ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills end their preseason Saturday afternoon with a 31-26 to the Carolina Panthers.
While the result of the preseason finale might not matter, performances of individuals sure does.
Saturday afternoon against Carolina the last opportunity for guys to make their case to make the regular season roster.
Stats are one way to measure success. Simply seeing where and how long someone is on the field in the preseason finale is another.
Offensively, Tyrell Shavers and Zach Davidson are two bubble guys.
Shavers caught two passes for 15 yards on four targets after getting the start. He nearly added a touchdown, but Shavers only able to get one hand on Ben DiNucci's pass in the end zone. He was wide open after a nice move off the line of scrimmage.
Davidson also getting the start, but getting more involved later in the game, finishing with four catches for 23 yards.
The starting offensive line, from left to right, was Ryan Van Demark, Alec Anderson, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, La'el Collins, and Tylan Grable.
It was Darrynton Evans who ended the Bills TD-less preseason streak, taking a pass in the flat from DiNucci, breaking a tackle, and turning that into an 18-yard score. Evans finished the game with three carries for 15 yards and three receptions for 28 yards and that TD before exiting with a hamstring injury.
Frank Gore Jr. making the most of his time in the Bills backfield. The undrafted free agent rushed for 101 yards on 18 carries, including a 5 yard TD in the third quarter.
Defensively, Joe Andreessen once again getting the start at middle linebacker. The Lancaster and UB product made eight tackles in the game.
The rest of the Bills starting D for this game was Casey Toohill and Javon Solomon on the edge, DeShawn Williams and Eli Ankou at defensive tackle, Andreesen and Jones at LB, Kaiir Elam and Ja'Marcus Ingram at CB, Te'Cory Couch at nickel, and Kareem Jackson and Kendall Williamson at safety.
The starters going against Bryce Young and the Panthers true 1st team to open the game, surrendering a TD on the first series when Young found former Bill Jordan Matthews for a TD.
Mike Boone capped a five-play, 51-yard drive late in the first half to put Carolina up 14-11.
Jack Plummer had multiple TD passes in the second half to extend the Panthers lead.
All rosters across the NFL must be cut down to 53 players by 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The Bills open the regular season at home Sunday, Sept. 8 against the Arizona Cardinals.