Bills vs Panthers Week 8 2025: Final Score 40

Final2025 Week 8

Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NCSun, Oct 26, 2025, 1:00 PM ET

Buffalo Bills vs Carolina Panthers, Week 8 2025

Buffalo Bills

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Carolina Panthers

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Scoring by quarter
Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Bills	3	16	21	0	40
Panthers	0	3	0	6	9

BUF 40CAR 9 Final

Passing leader
Andy Dalton
CAR · QB
2.1PPR pts
16/24, 175 YDS, 1 INT
Top fantasy scorer
James Cook III
BUF · RB
33.6PPR pts
19 ATT, 216 YDS, 2 TD
Panthers leader
Tetairoa McMillan
CAR · WR
16.9PPR pts
7 REC, 99 YDS
Defensive playmaker
AJ Epenesa
BUF
1 INT, 1 SACK, 4 TKL

Bills 40, Panthers 9: Buffalo leads from start to finish

The gap showed up everywhere. The Panthers went 4-for-11 on third down and committed three turnovers, while the Bills kept the ball for 33:32 and finished without a giveaway.

Key advantages

+2.7 yards/play BUF 6.8 · CAR 4.1
+3 turnover margin BUF 0 turnovers
+166 total yards BUF 410 · CAR 244

Game Highlights

Watch on YouTube: Buffalo Bills vs. Carolina Panthers Game Highlights | NFL 2025 Season Week 8

Official NFL highlights · Opens from YouTube

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Why the Bills Won

Buffalo won the efficiency, turnover, third-down, and time of possession battles.

Team stats comparison, Bills vs Panthers
Bills	Stat	Panthers
6.8	Yards per play	4.1

0	Turnovers	3

410	Total yards	244

Other team stats
60	Plays	59

58%	Third-down conversion	36%

33:32	Time of possession	26:28

Scoring Summary

The Bills scored five touchdowns and two field goals; the Panthers scored one touchdown and one field goal.

Scoring plays, Bills vs Panthers
Time	Team	Play	BUF	CAR
1st quarter
7:14	BUF	Matt Prater 45-yard FG Takes lead	3	0
2nd quarter
13:03	BUF	Matt Prater 43-yard FG Extends lead	6	0
8:58	CAR	Ryan Fitzgerald 48-yard FG	6	3
7:23	BUF	James Cook III 64-yard TD run Extends leadXP missed	12	3
1:50	BUF	Josh Allen 1-yard TD run Extends leadMatt Prater XP	19	3
3rd quarter
12:18	BUF	Josh Allen → Khalil Shakir, 54-yard TD Extends leadMatt Prater XP	26	3
4:59	BUF	James Cook III 21-yard TD run Extends leadMatt Prater XP	33	3
1:19	BUF	Josh Allen 1-yard TD run Extends leadMatt Prater XP	40	3
4th quarter
10:33	CAR	Chuba Hubbard 3-yard TD runXP missed	40	9

Fantasy Points: Bills vs Panthers, Week 8 2025

Fantasy leaders

James CookBUFRB33.6 PTSRB2
Josh AllenBUFQB23.2 PTSQB9
Khalil ShakirBUFWR20.8 PTSWR6
Tetairoa McMillanCARWR16.9 PTSWR11

Player Stats

Quarterbacks

Quarterback statistics
Player	FPTS	FIN	CMP/ATT	Pass YDS	TD	INT	Rush ATT	Rush YDS	Rush TD	Rate	Start/Sit
Andy DaltonCARQB	2.1	QB28	16/24	175	0	1	2	1	0	70.7	Start/Sit →
Josh AllenBUFQB	23.2	QB9	12/19	163	1	0	3	7	2	108.0	Start/Sit →
Mitchell TrubiskyBUFQB	0.9	QB29	2/4	22	0	0	—	—	—	66.7	Start/Sit →

