CHARLOTTE — (AP) — Anthony Dixon ran for a touchdown, Dan Carpenter had a pair of field goals and the Buffalo Bills defeated the Carolina Panthers 20-18 Friday night in a preseason game.
EJ Manuel completed 9 of 13 passes for 96 yards but the Bills struggled to cash in on scoring opportunities for the second straight game. Buffalo's first-team offense reached Carolina territory on its first three possessions but managed just three points.
Rookie Kelvin Benjamin had no such problem finding the end zone.
IMAGES: Chopper 9 flies over BofA Stadium ahead of Panthers preseason game
Carolina's first-round draft pick turned in the play of the game, thrilling fans with a stumbling, diving 32-yard touchdown reception in his NFL debut.
Racing down the left sideline, Benjamin stumbled after contact with cornerback Stephon Gilmore but maintained his balance long enough to haul in a diving catch in the end zone from Derek Anderson.
Anderson started for Cam Newton, who rested his recovering left ankle.
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The Panthers defense was ranked second in the league last season, and is led by last year's NFL Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly. Defensive ends Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy are tied for the team lead in sacks over the past two years. Hardy had a high-profile offseason for his involvement in a domestic violence altercation. He appealed a guilty conviction, and his trial is set to start in November.
"Opening preseason games are always interesting because you never know how the young guys are going to react to the game conditions and that is what makes this exciting," said Panthers head coach Ron Rivera.
The team opened training camp on July 26 at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. just one day after Panthers Fan Fest at Bank of America Stadium. Over 36,000 fans attended the event.
The Panthers released their jersey schedule for the 2014 regular season. It is as follows:
Preseason:
Friday, Aug. 8 vs. Buffalo Bills (7:30 p.m) - White
Sunday, Aug. 17 vs. Kansas City Chiefs (8 p.m.) - White
Friday, Aug. 22 at New England Patriots (7:30 p.m.) - Black
Thursday, Aug. 28 at Pittsburgh Steelers (7:30 p.m.) - White
Regular season:
Sunday, Sept. 7 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4:25 p.m.) - Blue jerseys
Sunday, Sept. 14 vs. Detroit Lions (1 p.m.) - White jerseys
Sunday, Sept. 21 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (8:30 p.m.) - Blue jerseys
Sunday, Sept. 28 at Baltimore Ravens (1 p.m.) - White jerseys
Sunday, Oct. 5 vs. Chicago Bears (1 p.m.) - White jerseys
Sunday, Oct. 12 at Cincinnati Bengals (1 p.m.) - White jerseys
Sunday, Oct. 19 at Green Bay Packers (1 p.m.) - White jerseys
Sunday, Oct. 26 vs. Seattle Seahawks (1 p.m.) - Black jerseys
Thursday, Oct. 30 vs. New Orleans Saints (8:25 p.m.) - Black jerseys
Monday, Nov. 10 at Philadelphia Eagles (8:30 p.m.) - White jerseys
Sunday, Nov. 16 vs. Atlanta Falcons (1 p.m.) - Black jerseys
Sunday, Nov. 30 at Minnesota Vikings (1 p.m.) - White jerseys
Sunday, Dec. 7 at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m.) - White jerseys
Sunday, Dec. 14 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 p.m.) - Black jerseys
Sunday, Dec. 21 vs. Cleveland Browns (1 p.m.) - Black jerseys
Sunday, Dec. 28 at Atlanta Falcons (1 p.m.) - White jerseys