Bills Beat Panthers 29-14 In Highmark Stadium Preseason Opener

Yes, we know... It's just the pre-season, and the games don't really matter. We've heard it all before; it's just a glorified scrimmage, extra practice, and it doesn't count cause the starters don't really play. But, if you ask the average Buffalo Bills fan what they think, you can be sure they'll tell you that none of that matters and the Bills are going to the Super Bowl.

That was the exact feeling as the final whistle blew inside the brand-new Highmark Stadium as the first professional football game was played in the $2 billion facility.

The road to Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, started today for the hometown Buffalo Bills as the first preseason game of the 2026-27 season happened on Saturday, August 15, 2026, and a sold-out crowd was there for one thing: to cheer on the Bills.

Bills coach Joe Brady said in interviews that we would see the first-string starters in the game, and that's exactly what happened as Josh Allen, James, Cook, DJ Moore, and Khalil Shakir all got to work early in the game.

In just the first couple of series, JA17 was able to go 6/8 for 111 yards and a touchdown against the Carolina defense, and Keon Coleman was able to score the first touchdown in the new Highmark Stadium after he caught a beautiful pass from Josh.

That wasn't all of the scoring for the Bills either, as Frank Gore and Ian Wheeler both grabbed rushing touchdowns, along with Tyler Bass showing that he's in game shape by hitting 2/4 field goals. The defense wasn't going to be denied either, as the Kani Walker Bills grabbed an interception, with Mike Danna, Deone Walker, and TJ Parker grabbing sacks as well.

This 29-14 victory was a first good test for both the Bills and the new stadium, and we get to do it all again on Saturday, August 22, 2026, as the team travels down The 90 to Cleveland to face the Browns in the season's second preseason game.