Jon Beason and Julius Peppers help anchor an improved Carolina defense. (Photo by John Clark)

GAME: Buffalo (2-4) at Carolina (2-3)
SITE: Bank of America Stadium
CAPACITY: 73,778
KICKOFF: Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
TV: CBS (Gus Johnson, Steve Tasker)
SERIES HISTORY: 5th meeting. Bills lead 3-1. In the last meeting between these two teams the Panthers captured a 13-9 victory at Ralph Wilson Stadium back in 2005. The memorable moments in this matchup are few and far between.

LAST WEEK: The Bills intercepted Mark Sanchez five times and overcame an injury to starting quarterback Trent Edwards and a 10-point deficit to defeat the New York Jets 16-13 in overtime last Sunday at the Meadowlands. Bills PK Rian Lindell booted the game-winner with 2:24 left in the overtime period in a game that seemed destined not to end. WR Lee Evans caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from backup QB Ryan Fitzpatrick for Buffalo’s only touchdown of the game.

THE STAT SHEET: Buffalo offense: 25th overall (291.2), 12th rushing (121.7), 25th passing (169.5), 26th scoring (5.5.). Buffalo defense: 21st overall (352.5), 32nd rushing (181.8), 4th passing (170.7), 20th scoring (21.5).
Carolina offense: 26th overall (290), 8th rushing (131.2), 29th passing (158.8), 24th scoring (17). Carolina defense: 12th overall (306), 29th rushing (149.2), 2nd passing (156.8), 27th scoring (25).

OVERVIEW: A week ago, the Buffalo Bills started three offensive linemen and depending on how things shake out, they could do that again this week.
   That means Carolina’s suddenly blitz-happy defense should be licking its chops.
   The Panthers have nine sacks in their last two games and are getting more pressure through linebacker blitzes, rather than just relying on their front four as in the past. It’s a pretty safe bet the Panthers will continue to do the same against a young Bills line that has surrendered 19 sacks in six games and a backup quarterback who’s not completely familiar playing in this system.
   Thomas Davis has been huge so far this season for the Panthers and should have a big impact on the game if he’s able to play...
   “I think Thomas is playing very well and I know the coaches are pleased with the way he’s coming along this year,” said fellow LB Na’il Diggs. “He’s consistently making plays week after week which is great for him.
   “I don’t know if it’s so much the scheme as it is him coming into his own. I think that he’s finally got it. You see players all of the time with all of this talent and athletic ability, they are fast and can run and jump but don’t quite get it – sometimes never. I can tell in camp, you could tell that he’s got it and he’s comfortable. He’s anticipating plays and where to be and that’s great.”

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:  Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams vs. Buffalo front seven – Williams is coming off a 152-yard, two-touchdown performance last week against Tampa Bay and this week faces the league’s worst run defense. The Bills are allowing more than 188 yards per game on the ground and have allowed eight rushing touchdowns in six games. Williams and Jonathan Stewart will look to run right between the tackles, which is where the Bills have been exposed the most. Both should put up some huge numbers.
   Panthers DE Julius Peppers vs. Bills LT Demetrius Bell – Peppers is on a roll, playing as well as he ever has in back-to-back Carolina victories. He has 13 tackles and four sacks in the past two games and has been constantly around the football and hustling to plays. Bell is the estranged son of former NBA star Karl Malone, who never quite owned up to being the boy’s father until it was much too late. Nothing has come easy for Bell, a seventh-round pick in 2008 who looks to nail down the left tackle spot for years to come. The problem here for Bell will be dealing with Peppers’ quickness.

KEY TO THE GAME: Sure, the Panthers would like to get wide receiver Steve Smith more involved in the offense this week – hey, who wouldn’t? -- after he pouted about not being an asset in the offense last week.
   But in reality, the Panthers may have to borrow last week’s game play and continue to run the ball.
   Buffalo comes in with the league’s worst run defense. The Bills are allowing 181.8 yards per game on the ground and last week surrendered 210 yards to Thomas Jones of the New York Jets. With Carolina coming off a 267-yard performance against Tampa Bay, which was the second-highest single-game total in franchise history, you’d think DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart would see plenty of carries.

INSIDE THE GAME: The Panthers will be without one of their core players on special teams as Dante Wesley is suspended. Carolina signed Keith Lewis this week with the likely purpose as him being a one-week replacement for Wesley on special teams. After Wesley left the game last week, the Panthers allowed a 97-yard kickoff return against Tampa Bay.
   It will also be interesting to see if newcomer Tank Tyler or Nick Hayden will be the third defensive tackle. I think it will be Tyler for sure.

INJURY UPDATE:  The Bills come in a little dinged up. Aside from QB Ryan Fitzpatrick starting in place of Trent Edwards (concussion), the they’ll also be without S Donte Whitner (ankle), S Bryan Scott (ankle) and OT Jonathan Scott (ankle). Meanwhile, TE Shawn Nelson (illness) is doubtful, while DT Kyle Williams (leg) is questionable. DE Chris Kelsay (eye) and CB Terrance McGee (knee) are probable.
   Carolina’s only real question is the status of WLB Thomas Davis, who was held out of practice Thursday and Friday after tweaking his hamstring. Davis is listed as questionable. Although RB Jonathan Stewart (Achilles) is questionable, he’s expected to play since he practiced on Thursday and Friday.

BY THE NUMBERS: 5 – Number of touchdowns opponents have scored off returns this season against the Panthers (two interception, one fumble, one kickoff and one punt). That’s nearly one-third of the total touchdowns (16) allowed by the Panthers this season.

NOTEWORTHY: Former Carolina offensive lineman Geoff Hangartner will anchor the Buffalo offensive line at center. He left Carolina this past off-season because the Bills gave him an opportunity to start and threw a ton of money at him, two things the Panthers simply couldn’t offer.
   “Geoff is a great guy and was well-liked in this locker room,” said Panthers DT Damione Lewis. “It will be good to see him on the field.”

THEY SAID IT: “Probably no different than any other year. No different than maybe after our first game this year when everybody wanted to pin the Philly loss on him. Probably no different than when we were sitting at 0-3. As a football team - not just one guy - I don't think any of us were very good. I don't think me as the head coach was very good. I think top to bottom that was the deal. I think over the last three weeks, and I'm counting the bye week as one of those, guys have worked very hard. A week ago, there was some disgruntledness over our run game. Guys worked hard, responded well and we got that working. This is a tough game played by tough people. You keep working until you get better. I don't think the passing game rests on one guy's shoulders.”
   --Coach John Fox on if QB Jake Delhomme is doing anything differently than in the past.

FANTASY WATCH: I think all four RBs are good starts in this game, particularly DeAngelo Williams. However, I’d stay away from both quarterbacks. WR Steve Smith is probably the only receiver worth starting simply because he’s motivated to play. I don’t like either kicker in this game, but Carolina’s defense could put up some decent sack numbers and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them score this week.

PREDICTION: The Panthers are coming off a momentum-building touchdown drive last week against Tampa Bay. The Bills are coming off an emotional overtime road victory against a division foe as well. So how does this one shape up? I think a lot of folks are expecting the Panthers to bury the Bills, and that could indeed happen. But again, the Panthers haven’t shown me the ability to step on an opponent’s throat when they have them down. It wouldn’t shock me if the Bills pull the upset, but I’m going with the Panthers this week in a fairly close game. Carolina 24, Buffalo 21. (Season record on picks: 4-1).