CHARLOTTE — For the last week, the circumstances have been hashed over again and again.

Sunday afternoon Buffalo and Carolina will meet in a battle of teams that won their NFL openers last Sunday.

The prevailing story, of course, is the numerous ties between the Bills and Panthers.

Sean McDermott, Carolina’s defensive coordinator for the previous six seasons, is now Buffalo’s head coach. Brandon Beane, the former Panthers assistant general manager, is now GM for the Bills.

Four players who were on the Carolina roster last year are now with the Bills and another went the other direction.

But that’s all pre-game stuff.

What’s important will unfold Sunday at 1 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium (WIVB-TV, WROC-TV, 95.7 FM, 100.1 FM, 550 AM).

The Panthers are looking to regain their cliched swagger.

Two years ago, Carolina went 15-1 and rolled into Super Bowl 50 only to be handled, 24-10, by Denver. Then, last season, the Panthers struggled to a 6-10 record, low-lighted by former Pro Bowl quarterback Cam Newton’s pedestrian numbers of 19 touchdown passes, 14 interceptions and a lousy 75.8 passer rating.

In last Sunday’s opener, a 23-3 win at San Francisco, Newton, again, was hardly impressive, going 14-of-25 for 171 yards through the air with two TD passes and a pick. He ran six times for three yards.

Meanwhile, the Bills,  in McDermott’s first game as a head coach, downed the Jets, 21-12, at New Era Field.

Buffalo QB Tyrod Taylor was 16-of-28 for 224 yards with two touchdown throws and an interception en route to a 92.0 passer rating.

Now the Bills take a step up in class – the Panthers are favored by a touchdown – via their first road game and in Carolina’s home opener on a forecast 85-degree afternoon.

McDermott admitted, “It’s a huge challenge. This is a very talented football team … a team that’s been together for a long time, seven years now for the most part. The defense, in particular, is very talented, they do a great job schematically and they’re extremely fast so we’ll have our hands full.”

Particularly with Newton.

“He was an MVP of the league for a reason a couple years ago and I had a front row seat to watch him on a day-to-day basis and watch his strengths … the size (6-foot-5, 245 pounds), the speed, the power, the arm strength,” McDermott pointed out. “That’s what we’re up against, and then you add the other weapons that they have …

“Each quarterback brings a little bit different skill set to the table. Cam has some uniqueness to his skill set as he has the ability to pull the ball down and run so we have to be mindful of that. Again, the arm strength, we’ve got to be mindful of that. He can extend plays. There’s just some different things that Cam brings to the table that maybe other quarterbacks don’t. That’s all part of our awareness of and respecting the opponent, and Cam in this case.”

But doesn’t McDermott’s position as defensive coordinator for those six seasons stand as an edge today as far as individual strengths and weaknesses?

“He’s been fortunate to coach those guys and we have open communication. Anything that I see on tape, I can ask him about,” Taylor said. “Just him giving his insight on the defense and personnel definitely helps when it comes to this group.  It’s definitely an advantage if we use it the right way. Coach McDermott and other players that have been on the Panthers in the past couple years can give as much insight as they want.

“We don’t have their plans on defense, but they’re (coaches are) giving us the best look they can, and they’re doing a great job of it, trying to prepare us for the look that we’re gonna get (Sunday). But, with all the information given, all the tapes watched, we still have to go out there and execute the plays.”

Of course, the insight from McDermott and the former Panthers on the roster helps too.

“You’ve got a lot of guys on this team that came from Carolina,” said safety Jordan Poyer, who had an interception and a sack against the Jets. “You get that and you’re able to take it into the film room, watch film with them and kind of pick up some information … some tips in order for you to play faster on Sunday.

“We’re using them to our advantage and guys like Webb (No. 3 quarterback Joe) coming in and giving us tips on the quarterback … it’s huge.”