WRs, RBs, & TEs

Receiver, running back and tight end statistics
Player	FPTS	FIN	POS	Rush ATT	Rush YDS	Rush TD	TGT	REC	Rec YDS	Rec TD	Start/Sit
James CookBUFRB	33.6	RB2	RB	19	216	2	—	—	—	—
Khalil ShakirBUFWR	20.8	WR6	WR	—	—	—	7	6	88	1	Start/Sit →
Tetairoa McMillanCARWR	16.9	WR11	WR	—	—	—	10	7	99	0	Start/Sit →
Chuba HubbardCARRB	9.4	RB26	RB	12	34	1	1	0	0	0	Start/Sit →
Jalen CokerCARWR	6.6	WR54	WR	—	—	—	4	3	36	0	Start/Sit →
Keon ColemanBUFWR	6.0	WR57	WR	—	—	—	4	3	30	0	Start/Sit →
Rico DowdleCARRB	5.4	RB39	RB	8	54	0	—	—	—	—	Start/Sit →
Ja'Tavion SandersCARTE	4.9	TE25	TE	—	—	—	3	3	19	0	Start/Sit →
Xavier LegetteCARWR	3.7	WR68	WR	—	—	—	3	2	17	0	Start/Sit →
Jackson HawesBUFTE	3.5	TE32	TE	—	—	—	3	2	15	0	Start/Sit →
Dalton KincaidBUFTE	3.3	TE34	TE	—	—	—	3	1	23	0	Start/Sit →
Dawson KnoxBUFTE	2.5	TE40	TE	—	—	—	1	1	15	0	Start/Sit →
Elijah MooreBUFWR	2.4	WR77	WR	—	—	—	4	1	14	0	Start/Sit →
Ray DavisBUFRB	1.6	RB56	RB	9	16	0	1	0	0	0	Start/Sit →
Trevor EtienneCARRB	1.6	RB57	RB	4	16	0	—	—	—	—
Tommy TrembleCARTE	1.4	TE46	TE	—	—	—	1	1	4	0	Start/Sit →
Jimmy HornCARWR	0.9	WR93	WR	2	9	0	1	0	0	0
Ty JohnsonBUFRB	0.6	RB63	RB	4	6	0	—	—	—	—	Start/Sit →

Fantasy Usage

Buffalo Bills

Snap Share

Keon ColemanWR46 snaps73%
Jackson HawesTE35 snaps56%
Khalil ShakirWR30 snaps48%
Elijah MooreWR29 snaps46%
James CookRB28 snaps44%

Target Share23 targets

Khalil Shakir30%, 7 targets
Elijah Moore17%, 4 targets
Keon Coleman17%, 4 targets
Dalton Kincaid13%, 3 targets
Jackson Hawes13%, 3 targets
Other9%, 2 targets

Carry Share35 carries

James Cook54%, 19 carries
Ray Davis26%, 9 carries
Ty Johnson11%, 4 carries
Josh Allen9%, 3 carries

Carolina Panthers

Snap Share

Tetairoa McMillanWR57 snaps93%
Xavier LegetteWR54 snaps89%
Jalen CokerWR40 snaps66%
Chuba HubbardRB35 snaps57%
Ja'Tavion SandersTE33 snaps54%

Target Share23 targets

Tetairoa McMillan43%, 10 targets
Jalen Coker17%, 4 targets
Ja'Tavion Sanders13%, 3 targets
Xavier Legette13%, 3 targets
Chuba Hubbard4%, 1 targets
Other9%, 2 targets

Carry Share28 carries

Chuba Hubbard43%, 12 carries
Rico Dowdle29%, 8 carries
Trevor Etienne14%, 4 carries
Andy Dalton7%, 2 carries
Jimmy Horn7%, 2 carries

