The Panthers kept letting the Bills hang around.
So finally, the Bills decided to go ahead and win it since the Panthers refused to.
On a day of manic swings, mistakes by young quarterbacks, injury depleted secondaries and confusion, the Bills stole a 24-23 win on Stevie Johnson’s touchdown with two seconds left.
The Panthers appeared to have iced the game with an interception by reserve safety Colin Jones, but a pass interference call negated that turnover, and gave E.J. Manuel a chance to become a hero in Buffalo.
Manuel was 27-of-39 for 296 yards, with a touchdown and an interception, but made the play when one was begging to be made, hitting a wide-open Johnson in the corner of the end zone for the winning score. The Bills also got a franchise-record 4.5 sacks from Mario Williams.
Meanwhile in Charlotte, the search for scapegoats will begin anew.
The Panthers are now 2-14 in games decided by a touchdown or less under coach Ron Rivera, who fell to 13-21 overall.