5 takeaways from the Buffalo Bills 2023 preseason

3.) Backup quarterback controversy 

Maybe Bills fans did predict a little bit of a competition between Kyle Allen and Matt Barkley as to who will back up Josh Allen going into the regular season. However, in the Bills’ first preseason game against the Colts it was Barkley who made the competition bigger than what it was when he only had one incompletion off of 15 attempts and 172 passing yards.

Kyle Allen struggled against the Colts’ backups but Barkley was the MVP in the Bills’ first preseason game. Then the following week against the Steelers, Barkley was the complete opposite. He was responsible for four turnovers, which included three interceptions. Allen on the other hand was a game manager but managed to get the Bills on the board twice. 

In the third preseason game, Barkley was not able to play due to an injury he suffered last week which could be the turning point in this competition, with Allen backing up Josh Allen.