View full usage tableHide full usage table

Offensive snaps and share for the skill positions
Player	SNAPS	SNAP %	TGT	TGT %	CAR
Tetairoa McMillanCARWR	57	93%	10	43%	0
Xavier LegetteCARWR	54	89%	3	13%	0
Keon ColemanBUFWR	46	73%	4	17%	0
Jalen CokerCARWR	40	66%	4	17%	0
Chuba HubbardCARRB	35	57%	1	4%	12
Jackson HawesBUFTE	35	56%	3	13%	0
Ja'Tavion SandersCARTE	33	54%	3	13%	0
Khalil ShakirBUFWR	30	48%	7	30%	0
Elijah MooreBUFWR	29	46%	4	17%	0
Tommy TrembleCARTE	28	46%	1	4%	0
James CookBUFRB	28	44%	0	0%	19
Dawson KnoxBUFTE	27	43%	1	4%	0
Reggie GilliamBUFRB	26	41%	0	0%	0
Tyrell ShaversBUFWR	25	40%	0	0%	0
Rico DowdleCARRB	22	36%	0	0%	8
Ty JohnsonBUFRB	20	32%	0	0%	4
Curtis SamuelBUFWR	19	30%	0	0%	0
Mitchell EvansCARTE	16	26%	0	0%	0
Ray DavisBUFRB	15	24%	1	4%	9
Dalton KincaidBUFTE	14	22%	3	13%	0
Brycen TremayneCARWR	8	13%	0	0%	0
Jimmy HornCARWR	8	13%	1	4%	2
Trevor EtienneCARRB	4	7%	0	0%	4

Fantasy Points vs Expected

PPRHalf PPRStandard

Expected points (xFP) are what a player's pass attempts, carries and targets are worth at the league's average rates; the difference is what the player made of them.

Biggest overperformer+21.3James Cook III33.6 PTS vs 12.3 xFP
Biggest underperformer−9.8Andy Dalton2.1 PTS vs 11.9 xFP
Highest expected volume17.0 xFPTetairoa McMillan16.9 PTS scored

Usage and expected fantasy points
Player	PTS	xFP	vs xFP	Snap%	Usage	Rte%	Pass att	Car	Car%	Tgt	Tgt%
Tetairoa McMillanCAR · WR	16.9	17.0	−0.1	93%	43% tgt	—	0	0	0%	10	43%
James Cook IIIBUF · RB	33.6	12.3	+21.3	44%	54% car	—	0	19	54%	0	0%
Andy DaltonCAR · QB	2.1	11.9	−9.8	100%	24 att	—	24	2	7%	0	0%
Khalil ShakirBUF · WR	20.8	11.9	+8.9	48%	30% tgt	—	0	0	0%	7	30%
Josh AllenBUF · QB	23.2	10.4	+12.8	83%	19 att	—	19	3	9%	0	0%
Chuba HubbardCAR · RB	9.4	9.5	−0.1	57%	43% car	—	0	12	43%	1	4%
Ray DavisBUF · RB	1.6	7.5	−5.9	24%	26% car	—	0	9	26%	1	4%
Elijah MooreBUF · WR	2.4	6.8	−4.4	46%	17% tgt	—	0	0	0%	4	17%
Jalen CokerCAR · WR	6.6	6.8	−0.2	66%	17% tgt	—	0	0	0%	4	17%
Keon ColemanBUF · WR	6.0	6.8	−0.8	73%	17% tgt	—	0	0	0%	4	17%
Rico DowdleCAR · RB	5.4	5.2	+0.2	36%	29% car	—	0	8	29%	0	0%
Dalton KincaidBUF · TE	3.3	5.1	−1.8	22%	13% tgt	—	0	0	0%	3	13%
Ja'Tavion SandersCAR · TE	4.9	5.1	−0.2	54%	13% tgt	—	0	0	0%	3	13%
Jackson HawesBUF · TE	3.5	5.1	−1.6	56%	13% tgt	—	0	0	0%	3	13%
Xavier LegetteCAR · WR	3.7	5.1	−1.4	89%	13% tgt	—	0	0	0%	3	13%
Jimmy Horn Jr.CAR · WR	0.9	3.0	−2.1	13%	7% car	—	0	2	7%	1	4%
Trevor EtienneCAR · RB	1.6	2.6	−1.0	7%	14% car	—	0	4	14%	0	0%
Ty JohnsonBUF · RB	0.6	2.6	−2.0	32%	11% car	—	0	4	11%	0	0%
Mitchell TrubiskyBUF · QB	0.9	1.8	−0.9	17%	4 att	—	4	0	0%	0	0%
Dawson KnoxBUF · TE	2.5	1.7	+0.8	43%	4% tgt	—	0	0	0%	1	4%
Tommy TrembleCAR · TE	1.4	1.7	−0.3	46%	4% tgt	—	0	0	0%	1	4%

