Bills vs. Colts: Matt Barkley Lifts Buffalo To Win In Preseason Opener: Live Updates
The Buffalo Bills are opening up their preseason slate on Saturday at Highmark Stadium against the Indianapolis Colts in what marks the first of three exhibition contests for both team before the regular season.
Bills fans will get to see the debut of rookies like tight end Dalton Kincaid and O'Cyrus Torrence. The Colts will get a first look at what they have in quarterback Anthony Richardson, who will get the start Saturday after being the No. 4 overall pick in April's draft.
Additionally, Bills safety Damar Hamlin will play for the first time since suffering cardiac arrest on Jan. 2.
Bills coach Sean McDermott revealed that Hamlin is "scheduled to play."
“This is to some extent uncharted territory for me as well, and all of us," McDermott said, per the Associated Press. "So we’re just trying to do the best we can to be there for him. I try to keep a close eye on where he is and where he’s showing up and how he’s responding. And he’s done a great job.”
It won't be the full version of the Bills we are used to seeing. Quarterback Josh Allen and receiver Stefon Diggs won't play in the Bills opener on Saturday, but several Buffalo first-teamers will dip their toes in the water.
"They'll play give or take a quarter just again, depending on who it is and in the situation in the game," McDermott said. "Overall, we want to get them where they need to go but also then, take a good look at some of the young players."
Live updates will appear below at kickoff.
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FIRST QUARTER
After completing his first two NFL passes, Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson was picked off by Bills cornerback Dane Jackson to end Indianapolis' first drive. Buffalo takes over deep in Indianapolis territory.
change of possession
TOUCHDOWN BUFFALO: The Bills took advantage of great field position with running back James Cook punching it in from eight-yards out.
Bills 7, Colts 0
change of possession
Richardson connected with receiver Michael Pittman for a nine-yard game and a Colts first down.
The Bills' thought they had their first sack of the day with linebacker Matt Milano taking down Richardson, but a penalty on defensive end Greg Rousseau negated the play.
The Bills' defense stuffs Colts running back Evan Hull on fourth and one to give the ball back to the offense.
change of possession
Despite a seven-yard rush by Cook on second down, the Bills couldn't get going on their second offensive drive and went three and out.
change of possession
Colts running back Deon Jackson goes for nine on second down to extend the Indianapolis drive.
Richardson connects with Hull for a 10-yard gain and another Colts first down.
The next play, Richardson has his first big play on a 20-yard pass to tight end Kyle Granson to get the Colts into Buffalo territory.
A pass interference penalty on Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam moves Indianapolis to Buffalo's 34.
Jackson gets the Colts into the red zone with a five-yard gain.
A Richardson run brought the Colts inside the 10, but an offensive holding penalty pushes them back.
Colts kicker Matt Gay misses wide left on a 28-yard attempt and Indianapolis' 13-play, 83-yard drive results in no points.
change of possession
END OF FIRST QUARTER
START OF SECOND QUARTER
Bills quarterback Kyle Allen completes his first pass of the day, a 16-yard strike to running back Latavius Murray on second down.
Allen has another big completion, this time hitting receiver Kahlil Shakir for 20 yards to get into Colts territory.
On fourth and two, Allen scrambles for a five-yard gain to keep the Bills' drive going.
FIELD GOAL BILLS: Bass' 40-yard attempt is good and Buffalo opens up a double-digit lead midway through the second quarter.
BILLS 10, COLTS 0
change of possession
Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew gets quite a welcome to the game with Bills defensive tackle Tim Settle bringing him down for a sack and a loss of five on the first play of the drive.
The next play also results in a sack, this time by defensive end Boogie Basham for a loss of six.
The Colts go three and out after two brutal sacks to start the drive.
change of possession
Allen connects with newly-signed receiver Andy Isabella for a 30-yard gain to put the Bills in field-goal range.
A 10-yard loss on a sack by Colts defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad pushes the Bills back to the Indianapolis 44.
The Bills elect to punt after an incomplete pass by Allen.
change of possession
Minshew connects with rookie receiver Josh Downs for 11 yards and a Colts first down.
Minshew hits receiver Mike Strachan for an 18-yard gain.
Downs hauls in a pass from Minshew for another 18-yard gain to get the Colts into the red zone.
Minshew makes it a perfect six for six with an 11-yard strike to receiver Pharaoh Brown to get the Colts to the two-yard line.
TOUCHDOWN INDIANAPOLIS: With just a few seconds remaining in the half, Colts running back Jake Funk punches it in from a yard half to get his team on the board.
BILLS 10, COLTS 7
change of possession
HALFTIME
START OF THIRD QUARTER
Allen is sacked on the first play of the drive, pinning the Bills on their own eight-yard line.
On third and 20, Allen connects on a deep ball to receiver Marcell Aleman to gain 21 yards keep the drive going.
The next play, Allen hits running back Jordan Mims for 25 yards as the Bills cross midfield.
TOUCHDOWN INDIANAPOLIS: Allen's pass intended for receiver Tyrell Shavers is intercepted by Colts cornerback Darius Rush, who takes it back 52 yards for a pick-six. Gay's PAT is no good.
COLTS 13, BILLS 10
change of possession
Bills quarterback Matt Barkley, who replaced Allen after the pick-six, connects with Ateman for a 20-yard catch and run.
A sack on Barkley that resulted in a 13-yard loss is negated by a defensive offside penalty on Indianapolis.
Barkley hits receiver KeeSean Johnson for 12 yards to put the Bills in the red zone.
TOUCHDOWN BUFFALO: Barkley connects with Shavers for a 22-yard touchdown along the left sideline to restore the Bills' lead.
BILLS 17, COLTS 13
change of possession
Colts quarterback Sam Ehlinger connects with receiver Amari Rodgers for 11 yards on his first drive of the afternoon.
Bills defenders Kameron Cline and DJ Dale combine for a sack on Ehlinger, although Dale was injured on the play.
change of possession
Johnson takes a short pass from Barkley 21 yards to give the Bills some breathing room.
END OF THIRD QUARTER
START OF FOURTH QUARTER
Barkley is sacked for a loss of eight on the first play of the quarter.
Barkley connects with tight end Jace Sternberger for a gain of 19, but he fumbles and Colts linebacker Donavan Mutin recovers. Indianapolis takes over at the Buffalo 47.
change of possession
The Bills' defense again stuffs the Colts on a fourth and one, allowing no room for Indianapolis running back Kenyan Drake. Buffalo takes over at its own 26.
change of possession
Barkley connects with receiver Dezmond Patmon for a 19-yard gain.
TOUCHDOWN BUFFALO: Barkley connects with Patmon for a 13-yard score to extend the lead. Bass' extra point is no good.
BILLS 23, COLTS 13
change of possession
Ehlinger connects with receiver Malik Turner, who turns a short pass into a 30-yard gain to get the Colts down to the Bills' 25.
A pass interference penalty on the Bills puts the Colts on the opposing three-yard-line.
TOUCHDOWN INDIANAPOLIS: Colts running back Jason Huntley runs it in from three yards out to cut the lead back down to one score, but the two-point conversion fails.
BILLS 23, COLTS 19
change of possession
Bills running back Darrynton Evans brings the kickoff out to the Buffalo 39 to give his team good field position.
Barkley connects with Shavers for a 16-yard gain on third down as the Colts have burned all their timeouts.
Barkley kneels down three times after the two-minute warning to run out the clock.
FINAL: BILLS 23, COLTS 19
You can follow Jonathan Alfano on Twitter at @JonAlfano_News
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