What Went Well, What Didn’t in Colts vs. Bills Preseason Matchup

The good and the bad from the Indianapolis Colts' preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills.

The first Indianapolis Colts preseason game is in the books, as they fell 23-19 to the Buffalo Bills. This is such a young developing Indianapolis team that there were bound to be ups and downs, and there were both in spades.

With this subject laid out, let’s dive into what went well and what didn’t in the Colts’ first 2023 action.

What Went Well: Anthony Richardson

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It was fully expected for Colts QB Anthony Richardson to have his highlights and areas of improvement in his first NFL contest.

He would go 7/12 for 67 passing yards and a pick. He would also throw in two rushes for seven yards. While this isn’t a stat line that will set the field on fire, it’s also what was figured to happen.

Richardson made plays with both his feet and arm and threw an interception because of a throw off of his back foot, which receiver Isaiah McKenzie didn’t adjust to. There was also a sure-fire TD to receiver Alec Pierce that was dropped by the NFL sophomore pass-catcher.

Richardson should keep smoothing out the short and intermediate passing, along with the footwork. However, he improved after turning the ball over, which is a great indication of his mental QB strength.

What Didn’t: The Offensive Line Depth

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The offensive line for Indianapolis was solid for the first-team offense. However, once second-team QB Gardner Minshew took the field with the secondary line, it was a different story.

Rookie tackle Blake Freeland and guard Emil Ekiyor showed that they need to continue to improve, as they were mostly controlled by the Bills’ defensive front.

To kick off Minshew's first two throws, the line allowed back-to-back sacks. This is an area that undoubtedly takes adjusting, but it’s a bit concerning when how quickly Minshew was sacked is taken into consideration.

Regardless of how Indianapolis approaches the offensive line depth henceforth, one thing is true, they need to improve or it could be rough if one of the first-teamers needs to miss any time. 

What Went Well: Josh Downs

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Rookie wide receiver Josh Downs is continuing to make the case that he should continue to get more snaps at the slot position. On Saturday, Downs would grab two catches out of two targets for 29 yards, but the numbers don’t reflect the momentum that Downs has been building his case since training camp.

He is performing more to the standards of what Colts receivers coach Reggie Wayne believed, that he was the best receiver out of the 2023 NFL draft. Can Downs continue to be a reliable safety blanket for the Colts’ QBs and push McKenzie for the starting slot role? There’s a good chance that he makes that a reality. 

What Didn’t: Kickers

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Typically, NFL special team units are thrown to the side in favor of the defensive and offensive sides of the ball.

However, the Colts made kicker Matt Gay the highest-paid kicker in NFL history with his four-year, $22.5 million contract. This made the kicking issue nothing to worry about anymore. However, Gay would miss a gimme 28-yard field goal, which was followed by backup kicker Lucas Havrisik botching an extra point.

It’s likely just an overreaction, but Gay and Havrisik don’t want issues like this to continue in the preseason. 

What Went Well: A Trio of Young Defenders

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The depth edge rushers for Indianapolis shined on Saturday. Those two names were Khalid Kareem and Dayo Odeyingbo. Both snagged a sack and continued to add pressure on both QBs Matt Barkley and Kyle Allen.

Given that the pass rush is of the highest importance to the Colts’ front office, it’s good to see these two names emerging along with Tyquan Lewis and Al-Quadin Muhammad to provide much-needed additions on the defensive edge.

As for rookie corner Darius Rush, he made the ultimate statement by taking an interception back on Barkley for six points. This was one of the calling cards for Rush coming out of the draft, that he could be the ball-hawking corner that Indianapolis desperately needs.

This is a massive bright sign for the young defender as he will look to keep adding to the hype as the regular season slowly approaches. 

What Didn’t: Pass Defense

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The Bills put together a total of 376 yards against the Colts. However, 266 of them came through the air, mostly from Barkley, who had 172.

The Bills did this mostly with their second and third teams, but it highlights that the young secondary and defenders for the Colts who occupy the valuable depth spots need to adjust. Anything can happen that can cause a backup player to emerge, and this was an indication that improvement is needed.

Bills receivers KeeSean Johnson, Andy Isabella, and Marcell Ateman each had at least two catches and 40-plus yards receiving, and they caught all of their targets (8/8) for 100 percent efficiency.

Whether it’s starters or not, allowing perfection from second and third-team offenses isn’t something that the Colts want to continue to showcase during the preseason. 

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