7 quick thoughts from Buffalo Bills preseason win over the Colts

Matt Araiza passes the first test

The position battle at punter is the one that has the biggest implications for the players involved because they are competing for the starting job and the loser of that battle is likely to be cut or traded. On Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts, it was Matt Araiza that seemed to pull ahead.

He would have only one punt in the game but it was a huge punt, one that traveled 82-yards and would flip field position right before halftime.

However, in addition to that, he also was the primary holder for Tyler Bass. The team’s field goal kicker was perfect on the night making all three attempts (two field goals, one extra point), and that included the game-winning 46-yard field goal as time expired.

There were questions about how the rookie would do as a field goal holder as this is something that he hasn’t had to do in college. It certainly wasn’t an issue on Saturday and the fact that Buffalo has one of the best long snappers in the league, Reid Ferguson, certainly could help in that transition for an inexperienced player like Araiza.