By Buffalo Bills Insider Chris Brown
In their first preseason game, the Buffalo Bills lost to the Indianapolis Colts, 19-18, on Saturday night at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
In a nutshell:
Buffalo used special teams to open the scoring and an early touchdown drive to stake themselves to a 9-0 first quarter lead, but they couldn’t make the lead stand up. Indianapolis outscored the Bills 19-3 over the final three quarters until the waning seconds when a last ditch touchdown drive by Cardale Jones pulled Buffalo to within one (19-18). But Jones two-point conversion attempt for the win on the game’s final play fell incomplete, giving the Colts the one-point win.
Indianapolis chipped away at the early deficit ultimately tying the score by halftime with a touchdown drive of their own and a field goal.
The Bills took an early second half lead on a Dan Carpenter field goal, but Indianapolis would score the next 10 points of the game. They took the lead for good early in the fourth quarter when Chester Rogers took a short pass 57 yards to the end zone for a 16-12 lead. Adam Vinatieri added a late field goal for a 19-12 lead for the Colts.
Cardale Jones led an eight-play 83-yard drive capped by his four-yard touchdown pass to Jarrett Boykin in the game’s waning seconds (19-18), but his two-point conversion pass attempt fell incomplete to end the game.
How it went down:
–Buffalo got on the board first thanks to special teams. Chris Gragg came off the right side of the punt coverage formation and beat his man to block Pat McAfee’s punt at the Colts near the 10-yard line. McAfee retreated to his own end zone to slap the ball through the back of the end zone for a safety for an early 2-0 lead for the Bills midway through the first quarter.
–Chris Gragg would factor into points on the board later in the first quarter when he pulled in a 19-yard touchdown pass from EJ Manuelto push Buffalo’s lead to 9-0 with 4:14 left in the opening quarter. Manuel on his first series of the game with the second team offense helped orchestrate a nine-play, 69-yard scoring drive.
–The Colts finally got on the scoreboard when Jordan Todman took a screen pass 42 yards to the end zone with 1:50 left in the half. Their two-point conversion failed thanks to a pass breakup by Kevon Seymour.
–As the first half expired Adam Vinatieri put a 24-yard attempt up and through to tie the game at nine capping a five-play 55-yard drive.
–Buffalo regained the lead as Dan Carpenter capped a nine-play 61-yard drive with a 37-yard field goal with just under 11 minutes left in the third quarter (12-9).
–Indianapolis jumped back in front with 10:42 left in the game when Chester Rogers pulled in a pass in the right flat from third QB Stephen Morris, spun away from a tackle and went down the right sideline 57 yards for a touchdown (16-12).
–Vinatieri was true on a 38-yard attempt with under two minutes to play for a 19-12 lead.
–Cardale Jones threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Jarrett Boykin to pull Buffalo to within one (19-18), but the two-point conversion attempt on the game’s final play was incomplete.
From the locker room
“We came out, we played fast. It’s something that we really wanted to do this year, was start off fast. Now we’re just working on our communication so we can make sure that everyone’s really on the same page and we can really lock in.”
–OLB Jerry Hughes on performance of first team defense
“Still a little rusty. Still warming up. I’m going to tell you this–it’s coming.”
–RB LeSean McCoy on his play vs. Colts
“We’ve just got to continue to keep being fundamentally sound and continue to focus on the basics and critique anything that went wrong. Definitely learn from the other units as well. Even when you’re not in there playing you’ve got to be learning and telling yourself what you would’ve done in that situation.”
–QB Tyrod Taylor on where to go from here
Subplots:
–With several starters sitting some second teamers got to start Saturday night against the Colts. Cyrus Kouandjio and Ryan Groy started on the left side of Buffalo’s offensive line in place of the injured Cordy Glenn (ankle) and Richie Incognito (ribs). On defense Robert Blanton started as safety in place of Aaron Williams and Corey White started at cornerback in place of Stephon Gilmore.
–Tyrod Taylor only got two series worth of work with most of the starting offense. He was 2-3 passing for seven yards. EJ Manuel replaced him in the lineup with about eight minutes left in the first quarter.
–After LeSean McCoy’s brief night of work he was replaced by Mike Gillislee, who then gave way to rookie Jonathan Williams. Boom Herron entered the game next in the running back rotation before James Wilder Jr. saw some work later in the game.
–Nickell Robey-Coleman, who changed his jersey number from 37 to 21, was the primary nickel corner. Working with him in the slot against some four-wide formations by the Colts was Sterling Moore.
–Rookie DL Adolphus Washington played the entire first half and proved effective against the run and on the pass rush.
–The Colts offense did not cross midfield until there was 1:57 left in the second quarter.
–IK Enemkpali was carted off the field with a knee injury suffered just before the end of the first half.
–Cardale Jones entered the game with 9:11 left in the third quarter. He finished the night 11-21 passing for 162 yards and a touchdown.
Inactives:
WR Greg Salas, WR Dez Lewis, WR Sammy Watkins, S Aaron Williams, CB Stephon Gilmore, RB Karlos Williams, LB Reggie Ragland, G Richie Incognito, OL Seantrel Henderson, OT Cordy Glenn, TE Jim Dray, OLB Shaq Lawson, OLB Manny Lawson, DT Kyle Williams.
Up next: The Bills play host to the New York Giants for the team’s annual Kid’s Day game on Saturday Aug. 20 for a 4 p.m. kickoff.