideline,
23:34and
23:35let's see if Elijah Moore was inbounds.
23:37He was.
23:38It's a catch
23:39at the 11-yard line
23:40and a first down.
23:42All right,
23:42so this is the magic.
23:44This is the magic of Josh Allen.
23:46Just a simple pump fake,
23:48his ability to extend plays.
23:49Let's take a look here.
23:50Does Moore keep his feet in?
23:51I don't think he does,
23:53but great job there by Buffalo.
23:55Oh,
23:55they challenged it.
23:56All right,
23:56they're going to stop the play.
23:57Canales is out on the numbers,
23:59pointing at the red challenge flag.
24:02I don't think he got that second foot inbounds.
24:05Boy,
24:05that was very tight.
24:07You saw Canales flinging it
24:08and then screaming and pointing at it,
24:10saying,
24:11challenge,
24:11challenge.
24:14Carolina is challenging
24:15on the moving of the field
24:16of a completed catch.
24:17And this will be the first
24:18for Canales this season.
24:21Elijah Moore,
24:22the former Jet,
24:23now Bill,
24:25left foot down.
24:27Let's see if they overturn this.
24:32So you see Elijah Moore,
24:34by the time he possessed the ball,
24:35he had left the ground.
24:37His left foot gets back down
24:39on the ground cleanly,
24:39but did not get the right foot in.
24:41So it's an incomplete pass
24:42and it's third down and three.
24:44Yeah,
24:44so the technique you want to use
24:46ideally along the sideline
24:47is when you know you're running
24:48out of green grass,
24:49you've got to just plant your feet
24:51and almost let your lower half
24:52just go to the ground limp
24:54and secure it.
24:55He tried to jump
24:56and catch it with his chest.
24:58That took his feet off the ground.
25:00So on third down,
25:01they run it again.
25:02These two offenses
25:04have such confidence right now
25:06in their ground games
25:07and James Cook
25:08is off to a fabulous start.
25:1080 rushing yards
25:11on eight carries
25:12in this first quarter.
25:13Yeah,
25:13doesn't it seem like
25:14almost all of them
25:15are going to the left?
25:16We've talked a lot
25:17about the tight ends,
25:18but left tackle,
25:19Deion Dawkins,
25:20he is a mauler.
25:22He is a big body.
25:23He's physical
25:24in the run game
25:25and they have a lot of success
25:27running behind big number 73
25:29along with all those tight ends
25:31that they can really move around
25:32the formation
25:33to gain their rushing advantage.
25:35Now in his ninth year
25:36out of Temple,
25:37Dawkins helping Cook
25:39get a career high
25:40for a first quarter.
25:42Look to add to it,
25:44but a nice job
25:45penetrating by Christian Roseboom.
25:47That'll take us
25:48to the end
25:48of the opening quarter.
25:51Panthers went three
25:52and out of their first drive.
25:54Buffalo comes down,
25:54gets a field goal.
25:55Dalton comes down
25:56the field,
25:57fumbles the ball.
25:58So now Josh Allen's driving
26:00to try to extend
26:01the Buffalo lead.
26:05First quarter stats,
26:07Buffalo driving.
26:09Once again,
26:09they got held to a field goal
26:11on their first series.
26:13Now it's second and long
26:14as they get into the red zone
26:15where they've been above league
26:16average so far this year.
26:17flag thrown,
26:26plays dead.
26:27Full start.
26:31Offense.
26:32Number 73.
26:34Five-yard penalty.
26:35Still second down.
26:36So Deion Dawkins
26:37has had a couple of miscues
26:38in the early going,
26:39but overall
26:40this has been
26:40one of the more consistent
26:41offensive lines.
26:42You talked about it, Greg.
26:43There's not a lot of lines
26:44that you're going to see
26:46that have played
26:46as many snaps
26:47as these guys have
26:48over the last couple of seasons.
26:49Yeah, it goes all the way
26:50back to last year.
26:50Exactly right.
26:51And I think that's why
26:52the last two games
26:53were so jarring.
26:54Some of the protection issues,
26:55some of the miscommunication.
26:57We saw it on the third down sack
26:58in the first quarter.
27:00This is a veteran group
27:01that has a lot of continuity
27:02playing together.
27:03The penalties have been higher
27:04the last couple of games.
27:06Allen trying to scramble.
27:08Oh, what a cutback
27:09that was by Allen.
27:10Stays behind the line
27:11and delivers on target
27:13and a fighting effort
27:14by Dawson Knox
27:15to get just shy
27:17of the line to gain.
