Read the latest news and notes from One Bills Drive as the Bills gets set to take on the Panthers on the road for Week 8.
Sean McDermott and Bills personnel reflect on their time with the Panthers
Buffalo faces Carolina on Sunday, Oct. 26. Since getting hired by the Bills, this is head coach Sean McDermott's third time opposing his former team.
Under McDermott's leadership in Buffalo, the series history is tied 1-1. In 2017, the Panthers beat the Bills 9-3 at Carolina. Buffalo won at home four years later in 2021, 31-14.
After his stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, bouncing around different defensive coaching positions, the Panthers hired McDermott as defensive coordinator in 2011. With Carolina, McDermott led a top 10 defense four times, helped the Panthers win three NFC South division titles and make a trip to Super Bowl 50 in 2015 with a 15-1 record.
"A great organization that was very kind to me and helpful with my career," McDermott said of Carolina. "Coached with a lot of great coaches and great players also. I learned so much from being there. It was a great time for me. The Super Bowl was a tremendous moment. So, I learned a lot from being there, I'm super happy here."
Linebacker Shaq Thompson reflected on his time with the Panthers as well on Wednesday. In 2015, Carolina drafted Thompson out of Washington in the first round. The linebacker ranks fourth in franchise history in all-time total tackles with 470.
"I think the special thing is going back to where it started for me, where I got drafted to," Thompson said. "I tell myself it's just a regular game. They're on our schedule; they're in our way for us to get back in that win column. It's probably not going to hit me until I walk into the stadium and go on the visitor's side."
Thompson spent his first 10 seasons in the NFL with the Panthers before signing with Buffalo on June 10, 2025. On Wednesday, he said he was excited to have those connections from Carolina carry over to the Bills organization.
"I wanted to play for coach McDermott before I retired. And it happened. Fortunately, I was over here and Beane was here. I'm excited. They know me, and they've been seeing my growth over the years and my play over the years. I'm just happy to be here. I love this team. I love this city. I love this organization."
General manager Brandon Beane was also in Carolina before coming to Buffalo. In his 19-year stint with the Panthers, he was the assistant general manager from 2015-16. He was a crucial contributor to constructing Carolina's draft board from 2012-17. Beane served as the organization's interim general manager in 2012, holding that title for 10 games that season. Over his time with the Panthers, he won five NFC South division titles and two NFC conference championships.
Linebackers coach Al Holcomb started his career with Carolina from 2013-17 before spending a season with the Arizona Cardinals. He, like Beane and McDermott, was there for the 2015 Super Bowl-bound season. Holcomb also led his linebacker room to 24 interceptions and 35 total takeaways, which led the NFL. The Panthers defense also led the league in sacks (241) and rush yards allowed per game (93.4).
Holcomb went back to Carolina in 2020 after his 2018 season in Arizona and was promoted to defensive coordinator and assistant head coach in 2022. Soon after, he was hired by the Bills as their senior defensive assistant in 2023. On Feb. 2, 2024, Holcomb became Buffalo's linebackers coach.
Stats and milestones to know
- The Bills are 8-0 following a bye week in the Sean McDermott era (since 2017)
- The offense has averaged 27.5 points per game and the defense has allowed 17.6 points per game after a week off since 2017
- Buffalo's defense averages two takeaways per game following a bye week since 2017
- QB Josh Allen is 7-0 after a bye week and has 16 touchdowns in those games
- Buffalo's offense ranks top 10 in several categories:
- 1st - averages 151 rushing yards per game
- 3rd - averages 378.3 total yards per game
- 4th - averages 27.8 points per game
- 5th - averages 46.9% score percentage per drive
- QB Josh Allen ranks top 10 in multiple categories:
- 1st - 156.1 passer rating when targeting TE Dalton Kincaid (per Next Gen Stats)
- 6th (tied) - 14 total touchdowns
- 7th - averages 7.8 passing yards per attempt
- 9th - averages 68.5% completion percentage
- RB James Cook has several top 10 numbers:
- 2nd - averages 89.5 rushing yards per game
- 4th - 537 total rushing yards
- 5th (tied) - 5 rushing touchdowns
- 6th - 28 rushing first downs
- 10th - averages 5 yards per rush
- Buffalo's defense has posted notable numbers this season:
- 2nd - allow an average of 167.2 passing yards per game
- 9th - allow 6.6 passing yards per attempt
- 9th - allow a 55.6% red zone efficiency rate
- The Bills are 13-4 vs. NFC opponents since 2022, tied with Baltimore for the best record in the NFL.
- The Bills are 32-9 in 1:00 p.m. kickoff games since 2020, the best win percentage in the NFL over that span.
- With a win, the Bills will be 9-0 following a bye week in the Sean McDermott era.
- Josh Allen needs one passing and one rushing touchdown to pass Cam Newton (45) for most games in NFL history.
Wednesday's injury report
Week 8 uniform combo
Press conferences & locker room sound
Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter make NBA on NBC debut
NBA broadcasts have returned to NBC this season, with the network hosting a double-header on Tuesday night to open the season.
NBA Hall of Famers and Bills limited partners Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter joined network this fall as in-studio analysts and made their debuts during the Rockets-Thunder game.
NBC Sports will present up to 100 regular season NBA games during the 2025-26 season — including four games a week for portions of the season — plus NBA playoff games.
