The Buffalo Bills finally played football again. While it wasn't a regular season matchup, we finally got to watch the team we love so much play football.

The game had a little bit of everything but was greatly missing just a little of QB Josh Allen and WR Stefon Diggs. Neither played in the contest and we don't blame the front office for this decision. Injuries are a real concern and we don't need the franchise QB going down in the first preseason game.

Before the game even began, the Buffalo Bills made national headlines with the return of Damar Hamlin. Hamlin, smiling while walking into the stadium and taking the time to pray on the field, was back in action in a game for the first time since suffering a reported cardiac arrest against the Cincinnati Bengals.

With the smoke settled and the dust cleared, let's jump into our key takeaways from the team's 23-19 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Who were the winners of the Bills' first preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts?

Damar Hamlin: Enough said. Hamlin made his presence felt early and often, blitzing to help force a turnover on downs. While he may not have exploded off the depth chart, he returned to Highmark Stadium for a football game just months after nearly dying on the field. 

James Cook: Let James Cook. In just a few plays, Cook was able to find the endzone. His breakaway speed is going to be huge for this offense as he looks to make a huge jump in his sophomore season. While Buffalo brought in plenty of competition for the locker room, Cook shined in limited action. The Bills Mafia should be excited about his future with the team and the dynamic playmaker he is.

Secondary: Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, and Tre White finally saw the field for the first time in literal years. The team is healthy and having that solid unit together yet again will give this team a huge boost. Despite only being for a couple of series, it was a sign of improvement and gave the Bills Mafia a reason to smile. A literal game-changer of a unit that, when healthy, can turn the tide of a game. HIlariously, Hyde wound up with two tackles on the first three plays, all against former Buffalo Bills WR Isaiah McKenzie.

Sean McDermott: The small sample size should give the fanbase a reason to smile. McDermott, while some considered had a relatively conservative approach early in his career, has destroyed that notion over the past few seasons. McDermott is hungry and his play-calling showcased that. The defense looked good, even with 2nd and third stringers in.

Matt Barkley: Matt Barkley came in and stole the show with some impressive throws ending his day going 12 for 13 with 153 yards and two touchdowns. Barkley is beloved in the Bills Mafia and is fighting for the QB2 job over Kyle Allen. Although it was just one preseason game, don't be surprise if Barkley gets the start over Allen (Kyle) in their next preseason game.

Who were the losers of the Bills' first preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts?

A.J. Epenesa: Invisible, nowhere to be found. Sean McDermott gushed over him during camp but he was just invisible this game. With the defensive line looking to take a step in the right direction, and Epensa's future in doubt, having a dud in this preseason game was not a good look, despite limited playing time.

Drops: Not anyone in particular, but there were far too many drops for this team. Last season, the Buffalo Bills were second in the NFL in drops, and the trend seemed to continue. Some big drops from Khalil Shakir and Quintin Morris in the first half gave us bubble gut. Here's hoping once the real Allen is in (Josh) that the team can find a way to haul in some of those passes.

Kyle Allen: While Allen showed some flashes, it was just an okay day from him. A pick six (wasn't entirely his fault) and just some lackluster play left much to be desired. Allen finished his day going 8-15 for 122 yards and one interception. 

Unfortunately, we didn't get to see really any of Dalton Kincaid as he didn't show up on the stats sheet. That could've been because of the other Allen being quarterback, but Kincaid showed up in pass protection. Additionally, there was nothing to be said of O'Cyrus Torrence other than the rookie did his job. Two huge positives that we wanted to point out, but didn't make our winners of the day.

Overall, it was preseason. There was some good and some bad. Plenty of positives to go into this next week of practice. At the end of the day, Bills football is back and that makes us so freaking happy.

Bills’ Damar Hamlin helps get a turnover on downs on one of his first plays

The Buffalo Bills safety, Damar Hamlin, wrote yet another chapter in his remarkable journey. Not long into the first quarter, Hamlin made his presence felt.

Featured image via Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports