Anxious to get the preseason underway, the Colts have to wait an additional week before opening their preseason. Indy was scheduled to play Green Bay in the Hall of Fame Game last Sunday, but a groundskeeping malfunction forced a cancellation. For many fans, early preseason action is like watching paint dry. But for the fringe players on the roster, they missed out on a chance to make an impression. So did Andrew Luck, who enters the season with a huge contract and a repaired kidney.
The Week 1 preseason matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills will take place Saturday, August 13, 2016, at 7 p.m. ET at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
ODDS ANALYSIS
Odds for this game have yet to hit the board following the cancellation of the Colts scheduled opener at the Hall of Fame Game. Anticipate the Bills to have a 3-point edge on the line with the total in the 35-38 range.
QUARTERBACK ROTATION
In advance of the Hall of Fame Game, Colts coach Chuck Pagano said he planned on playing his entire roster. Andrew Luck is on the roster. With that first opportunity to face live ammo cancelled, Luck will take snaps for a few series when the Colts actually open the preseason slate on Saturday.
This is the start of an important season for Luck, who started only seven games last season before being put on the shelf with a lacerated kidney. Former Green Bay backup Scott Tolzien was brought in to be the primary backup following the retirement of Matt Hasselbeck. He likely gets a bulk of the reps with Stephen Morris the third quarterback on the depth chart.
At this time last year, Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor was in a three-player battle with Matt Cassell and E.J. Manuel for the team’s starting gig. Taylor won the job and followed with a marvelous regular season throwing 20 touchdown passes and running for four more.
There is a clear hierarchy to the position this fall. Manuel is the primary backup with rookie Cardale Jones looking to hold onto the third spot. All three will see action with Taylor liking getting a series or two of work in. Manuel will take snaps into the second half with Jones finishing up.
COACHING HISTORY
Pagano hasn’t had much success during the preseason, but in the past those games really didn’t matter. He had a veteran roster that was expected to compete for, and win, the AFC South. For those teams the games started in September. Indy broke a seven-game preseason losing streak with a Week 3 win over the Rams last year. The Colts went 1-3 SU and ATS in 2015 and are 5-11 SU and 7-9 ATS during Pagano’s career.
Outside of one nice season with the Jets in 2010, Rex Ryan has been an average head coach in the NFL. In fact, if you take away that 11-5 season, Rex has been below average – 10 games under .500. So it’s not a big surprise that his Bills went 8-8 during the regular year and 2-2 in the preseason in 2015. Including his time with the Jets, Rex has compiled a 13-15 SU and ATS ledger during the preseason. However, the over is 19-9 in those same games.
QUICK PICK
Luck is one of the best quarterbacks in the league when healthy, and the Colts are confident his issues from last season are behind him. He hasn’t played in a game situation since last November and could sure use some snaps to get the timing back. Pagano plans on using him, how long depends on how well he plays.
The Bills were one of the best defensive teams in the NFL before Rex came on board. The team struggled last season on that side of the ball, which was a bit alarming since Rex is known as a defensive guy. The unit is searching for an identity after several defenders called out Rex on his schemes last year.
To help resolve the situation, Rex brought in his brother Rob to help out. Rob was loved by all his players, they just didn’t perform for him. The Saints were a historically bad defensive club last season and Rob took the fall. He has a bit more talent to work with and the results should be there.
NFL Odds: Bills 23, Colts 16
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