27:18So they go from second and 16
27:19to third down and short there
27:21with Allen scrambling.
27:23Yeah, it's pretty remarkable.
27:24Josh Allen
27:25has not been sacked
27:27when he has scrambled
27:28this entire season.
27:30Looks like they're lining up here
27:31for a little tush-push
27:31of their own.
27:32And they've got the first down
27:3342 times,
27:35although there's a flag here.
27:36Did they jump?
27:37We know that's been
27:38a huge point of emphasis
27:40that somebody in Buffalo
27:41go early.
27:42We know the officials
27:43are being told
27:44to look for it.
27:47Craig Rolstad.
27:47Formation.
27:48Ah.
27:49Offense.
27:50Buffalo did not have
27:51an eligible receiver
27:52on the end of the line
27:53of scrimmage.
27:54It's a five-yard penalty
27:55still going down.
27:57Wow.
27:57Let's take a look at it here
27:59and see where the miscue was.
28:02Ransom tempo
28:05to try to get lined up.
28:08Yeah, it looks like
28:09Curtis Samuel
28:09is just not on the line
28:10of scrimmage,
28:11so it makes Spencer Brown
28:13the right tackle,
28:14the end man on the line,
28:15and obviously that's illegal.
28:18They needed an extra body
28:19up on the line
28:20of scrimmage.
28:21And with that tempo,
28:22they weren't able
28:23to get lined up properly.
28:24So now it's third down
28:25and six,
28:26which becomes
28:27a little more difficult.
28:28Allen
28:31scrambling away.
28:36Stopping.
28:38Backing.
28:39And for the first time
28:40on a scramble this year,
28:41he takes a sack.
28:42On the 44th scramble
28:45for Josh Allen this year,
28:47it's the first time
28:48he takes a sack,
28:49and it's Nick Skorton,
28:51the rookie.
28:52Yeah, Nick Skorton,
28:53he kind of bust onto the scene
28:55last week against the Jets,
28:57had a sack and a half.
28:58First of his career,
29:00and this is just
29:00an effort play.
29:02I promise you,
29:02chasing Josh Allen around
29:04for five-plus seconds
29:05is not an easy task,
29:07and Buffalo fans are like,
29:09Olsen,
29:10why did you even mention
29:11the sack,
29:13and now Carolina Skorton
29:14just jumped offside.
29:15So he just gave him
29:16five yards back
29:17because he's so excited
29:18about his sack.
29:20Had a sack and a half
29:20against the Jets
29:21in their last game,
29:23and now he's smelling
29:24the quarterback now.
29:25Buffalo fans hate me right now.
29:29Defense,
29:30number 99,
29:31five-yard penalty,
29:32still fourth down.
29:33But look at the sequencing,
29:34right?
29:34You go from second and 16
29:36to third down and short
29:37to third down and six.
29:38You're clearly in touchdown range,
29:41easier field goal,
29:42but now all of a sudden
29:43you move back,
29:44and now you move back up
29:45ahead five feet.
29:45Yeah,
29:45but it's worth noting,
29:47this is the trouble
29:48with the ball control,
29:50minimum possession approach
29:51of Buffalo.
29:53Your margin for error
29:54to score touchdowns
29:55is just so much smaller
29:56when you don't throw
29:57the ball downfield.
30:00So Prater from 43
30:02continues his excellent
30:04Buffalo season,
30:05a six-to-nothing lead.
30:08But yet again,
30:09the Carolina defense
30:10able to make a stand,
30:12hold Josh Allen,
30:13and this still explosive
30:15Buffalo offense
30:16to another field goal.
30:24Beautiful look
30:25at Charlotte,
30:26North Carolina.
30:27We're in uptown Charlotte.
30:29Bank of America Stadium
30:30is the home of the Panthers
30:31since opening up in 1996.
30:34Of course,
30:35they played their first year
30:36over at Clemson.
30:41The Panthers are 3-0 at home.
30:43They've held Buffalo
30:44to a couple of threes
30:46in this first half.
30:48Prater responsible
30:49for the six-nothing lead.
30:54And to the end zone,
30:55so the touchback
30:56will take Andy Dalton
30:57out to the 35.
30:58And this was
30:59a moment
31:00eight years ago
31:01that Buffalo fans
31:02remember well.
31:03Buffalo hadn't been
31:04to the playoffs
31:04in forever.
31:05And a comeback win
31:07led by Andy Dalton
31:09over the Baltimore Ravens.
31:10They knocked Baltimore
31:11out of postseason contention.
31:12The Bills go to the playoffs
31:14for the first time
31:15in 17 years.
