Buffalo Bills' 2026 Preseason Slate: A New Era for Highmark Stadium Against the Panthers

Join the Bills vs. Panthers game day discussion at Buffalo Rumblings and talk about the game in real time with your fellow Bills fans!

Buffalo Bills football is back, Rumblers! Well, okay, it’s just preseason football and only the first game of the exhibition period. But still, football is finally back in its evaluative form.

Bills Mafia is understandably excited to see what’s in store during the 2026 NFL season. For the first time in just shy of a decade, the team has a new, and first-time, head coach in Joe Brady. He previously served as the team’s offensive coordinator before being named head coach this past offseason. The defense will also look vastly different than it has in ages thanks to new, first-time NFL defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.

A grain of preseason salt is always required in these moments. Everything is going to look vanilla at best, simply because teams are unwilling to put out film on their intentions before necessary. Coaches also use these scrimmages as a deeper evaluation period as it relates to roster management. Don’t expect a lot of gamesmanship.

Of course among the biggest items of news is the team’s brand-new Highmark Stadium, which opened last weekend to fans during the “Return of the Blue & Red” practice. Today is different, though, and it’s the first chance for folks around the country to see the new stadium on the big screen.

With that, it’s once again time to pass the football your way with this open thread. Join in the conversation this afternoon as the Bills take on the Carolina Panthers! This season, we’re going to keep game-day threads to one post to keep everyone engaged in the same place.

As always, be kind to one another — and in all things… Go Bills!

This is the title for the native ad

Which players around the league should the Bills focus on in a potential trade?

One more step toward full Mandalorian regalia in Buffalo Bills flair

My experience as one of the first people in the community to check out the Buffalo Bills’ new stadium.

Don’t tell the Buffalo Bills, but I managed to sneak in a special guest…

The Bills new stadium is tremendous

This is the title for the native ad

© 2026 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved

Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537). Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ (18+ D.C.) and present in select states (for KS, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino). Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT) or visit FanDuel.com/RG.