Team totals: Bills 23 targets and 35 carries; Panthers 23 targets and 28 carries. Shares are from the box score. Snap counts are from the weekly player logs (Sleeper), and include plays wiped out by penalties. Route counts, air yards and red-zone touches appear when the tracking feed is connected. League-average rates from the 2025 season: 1.70 PPR points per target (67% catch rate), 0.65 per carry and 0.44 per pass attempt. They don't adjust for field position or target depth.

Fantasy Verdicts

Josh Allen Ran hot

BUF · QB · 23.2 pts on 10.4 expected

12 of 19 passing for 163 yards, 1 touchdown; 3 carries for 7 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Verdict: The opportunities were worth 10.4 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.

No interceptions after 4 in the previous four games.

Start/Sit: Josh Allen →

Andy Dalton Unlucky

CAR · QB · 2.1 pts on 11.9 expected

16 of 24 passing for 175 yards, 1 interception; 2 carries for 1 yard.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 11.9 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Start/Sit: Andy Dalton →

James Cook III Ran hot

BUF · RB · 33.6 pts on 12.3 expected

19 carries (54% of the team's) for 216 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Verdict: The opportunities were worth 12.3 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.

Best fantasy game of the season. A touchdown in 5 of the last 7 games.

Khalil Shakir Ran hot

BUF · WR · 20.8 pts on 11.9 expected

7 targets (30% of the team's), 6 catches for 88 yards and 1 touchdown.

Verdict: The opportunities were worth 11.9 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.

Best fantasy game of the season.

Start/Sit: Khalil Shakir →

Tetairoa McMillan Volume, no payoff

CAR · WR · 16.9 pts on 17.0 expected

10 targets (43% of the team's), 7 catches for 99 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 17.0 expected.

Start/Sit: Tetairoa McMillan →

Chuba Hubbard

CAR · RB · 9.4 pts on 9.5 expected

1 target (4% of the team's), 0 catches for 0 yards; 12 carries (43% of the team's) for 34 yards and 1 touchdown.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 9.5 expected.

Start/Sit: Chuba Hubbard →

Ray Davis Unlucky

BUF · RB · 1.6 pts on 7.5 expected

1 target (4% of the team's), 0 catches for 0 yards; 9 carries (26% of the team's) for 16 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 7.5 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Start/Sit: Ray Davis →

Elijah Moore

BUF · WR · 2.4 pts on 6.8 expected

4 targets (17% of the team's), 1 catch for 14 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 6.8 expected.

Start/Sit: Elijah Moore →

Stock Up, Stock Down

Buffalo Bills

Stock up: Elijah Moore played 46% of the snaps, up from a 27% season average.
Stock down: James Cook III played 44% of the snaps, down from a 61% season average.
Stock down: Dalton Kincaid played 22% of the snaps, down from a 49% season average.

Carolina Panthers

Stock up: Jalen Coker played 66% of the snaps, up from a 37% season average.
Stock down: Tommy Tremble played 46% of the snaps, down from a 62% season average.

Fantasy Matchups

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, 2025 through Week 18.

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, Bills defense and Panthers defense
Points allowed to	Bills D	Panthers D
QBs	13.6	14.7
RBs	24.4	23.5
WRs	25.9	27.1
TEs	7.5	13.7

Regular season, summed from each game's box score and scored with this page's rules.

How the Game Swung

Carolina opened at 50% win probability and fell below 2% in the third quarter.