31:16And when Dalton
31:17comes back
31:18in the preseason
31:19the following year,
31:20they give him
31:20a standing ovation.
31:21And remember,
31:22in the time between,
31:23about 16,000 donors
31:25all donated
31:26to the Andy and Jordan
31:27Dalton Foundation.
31:29Over $400,000,
31:31mostly in $17 increments
31:32to honor what Dalton did
31:35to help out the Buffalo fans
31:37all those years ago.
31:39Now he's trying to hurt
31:40Buffalo as he's done
31:41four out of the six times
31:42he's played on that.
31:43And it is an 18-yard pickup
31:45to Tedderoa McMillan,
31:46a first down.
31:47Now this is something
31:48that Andy Dalton
31:49is very comfortable.
31:50Turn your back
31:51to the defense.
31:52He knows he's got
31:53one-on-one on the outside.
31:54And Tedderoa McMillan,
31:56his ability
31:57to get down the field,
31:58he's a hands catcher,
31:59big body target,
32:01much more.
32:02Bryce Young's improved
32:03in the under center play action.
32:04It's not really
32:05what he's grown up doing.
32:07But Andy Dalton,
32:07that's pitch and catch
32:09for that veteran quarterback.
32:11Now back to the ground
32:12with Chuba Hubbard.
32:14And he'll push it ahead
32:15into AJ Epinesa,
32:16gain a four,
32:17so a successful
32:18first down run.
32:22We had a chance
32:23when we talked
32:24to Dave Canales.
32:24He said,
32:25really for the first time
32:26we feel like we have
32:27our big three
32:28kind of young wide receivers,
32:30big bodies,
32:31big long guys
32:32who can run.
32:33We saw McMillan there
32:34last year's first round pick,
32:36Xavier Leggett,
32:36and then Jalen Coker
32:38now being back healthy
32:39the last couple weeks.
32:41Feels like that's
32:41the future of the room.
32:43Quick out.
32:44And it's grabbed
32:45by the tight end
32:46Tommy Tremble.
32:47He'll get run out
32:48by Joe Andreessen.
32:50Gain a three.
32:51It's going to be
32:51third down and short.
32:53They've invested
32:53in this offense.
32:54They paid a lot of money
32:55to a couple of guards
32:56and Damian Lewis,
32:57who's back this week.
32:58Robert Hunt obviously
32:59is out.
33:00They've drafted
33:00in the first round
33:01a receiver each
33:02of the last two years.
33:02Coker was an undrafted guy
33:04who's going to end up
33:05being a key piece for them.
33:06Yeah,
33:06and they're high
33:07on this young skill
33:08and you factor in,
33:09of course,
33:09the two backs
33:10that we've talked
33:11a lot about here
33:11in the first half
33:12and they've made it
33:13a point to invest
33:14in this offense
33:15around Bryce Young.
33:16third and three.
33:22Dalton past the sticks.
33:24Caught on cue
33:25by Coker
33:26who made his season
33:27debut last week
33:28against the Jets.
33:29He gets the first down
33:30catch.
33:32And it's just a great
33:33option route here
33:34in the slot.
33:34Watch him restack
33:35his stem.
33:35He gets vertical
33:36before he breaks out.
33:39Taron Johnson,
33:40one of the best
33:40inside nickel corners
33:42in the league
33:43over the last couple years
33:44and it's just a really
33:46good third down
33:47option route
33:48from the young receiver
33:50and Coker.
33:50You mentioned undrafted guy
33:51pairing along
33:52with two first rounders.
33:55But they think
33:56the future for those three
33:57is really bright.
34:00That's Jimmy Horn Jr.
34:02That's a backwards pass.
34:03They're getting him
34:03a lot more touches
34:05in space.
34:07And a behind the line pass.
34:09It is technically
34:10a run play
34:11for seven yards
34:12to Jimmy Horn Jr.,
34:14the rookie out of Colorado.
34:15Yeah, they're kind of
34:16using him in these
34:16unique situations.
34:18Little gadget plays,
34:19screens, reverses,
34:20the threat of him,
34:22the idea just being
34:23get him the ball
34:24in open space,
34:25make guys try to
34:26bring him down
34:27one-on-one.
34:30This young group.
34:33Dave Canales,
34:34Dan Morgan, the GM,
34:35they've done a nice job
34:36continuing to put this
34:37offense together.
34:39Hubbard, left side,
34:41first down,
34:41into the red zone.
34:44There is a flag thrown
34:47on the far side of the field.
34:48We'll check that marker.
34:50And this is coming back.
