Final
  for this game

Bills hold off Panthers

Aug 9, 2014 - 3:15 AM Charlotte, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Jeff Tuel's touchdown pass with six minutes left in the fourth quarter helped the Buffalo Bills hold off the Carolina Panthers for a 20-18 preseason victory on Friday.

Tuel, who went 4-for-5 for 24 yards with an interception, connected with Chris Summers from a yard out to make it a 20-12 game with less than six minutes left in the final stanza.

The Panthers clawed back as Joe Webb's 31-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Williams with 1:43 to play got the Panthers within, 20-18, but Webb's pass on a two-point conversion was incomplete as the Bills held on for the win.

E.J. Manuel went 9-for-13 for 96 yards in Buffalo's first three drives. The second-year quarterback completed his first seven pass attempts before throwing an incompletion.

Dan Carpenter's 37-yard field goal opened the scoring for the Bills with 5:42 left in the first quarter.

Cam Newton, who underwent offseason ankle surgery, was inactive. Derek Anderson started for the Panthers and connected with first-round pick wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin on a 29-yard touchdown early in the second quarter, capping a 10-play, 82-yard drive to give the Panthers a 6-3 lead. Kicker Jordan Gay missed the extra point.

Anderson was replaced by rookie Matt Blanchard halfway through the second. Blanchard's fumble on his first drive was recovered by Manny Lawson and set the Buffalo offense up at Carolina's 28-yard line. Anthony Dixon lunged into the end zone for a score with 4:04 left in the half.

After Blanchard was intercepted by Da'Norris Searcy, Carpenter tacked on a 42-yard field goal to give Buffalo a 13-6 advantage heading into halftime.

Webb led the Panthers down the field in a 13-play, 80-yard drive that first- year back Darrin Reaves capped with a 6-yard touchdown scamper for a 13-12 score. Carolina tried a two-point conversion, but Webb's pass to Marvin McNutt was incomplete.

Webb finished 16-for-28 with 180 yards, a touchdown and 30 rushing yards.

Bills running back Bryce Brown ran for 64 yards on 11 attempts in the victory.