Panthers win probability

Key Swings

−9Prater 45-yd FG50% → 41%Q1 7:14
−10Prater 43-yd FG40% → 30%Q2 13:03
+10Fitzgerald 48-yd FG29% → 39%Q2 8:58
−19Cook 64-yd TD run39% → 20%Q2 7:23
−13Allen 1-yd TD run18% → 5%Q2 1:50

Swing in Panthers win probability, in points

Play Calling and Possessions

Play calling, Bills vs Panthers
Buffalo Bills	Measure	Carolina Panthers
60	Plays	59
42%	Pass rate	53%
6.6	Yds / dropback	4.2
7.0	Yds / carry	4.1
7/12	Third downs	4/11

Efficiency edge Buffalo ran 1 more plays and gained 2.4 more yards per dropback.

Top targets
BUF Shakir 30% · Moore 17% · Coleman 17%
CAR McMillan 43% · Coker 17% · Sanders 13%

Possession Results

How each possession ended, Bills vs Panthers
Result	BUF	CAR
Touchdowns	5	1
Field goals	2	1
Punts	3	4
Turnovers	0	3
Missed field goals	0	1

BUF turnover edge: +3

The Bills opened the scoring on their first possession, a 11-play, 49-yard drive that ended in a field goal.
The Bills drained the clock with two second-half drives of five to six minutes.

All 21 possessions, drive by drive

Drive chart
Team	Start	Plays	Yards	Time	Result
CAR	Q1 15:00	3	-5	2:15	Punt
BUF	Q1 12:45	11	49	5:31	Field goal
CAR	Q1 7:14	7	51	3:34	Fumble
BUF	Q1 3:40	12	58	5:37	Field goal
CAR	Q2 13:03	9	35	4:05	Field goal
BUF	Q2 8:58	3	77	1:35	Touchdown
CAR	Q2 7:23	3	3	1:41	Punt
BUF	Q2 5:42	5	14	2:22	Punt
CAR	Q2 3:20	5	19	1:28	Interception
BUF	Q2 1:52	1	1	0:02	Touchdown
CAR	Q2 1:50	9	55	1:50	Missed FG
BUF	Q3 15:00	4	65	2:42	Touchdown
CAR	Q3 12:18	4	-3	2:07	Punt
BUF	Q3 10:11	9	88	5:12	Touchdown
CAR	Q3 4:59	1	-4	0:18	Fumble
BUF	Q3 4:41	6	19	3:22	Touchdown
CAR	Q3 1:19	13	67	5:46	Touchdown
BUF	Q4 10:33	8	26	5:36	Punt
CAR	Q4 4:57	3	7	1:38	Punt
BUF	Q4 3:19	3	3	1:33	Punt
CAR	Q4 1:46	4	31	1:46	End of game

About these numbers

Possessions that ended with the clock running out at the half or the end of the game aren't counted.

Personnel groupings, average depth of target and pass rate over expected appear when the tracking feed is connected.

Bills vs Panthers Head-to-Head

The Bills and Panthers first met in 1995 and have played 9 times since.

All-time series: 7–2Bills lead, 9 meetings since 1995
Postseason: 0No playoff meetings
Largest Bills win: 40–92025
Largest Panthers win: 9–32017

Since 2021

2–0 Bills lead

2 meetings since the 2021 season, regular season and playoffs.

Oldest to newest. B = Bills win, P = Panthers win, outlined = this game.

Recent Meetings

2025 Wk 8 Bills at Panthers Sun, Oct 26, 2025 BUF 40 CAR 9 BUF W
2021 Wk 15 Panthers at Bills, 2021 Wk 15 recap Sun, Dec 19, 2021 BUF 31 CAR 14 BUF W

Season to Date (Through Week 18)

The 2025 regular season, from each game's box score.