34:52It's going to be a holding penalty.
34:53And as Lee Gett,
35:06the receiver who got tagged
35:07with that holding penalty,
35:08so it negates the fresh set of downs
35:10and pushes Carolina further back.
35:13And you see him here
35:14on the left side of the screen.
35:17Ball hits inside.
35:18So he just reaches out
35:20with that right hand,
35:22grabs White at the corner.
35:24I'm not sure.
35:26I know he reached out.
35:26I'm not sure if he ever
35:27actually grabbed his jersey.
35:29Did he?
35:30Just kind of lunged at him.
35:32Instead, it'll be
35:33second down and ten,
35:34and now it's going to be
35:35third down and long.
35:36Not much there for Hubbard
35:37as he runs into
35:38Dorian Williams.
35:39This is going to be something
35:41Carolina's going to have
35:42to sort through, though,
35:43now with Chuba Hubbard
35:44coming back.
35:45Of course, we've talked a lot
35:46about the success
35:47over the last three-game win streak
35:48of Rico Dowdle,
35:49is just figuring out
35:50what that balance is.
35:51Prior to the fumble
35:52from Dalton,
35:53he ran off a five-yard gain,
35:54a five-yard gain,
35:55then he popped a 24-yard gain,
35:57and he hasn't touched
35:58the ball since.
35:59I think that's something
36:00they've got to figure out
36:02for this offense.
36:05On third and seven,
36:11seven back in coverage.
36:13Dalton floats in,
36:14and it's incomplete for Horn.
36:16Oh, he had some space there, too.
36:19If that's a connection,
36:20that's likely a first down.
36:21Instead, it's fourth down and seven,
36:23and the field goal unit's coming up.
36:24Yeah, great stop here
36:25by this Buffalo defense,
36:27aided by the penalty.
36:29That coverage is two-man,
36:30meaning there's two high safeties,
36:32something Buffalo has not played
36:34as much as they have
36:35in typical years
36:36under Sean McDermott,
36:37more one-high safety,
36:38but then they play man underneath.
36:40It's the perfect route,
36:42out-breaking corner routes.
36:43Dalton just can't put it on him.
36:46Got to be Ryan Fitzgerald,
36:49rookie out of Florida State,
36:52and a good job
36:53to draw that back to the middle.
36:54He's only missed two kicks
36:55between field goals and PATs
36:58in his rookie year.
36:59You see the frustration from Dalton,
37:01hoping for a better throw that time.
37:036-3.
37:05Both teams in second place
37:09in their divisions.
37:10New England has five wins,
37:12Buffalo with four.
37:12The Patriots are down one
37:14to Cleveland in the early going right now.
37:16Tampa Bay's got five,
37:17Carolina with four.
37:18They've yet to play each other.
37:20Tampa Bay's going to be playing
37:21in New Orleans in the late window.
37:24Six of the eight divisions in the NFL
37:26have a team in first
37:27or tied for first
37:28that didn't win the division last year.
37:29Very typical of the most parody-filled
37:32North American Sports League
37:33that we have.
37:34The Panthers are right there.
37:36The Bills have already dropped the game
37:38to the Patriots,
37:38and they'll see them later this season.
37:43Ty Johnson ends up grabbing that one.
37:47And this has been typical
37:49of the Panthers as well.
37:50Poor opponent field position.
37:52And Josh Allen will take over shy to 25.
37:56So when you watch the Bills play this season,
37:57and maybe you haven't watched
37:58a ton of them this year,
37:59they are dominating
38:00in the ground game offensively,
38:02but they're also giving up
38:03a ton of explosive runs.
38:05It's just interesting to see
38:06what the shift and evolution
38:08of Buffalo on both sides
38:09of the ball this bit.
38:10Yeah, and it's actually been
38:11very intentional.
38:12Now, I think from a personnel standpoint,
38:15Joe Brady and Sean McDermott,
38:16they realize that
38:18being in three wide receiver shotgun sets
38:21is probably not the best use
38:22of our personnel.
38:23We've talked about the backs
38:23and James Cook,
38:24the multiple tight end packages.
38:26So it makes sense on early downs
38:28to be under center
38:29and get this ground game going.
38:31But at some point,
38:32you've got the best player
38:33in the world.
38:34When he's under center,
38:36I take a deep breath
38:37if I'm the opposing defense
38:38because he's not going to run
38:39with the ball.
38:41Here's Cook trying to extend it,
38:43and he slips through multiple Panthers
38:44to turn a potential loss
38:46into a gain.
38:47You get to get Carissa Thompson
38:48right now for a game break, CT.
