Panthers limit Buffalo’s offense to 176 total yards

PANTHERS 9, BILLS 3

CHARLOTTE, N.C.» Carolina’s defense allowed only three points for the second straight week, and Graham Gano converted three field goals as the Panthers held on to defeat the Buffalo Bills 9-3 on Sunday.

The Panthers (2-0) held quarterback Tyrod Taylor and running back LeSean McCoy in check all day, limiting the Bills (1-1) to 176 yards and 10 first downs. McCoy had 9 yards on 12 carries, and Taylor had 125 yards passing. The Panthers had three sacks, two by Julius Peppers in his first home game since re-signing with them.

Taylor was the Bills’ leading rusher with 55 yards.

“Part of our scheme is definitely running the football,” Taylor said. “We have to be able to run the football versus multiple looks.”

The passing game was another story, Still, Buffalo went into its two-minute offense with a chance to win. On the final play, rookie Zay Jones made a diving attempt but couldn’t haul in a Taylor pass on fourth-and-11 at the Carolina 3 with nine seconds left.

The Bills’ defense held Carolina without a touchdown, sacking Cam Newton six times and holding Jonathan Stewart to 40 yards on 15 carries.

“We felt good about our matchups up front and getting pressure on the quarterback, doing some things coveragewise,” said Bills coach Sean McDermott, who spent six seasons as defensive coordinator for a Panthers unit perennially considered one of the NFL’s best.

Panthers rookie Christian McCaffrey, a former Valor Christian High School star, had 74 all-purpose yards.