2023 Buffalo Bills Pre-Season Finale Review
2023 Buffalo Bills Pre-Season Finale Review
Taking a Look at the Bills’ Roster, Thoughts On What We Can Expect for the Final Pre-Season Match-Up and Moving Forward in the Regular Season
Marc (second from right), pictured from left to right, with siblings Justin, Jason, Meaghan and cousin Robert Sawicki.
When it comes to preseason football, the attitude of most fans tends to start out as pure excitement that football is back at the start of the first game, and then quickly devolves into some feeling of “please just get through these games without anyone getting hurt”.
While wins and losses don’t matter in the preseason, and the biggest goal (at least for fans) is to get through the games injury free, there is still plenty of competition for roster spots that are worth keeping an eye on between prayers to whatever deity you might believe in for the team to stay healthy.
Here are three key roster battles still playing out on the Buffalo Bills that still need resolving as the Bills head into their final preseason game to take on the Bears in Chicago, on Saturday August 29th at 1:00pm.
Backup Quarterback
Both Kyle Allen and Matt Barkley have had up and down outings throughout the first two preseason games. Barkley was the clear standout from the Bills’ first contest against the Indianapolis Colts, completing 14 of 15 passes for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Kyle Allen went 8/15 for 122 and an interception.
The script was flipped in the following game against the Pittsburgh Steelers where Allen was the clear better of the two. Barkley threw 3 interceptions, while Allen threw for 112 yards and a touchdown, while not committing any turnovers.
At the time of this writing, it is not yet known if any of the Bills starters will play against the Bears. If Josh Allen does not see in the field in the preseason finale, look for Kyle Allen and Barkley to each play about a half. This could ultimately determine which quarterback wins the backup job on the 53-man roster, and which player most likely heads to the practice squad.
Middle Linebacker
At the outset of training camp, the battle for the starting middle linebacker position was a three-headed competition between veteran Tyrel Dodson and second year players Terrel Bernard and Baylon Spector. That quickly was pared down to a two-man race between Dodson and Bernard, until Bernard injured his hamstring leading up to the Bills’ first preseason game.
Dodson has taken the majority of the starting snaps since, but rotated with 11th year veteran AJ Klein in the game against Pittsburgh. No one has really separated themselves from the pack, so performance in this game could be critical in determining who mans the middle linebacker spot come opening night against the New York Jets on September 11th.
If Bernard can play against Chicago, it will be interesting to see how much playing time he receives, and if he can make up the ground lost in the competition due to his injury.
Wide Receiver
The top of the Bills wide receiver depth chart is settled. There is no drama to be found in the first four receiver spots, outside of whatever it was that was ultimately going on with Stefon Diggs in the spring. Diggs is a superstar. There is no question who the Bills number one target is. Behind Diggs is entrenched number two Gabe Davis, and free agent signees Deonte Hardy and Trent Sherfield. The real competition is for the 5th and 6th receiver spots. At this point it seems to be a three-man race for two spots between 2022 5th round pick Khalil Shakir, 2023 5th round pick Justin Shorter, and former Arizona Cardinals 2nd round pick Andy Isabella.
Shakir has struggled with drops throughout camp but did flash at times in the limited game action he did see last season. He recorded 2 catches for 25 yards against the Colts, but also had a dropped pass. He did not have a reception in the game against the Steelers.
At 6’4, 223 lbs., Shorter brings an element of size to the Bills receiving corp. He did not record a reception in the game against Indianapolis but led the Bills in receiving against Pittsburgh with 5 catches for 47 yards and a touchdown.
Isabella has been with the Bills the shortest amount of time, only signing with the team on July 28th. He has however impressed with his speed and route running, working his way up the depth chart to receive meaningful offensive snaps, while also being given opportunities as a kick returner.
With the NFL now only having three preseason games, it becomes even more important for the players battling for jobs to show out, and for the coaches and front office staffs to focus in on their evaluations to determine the final roster that the team will head into the regular season with. So even though the game is meaningless in the standings, it’s far from meaningless overall.
Enjoy the game everyone! Unless you have DIRECTV and are blacked out, in which case, enjoy the weather!
LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE LOCALS
BILLY FINNERTY
The first player I loved was Joe Cribbs! I was at the Greg Bell 206 yard game with an 85 yard TD in 1984 vs the Cowboys in a 2-14 season! I was there in 1986 when Jim Kelly gave us a new hope! My High School years we went to the Super Bowl 3 out of 4 years and then went the next year! I started in the Bar business in 1994 the night a certain former Bill was being chased in a White Bronco! I was at #12’s last game and worked the #homerunthrowback! Then I lived the drought! Hope came with McDermott! Allen and Daboll brought us to the peak! Now we finish the climb! Matt Milano will lead the best defense in the league and Josh, Steph and Knox will punish the opposition! This combined with #BillsMafia will lead us to the promised land! If not, the ride as brothers and sisters believing is all that matters! It’s what makes living here the greatest secret on planet earth! #GoBills #BillsMafia #ItsOurYear
NICK ROCCO
What are you most looking forward to this season? “Hopefully the Bills beating the Chiefs! And then the Super Bowl! What are your predictions? “I think We’re only going lose 2 games the whole season but I don’t want to say out loud who I think we will lose to. I don’t want to jinx us” Any new players you’re excited about? “Yeah, Dalton Kincaid. I really want to get a Kincaid jersey for this season. I think he’ll be good!
SUZIE DITCHER
It’s the best season of the year! Sporting our Bills gear all week long. Planning the game day party! The anticipation and the excitement! It’s in our DNA. It’s who we are!! I love everything Buffalo Bills!!
SPENCER MURRAY
I’m excited about Dalton Kincaid coming onboard and I think this team is the best it’s been this year. And excited to have Poyer and Hyde duo back, along with Tre White fully! James Cook is gonna COOK as well!
CASSIE ARENA
We will squish the fish and whoop KC!!! GO BILLS
JASON GROVER
Go Bills!!!! Hey-ey-ey-ey!!!!