Keon Coleman, that embattled former second-round pick, absolutely started his pivotal third season with a flash for the Buffalo Bills! He was out there making plays right from the jump in their 2026 preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers, and even though the final score means nothing, there was plenty to unpack from individual performances. While the Bills’ first-team offense looked sharp and the first-team defense stifled the Panthers, things got a little dicier once the backups rolled in.
Coleman’s Huge Day Has Buffalo Fans Pumped
This dude was targeted four times in the first half alone, tying with DJ Moore and Ray Davis for the most first-half looks for any Buffalo wideout. And guess what? Coleman snagged every single one of those passes. Yeah, they only amounted to 17 yards, but one of those catches was the first touchdown at New Highmark Stadium! Josh Allen did his classic Josh Allen magic on a first-and-goal from the nine, and Coleman just kept moving to haul it in. But wait, there’s more! He wasn’t just catching balls; Coleman showed off his blocking skills too, sealing the edge on a sweet reverse to Mecole Hardman Jr. That play gained a solid 27 yards, thanks in part to Coleman’s effort. For a guy heading into a pivotal year, this was a seriously positive afternoon.
Buffalo’s Offensive Line Is Looking Shaky
But hold up, because it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. The offensive tackles not named Dion Dawkins? Yikes. On Buffalo’s very first drive, right tackle Spencer Brown completely whiffed on Jaelan Phillips. That resulted in a nasty pressure on Josh Allen and forced a field goal attempt instead of what could have been more. Then, on the second drive, Brown was literally shoved right into Allen’s lap. Sure, the pass was completed, but you never want your QB1 on his backside! It only got worse when Chase Lundt and Jude Bowry came in later, allowing a full-on defensive meeting in the Buffalo backfield. Both those guys missed blocks, causing a major pressure on Kyle Allen. And Bowry wasn’t done, getting burned off the edge again later in the first half, leading to another hit on Kyle Allen. Oh, and he committed a hold on the first drive of the third quarter, wiping out a long Frank Gore Jr. run. Look, it’s just preseason, but neither Lundt nor Bowry looked anywhere near capable of stepping in against backups, let alone starters, if Brown or Dawkins ever go down. That’s a real cause for concern, honestly.
The Allens Are Balling Out Early
Now, let’s talk about the silver lining that kept this game from being a total O-line nightmare: the quarterbacks named Allen. Both Josh Allen and Kyle Allen were looking absolutely excellent all afternoon. Josh started the game, and man, he was sharp. He completed 6-of-8 passes for a clean 111 yards and a touchdown over his two drives. That’s efficiency right there. And Kyle Allen, despite getting pressured by his shaky O-line, also played well. It’s a huge positive for Buffalo to have both their QBs looking so solid this early on.
So, what do we take away from this? Keon Coleman is a player to watch, no doubt, showing up big when it matters. But the O-line, outside of Dawkins, needs some serious work. Early season trends are everything, and for Buffalo, it’s clear they’ve got some high points and some definite areas for improvement. Every snap matters, even in preseason, and Bills fans are going to be watching that O-line very closely moving forward. They need to protect those Allens!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Buffalo Rumblings.
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