The NFL’s second-longest preseason winning streak remains intact after the Buffalo Bills rallied from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Indianapolis Colts 27-24 on Saturday night.
With their eight-preseason-game winning streak on the line and their third-stringers on the field, the Bills orchestrated three straight scoring drives and two defensive stops to secure the win.
While a preseason winning streak means nothing, the performances on the field may have implications for the regular season. So what are the key takeaways from this game?
Re-visiting Our Keys to the Game:
Before we dive into the three key takeaways, let’s look back at the five players/position battles we had our eyes on prior to the game.
What does Ken Dorsey’s Offense Look Like?:
The answer seems to be almost identical to last year. Even down to the aggressive call to go for it on fourth and goal from the Colts’ five-yard line (which is, yes, likely a Sean McDermott decision). But with one preseason game down, it seems safe to not expect much to change in the way the Bills run their offense.
Can Any Young Cornerback Emerge as a Starter?
Turns out that two can emerge. Both first-round pick Kaiir Elam and sixth-round pick Christian Benford made some attention-grabbing plays and showed the type of physical play that the Bills like from their cornerbacks. We’ll have more on this later.
Can Isaiah Hodgins Force His Way Onto the Roster?
Another, “Yes.” For now. While Jake Kumerow lost a costly fumble, Isaiah Hodgins took advantage of the opportunity. He had one drop early but then quickly turned the page and finished with a team-high 11 targets for 77 yards. He ran good routes, got off press coverage well, and showed good hands. He also played eight snaps on special teams, which will be crucial if he wants to make the team.
Is This the End of Cody Ford?
Saturday didn’t really move the needle for Ford. He was fine. He didn’t impress, but he didn’t look terrible either. That’s fine for him, but the real telling signs will be when the Bills actually start to play the majority of their offensive line and we can see if any of the players likely to make the roster leave any cracks for Ford to force his way through.
Which Matt Wins the Punter Battle?
I’d say rookie Matt Ariaza showed up to make an impression.
What a leg! @matt_araiza just sent this punt 82 yards. 😱
📺: #INDvsBUF on @NFLNetwork (or check your local listings)
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/Dz9p0kOaUQ pic.twitter.com/bcYFXiHwbE— NFL (@NFL) August 13, 2022
Three Key Takeaways
Kaiir Elam Puts Rocky Preseason Behind Him
We allowed to this a little bit above, but the Bills really wanted to see this kind of performance from their first-round pick. Elam ended the Colts’ first drive with a pass break-up against Alec Pierce and then later made a strong play in run defense deep in Buffalo Bills’ territory to help hold the Colts to a field goal.
He did draw a pass interference call and was sometimes beat off the line of scrimmage due to his overly aggressive style of play, but he more than held his own in his first taste of game action, which is what the team needed to see.
The team was also likely thrilled with the play of Christian Benford, who also had a key pass break-up and showed the same type of physicality that has made him a star in training camp. He seems all but locked into a roster spot for the Buffalo Bills, which will hopefully give the team added depth at the position.
Case Keenum Struggles
Buffalo Bills’ back-up quarterback Case Keenum was bad on Saturday. The veteran was 11 of 18 on the day for just 86 yards and two interceptions. One of those interceptions bounced off of Jamison Crowder’s hands, but leading an offense that turns the ball over on three straight possessions is not a good look for Keenum.
The Bills will – hopefully – never need him to play this year, and he has proven over his career that he can be a strong back-up, but Matt Barkley looked good on Saturday, so there is an outside chance that the Bills veteran will push new signee Case Keenum for the back-up job.
Khalil Shakir is Going to Play A Lot
I already mentioned Jake Kumerow’s fumble, but Jamison Crowder was also disappointing on Saturday. While some of that could be rust because he started training camp late, it’s opening the door for fifth-round pick Khalil Shakir to earn more snaps.
The rookie from Boise State was impressive on Saturday. Shakir played both on the outside and in the slot and even returned a punt, which suggests the Buffalo Bills may be trying to find all kinds of ways to get him on the field.
As a receiver, he ran precise routes and easily got open against the Colts’ back-ups. He showed good hands on a few of his catches and seems like a lock to be the Bills’ fourth receiver this season. The fact that he was able to work inside and outside also should give the team added confidence that he can back up at multiple positions if need be.
The Bills will try to keep their preseason win streak going when they take the field next Saturday at 1 pm ET against the Denver Broncos.
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