Season to date, Bills vs Panthers
Bills	Stat	Panthers
12-5	Record	8-9

28.3	Points per game	18.3

376.3	Yards per game	295.6

5.9	Yards per play	5.0

21.5	Points allowed per game	22.4

293.1	Yards allowed per game	327.2

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Game info

Round: Week 8
Date: Oct 26, 2025
Kickoff (ET): 1:00 PM
Venue: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Winner: Buffalo Bills
Margin: 31 points
TV: FOX
Attendance: 73,505

Before and after

Buffalo Bills

Previous: Week 6: L 14–24 at Falcons
Next: Week 9: W 28–21 vs Chiefs

Carolina Panthers

Previous: Week 7: W 13–6 at Jets
Next: Week 9: W 16–13 at Packers

The Bills' next games

Bills and Panthers in Fantasy

The two teams don't meet again this season. If you roster a Bill or a Panther, these answer the week-to-week question.

Keep Exploring

2025 Game Logs for Players in This Game

Bills vs Panthers Game FAQ

Who won the 2025 Bills vs Panthers Week 8 game?

The Buffalo Bills beat the Carolina Panthers 40–9 in Week 8 of the 2025 season. The game was played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC, on October 26, 2025. See the Bills' 2025 schedule.

What was the final score of Bills vs Panthers?

The final score was Bills 40, Panthers 9. The Bills led 19–3 at halftime, and the second half went Bills 21, Panthers 6.

What happened in the Bills vs Panthers game?

Buffalo led 19–3 at halftime after a 16-point second quarter and outscored Carolina 21–6 after the break to win 40–9. The Bills finished with a 410–244 edge in total offense and averaged 6.8 yards per play. James Cook led all players with 19 carries for 216 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. The Panthers committed 3 turnovers, the Bills none.

Who scored the most fantasy points in Bills vs Panthers?

James Cook led the game with 33.6 PPR fantasy points, the RB2 of Week 8, on 19 carries for 216 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. Josh Allen was next with 23.2 (QB9). See James Cook's 2025 game log.

Who led Bills vs Panthers in passing, rushing and receiving?

Andy Dalton (CAR) led all passers with 16 of 24 for 175 yards and an interception. James Cook (BUF) led in rushing with 19 carries for 216 yards and 2 touchdowns. Tetairoa McMillan (CAR) led in receiving with 7 catches for 99 yards.

How many fantasy points did James Cook score against the Panthers?

James Cook scored 33.6 fantasy points against the Panthers in Week 8 of the 2025 season, the same in PPR, half-PPR and standard scoring because he had no catches, on 19 carries for 216 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns.

Who outperformed and underperformed expected fantasy points in Bills vs Panthers?

James Cook III outperformed his expected fantasy points the most, scoring 33.6 PPR points on 12.3 xFP (+21.3). Andy Dalton fell furthest short, with 2.1 points on 11.9 xFP (−9.8). A gap either way reflects efficiency and touchdowns in one game; it is not a forecast. For matchups ahead, see fantasy points allowed by position.

Who had the highest expected fantasy points in Bills vs Panthers?

Tetairoa McMillan had the most fantasy opportunity in the game, worth 17.0 expected PPR points (xFP) at league-average rates, and scored 16.9. Expected points measure the volume of a player's pass attempts, carries and targets, not how well he used them.

How did the Bills beat the Panthers?

The Bills beat the Panthers 40–9 because they averaged 6.8 yards per play to 4.1, won the turnover battle 3–0, and outgained them 410–244.

Which team won the turnover battle in Bills vs Panthers?

The Bills won the turnover battle 3–0: the Panthers gave the ball away 3 times and the Bills not at all. The Bills won the game.

What is the all-time Bills vs Panthers record?

The Bills lead the all-time series 7–2 across 9 meetings since 1995.

When did the Bills and Panthers last play before this game?

Before Week 8 of 2025, they last met in the 2021 season on December 19, 2021, when the Bills beat the Panthers 31–14.

What is the Bills vs Panthers record since 2021?

The Bills lead 2–0 across 2 meetings since the 2021 season, including this game.