38:50Thank you so much.
38:51Adam Ravens still
38:51without Lamar Jackson.
38:53Derek Henry walks this one
38:54in for the score,
38:55and with that,
38:56he now passes the great
38:57Walter Payton
38:58for fifth all-time
38:59in rushing touchdowns.
39:01Ravens lead this one
39:017-6 over the Bears.
39:03Adam?
39:04It's certainly fitting
39:05to see that
39:06as they play the Bears today.
39:10Buffalo had that massive comeback
39:12week one.
39:13Scored 41 points
39:15against the Ravens.
39:16Prater hit the game-winning
39:17field goal.
39:18They were down 15
39:19in the fourth quarter,
39:20came all the way back
39:20to win.
39:22That was part of a 4-0 start
39:23before losing back-to-back.
39:25Here's Shakir on the screen,
39:27multiple tackles broken,
39:28and he gets the first down.
39:30And some help from Spencer Brown,
39:31that solid right tackle
39:33doing some blocking.
39:33You know, and again,
39:35I think this is a larger conversation
39:38than just the two teams
39:39that are playing here today
39:40with Buffalo,
39:41I mean, yeah,
39:42with Buffalo and Carolina.
39:43But really,
39:44the correlation
39:45that you have to see
39:46is,
39:46is there a direct connection
39:48between your ability
39:49to run the ball
39:49for a ton of yards,
39:51and is there a correlation
39:52to how many points
39:54you can score, right?
39:54So,
39:55can you generate
39:56explosive runs,
39:57chunk runs,
39:58score from 30,
39:5940 yards out?
39:59That's a different animal.
40:02Here's Cook,
40:03good patient run,
40:04and he busts it through!
40:05There you go!
40:05Right on cue!
40:06Off to the races!
40:08James Cook!
40:10House call,
40:11touchdown,
40:12Somersault!
40:12He's in!
40:20Well,
40:20he said it right on cue.
40:21That's the conversation
40:23around run game
40:24in the NFL.
40:25If you gotta go 12,
40:2613 plays,
40:27and then fight
40:29in the red zone
40:29every possession,
40:30it's challenging.
40:32But watch the job here.
40:33Reggie Gilliam,
40:33watch this block
40:34on Wallace,
40:36and then it's just
40:37make one guy miss,
40:38and he's gone.
40:42There it is.
40:43That's,
40:44that's the true definition
40:46of a top-tier run offense,
40:48and it came at the right time
40:50for Buffalo.
40:52Panthers gave up
40:5344 rush yards
40:54total
40:55last week.
40:56They gave up
40:58a 64-yarder there.
41:00Prater misfires
41:01on the kick.
41:02No good.
41:03In a game where points
41:04feel like they're
41:04at a premium,
41:05that's a rare miss
41:06and maybe a key one
41:07from Prater.
41:08Second longest run
41:09in James Cook's career.
41:1264-yard lightning bolt
41:14to extend the Buffalo lead.
41:18Well, there's Joe Brady,
41:20his fourth season on staff.
41:21The 36-year-old Florida man
41:23trying to wake himself
41:24and maybe the offense
41:25up a little bit.
41:26Well, that won't come up.
41:27Woke a lot of people up.
41:29A 64-yard James Cook burst.
41:33Missed PAT,
41:35the first of the year
41:35by Prater,
41:36so it's 12-3.
41:39Already 146 yards
41:41on the ground
41:42for James Cook.
41:43Perfect kickoff
41:44by Prater.
41:45It is Trevor Etienne,
41:47the rookie,
41:48and he will not make
41:49the 30-yard line
41:50back to the touchdown.
41:51Yeah, so just take a look.
41:53Pre-snap,
41:54this looks like
41:55the weak side of the run
41:56and here's the four-man side,
41:58right?
41:58So they bring J.C. Horn
41:59on the blitz,
42:00but with the motion of Hawes
42:02and then the lead block
42:03of Gilliam,
42:04they've now transitioned
42:05the strength of the offense
42:07to the left side.
42:09We've talked about
42:09Deion Dawkins,
42:10the left tackle.
42:12There's just nobody there.
42:13He's untouched.
42:14You just don't see that.
42:15It's a combination
42:16of their ability
42:17to script it with formation,
42:19use of the motion,
42:20pre-and then the
42:21Gilliam is the lead block
42:23post-snap.
42:25So here is Dowdle,
42:27short gain on the play.
42:28That's something that Buffalo
42:29has been doing more
42:30and more of.
42:31Obviously, you talked about
42:31the bigger sets.
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