SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 15, 2013
Bills 24, Panthers 23: EJ Manuel recovered from a pair of fourth-quarter turnovers to lead a game-winning drive in the final two minutes as host Buffalo rallied to beat Carolina.
Manuel was 27-of-39 for 296 yards and threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Stevie Johnson to cap a nine-play, 80-yard drive - with no timeouts - before Dan Carpenter's extra point lifted the Bills (1-1) to their fifth win in six all-time meetings. C.J. Spiller rushed for 103 yards on 16 carries for Buffalo.
Cam Newton passed for 229 yards and two touchdowns, but the Panthers (1-1) had to settle for three field goals in the fourth quarter. DeAngelo Williams rushed 22 times for 85 yards for Carolina.
The Bills had trouble sustaining drives and settled for field-goal attempts - two of which they converted - the first three times they moved into scoring position. Buffalo finally found the end zone on Fred Jackson's 4-yard touchdown run with 4:15 left in the third quarter, and Robert Woods made a diving catch on the two-point conversion to tie it at 14.
Newton threw touchdown passes of 13 yards to Greg Olsen and 40 to Ted Ginn Jr. as the Panthers took a 14-6 lead midway through the third quarter. After the Bills tied it, Carolina turned two turnovers into field goals and added another three points for a 23-17 advantage before Buffalo's game-winning drive.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Carolina CB Josh Thomas was knocked out of the game in the second quarter with a concussion and S Charles Godfrey (ankle) was lost in the third. S Quintin Mikell left with an ankle injury after his sack and forced fumble in the fourth quarter. … Spiller recorded his seventh career 100-yard rushing performance. … Carolina dropped to 17-4 when Williams has 18 or more carries.