Bills vs. Bears Preseason Finale: QB Josh Allen, Starters IN

The Buffalo Bills must reduce their roster to 53 players by Tuesday, but first they're taking on the Chicago Bears in the preseason finale.

In their preseason finale on Saturday, the Buffalo Bills travel to play the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

The Bills need to get the bad taste out of their mouths from their "unacceptable" preseason Week 2 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in which the first-teamers looked flat. 

In their final tuneup game before facing the New York Jets on September 11th on Monday Night Football, this matchup is highlighted by a deeper look at preseason standouts and position battles at receiver, backup quarterback and middle linebacker.

There's also a chance to clean up the penalties that plagued the Bills against the Steelers.

Buffalo starters, including quarterback Josh Allen, will play against the Bears, coach Sean McDermott said on Thursday.

Kyle Allen and Matt Barkley are competing for backup quarterback. Both have had one excellent preseason performance and one poor performance. 

After Week 1, offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey reiterated the importance of giving Allen and Barkley equal opportunity to compete.

Keep an eye on second-round rookie O'Cyrus Torrence, who continues to make a case for starting reps at right guard. Also, will Tyrel Dodson snag the starting middle linebacker spot? Week 3 may help some of the lingering Bills questions.

Buffalo's many roster hopefuls try to earn their spot before Tuesday, Aug. 29, when every NFL team must reduce its roster to 53 players. Buffalo's 16-player practice squad will then begin to form.

INJURY UPDATE: Linebacker Von Miller is 'as close as he's ever been to the group,' according to defensive line coach Eric Washington. The 13-year pass rusher is currently on the physically unable to perform list.

If Miller is ready to play right away, he'll be moved off of the PUP. But if Miller begins the season on PUP, he'll miss Buffalo's first four games which are against the New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, Washington Commanders and Miami Dolphins. 

RECORDS: Buffalo Bills (1-1 preseason) at Chicago Bears (1-1 preseason)

ODDS: Buffalo is a 1-point underdog vs. the Bears

GAME TIME: Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023 at 1 p.m. ET

LOCATION: Soldier Field - Chicago, IL

TV/RADIO: WIVB • NEXSTAR, WGR 550

THE FINAL WORD: Rookie Dalton Kincaid finished second on the team in receiving with 45 yards on three receptions in the preseason Week 2 loss:

"I feel like everyone on the team, myself included, is super competitive, and we don't want to go out there and lose any given week, even if it's preseason," Kincaid said. "So I don't think there's much of a change, at least hearing it from them. But we want to win, and that's kind of the standard, so that's the goal."

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