The Bills Are Back: 5 Reasons Josh Allen & Sean McDermott Are Confident About Beating the Panthers đĽ
The Buffalo Bills head into Week 8 reborn and ready.
After two straight losses, Josh Allen and Sean McDermott used the bye week to reset, refine, and rebuild confidence â and they enter the matchup against Carolina Panthers with firm belief in victory. Here are the five reasons behind their confidence.

1ď¸âŁ Unblemished Bye Week Record (7-0 With Allen at the Helm)
Allen has never lost following a bye â 7-0 personally, with the Bills winning 7 of 8 under McDermott. He averages 300 passing yards and 2 TDs per post-bye game (Fox Sports, Oct. 17, 2025).
The Panthers rank just 26th in QB pressure (26.3%), leaving them vulnerable to Allen (1,800 yards, 12 TDs this season).
McDermott: âIâm confident in the people we have.â
Allen: âBye week resets usâperfect streak continues.â
2ď¸âŁ Offensive Refinement Post-Bye â âDo Your Jobâ Mentality
The Bills scored only 34 points across two games before the bye, but the reset allowed tactical adjustments.
Buffaloâs offense still ranks 5th overall (28.6 PPG), and RB James Cook (537 yards, 5 TDs) is expected to play a larger role against a Panthers defense allowing 4.5 yards per carry.
Allen: âBye gave us clarityâJames Cook will eat.â
McDermott: âFocus inward, dominate your box.â
Addressing penalties (13 in Week 6) and red-zone efficiency (12th) is key for the rebound.
3ď¸âŁ Panthersâ Weak Pass Rush â Allenâs Opportunity to Dominate
The Panthersâ pressure rate is just 26.3% (26th) â lowest in NFC South.
Allen, with a top-5 QBR of 115.2, thrives under clean pockets.
Buffalo ranks 3rd in YPA (8.2), fueled by Shakir (10.7 YPC) and Kincaidâs dynamic routes.
The Panthersâ secondary ranks 28th (7.8 YPA allowed), perfectly suited for Allen, who has 0 INTs post-bye in his career.
Allen: âPanthers donât rush wellâtime to groove.â
McDermott: âOur protection holds; Allen will carve.â
4ď¸âŁ Confidence in Depth and Recovery
The bye week restored key players: Milano (hamstring) is limited, Oliver (ankle) is full-go, reinforcing Buffaloâs 10th-ranked defense (20.4 PPG allowed).
The Panthersâ offense (22nd, 18 PPG) led by Bryce Young (1,200 yards, 5 INTs) is a target for Spagnuoloâs aggressive blitz (top-3 in sacks).
McDermott: âConfident in our peopleâdepth ready.â
Allen: âBye heals us; defense will feast on Young.â
5ď¸âŁ McDermottâs Proven âProcess Rightâ & Allenâs Leadership
McDermott owns an 80% win rate post-bye (8-2), consistently steering Buffalo from early struggles to late-season surges.
Allen, the 2024 MVP, anchors a top-5 scoring offense (28.6 PPG) driven by âeverybody eatsâ mentality.
Meanwhile, the Panthers (3-4, ATS 2-5) lack the consistency to counter Buffaloâs focus and discipline.
McDermott: âBye is our resetâwin the next one.â
Allen: âWeâre built for thisâPanthers next.â
Conclusion:
Buffaloâs confidence stems from history, preparation, and data-backed advantages.
Projected Score: Bills 27 â Panthers 20.
Josh Allen throws 2 TDs, James Cook rushes for 120 yards.
For Buffalo, this is more than a game â itâs a get-right mission, a statement of resilience, and a climb back toward the top.











