The Buffalo Bills edged the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-27 in their preseason finale at Highmark Stadium on August 27, 2026, capped by a late touchdown drive. Buffalo finished an undefeated preseason, while Pittsburgh prepares to open its regular season against the Atlanta Falcons on September 13.
The Buffalo Bills wrapped up their preseason schedule with a dramatic 28-27 comeback victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers on August 27, 2026, at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., according to reports from Syracuse.com. Playing without their resting starters, the Bills erased a two-score deficit in the fourth quarter to finish the preseason undefeated.
Josh Allen On The Sideline And The Truth Behind Playcalling Rumors
Quarterback Josh Allen provided one of the most talked-about visual moments of the night by watching from the sideline without his jersey, wearing a headset and holding a play sheet. Head coach Joe Brady joked that Allen had called the entire fourth quarter, but clarified that the quarterback did not actually call any plays during the game, Yahoo Sports reported.
Despite not calling plays from the sideline, Allen cheered enthusiastically as Buffalo mounted its late-game rally. The Bills’ regular season opens on September 13 against the Houston Texans, where Allen is slated to return to action.
Shane Buechele And Fourth-Quarter Comeback Drive Past Pittsburgh
With most regular contributors resting, quarterback Shane Buechele engineered the game-winning sequence for Buffalo. Buechele completed 26 of 38 passes for 196 yards while playing the entire game under center, Syracuse.com noted. Trailing late in the fourth quarter, Buechele connected with Dante Pettis in the front corner of the end zone to cap off the drive.
Running back Ian Wheeler rushed for a two-yard touchdown run with less than two minutes remaining. Rather than kicking for a tie, Buffalo stayed on the field for a two-point conversion, where Buffalo took a 28-27 lead with 1:06 left on the clock.
“It was a tough night for Buffalo fans. They had trailed the Steelers all the way till the fourth quarter, when Ian Wheeler scored a two-yard touchdown with less than two minutes on the clock on a drive led by Buechele. With a two-point conversion, Buffalo edged past the Steelers 28-27 as the clock ran out.”
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The Steelers managed just a three-and-out on their final possession, allowing the Bills to kneel out the clock. Steelers.com reported that Drew Allar’s final pass attempt intended for Lake McRee fell incomplete with 48 seconds remaining on fourth-and-7 from the Pittsburgh 38-yard line.
Roster Battles And Standout Preseason Performances
Both coaching staffs used the preseason finale to evaluate roster hopefuls ahead of the league-wide roster cutdown deadline. Pittsburgh head coach Mike McCarthy expressed encouragement in his postgame comments, stating, Our young guys got to play a ton of ball tonight, and that excites me.
For Pittsburgh, rookie returner Kaden Wetjen bolstered his roster chances by returning a punt 45 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Running back Lew Nichols contributed 40 rushing yards on seven carries, while rookie running back Eli Heidenreich scored on a nine-yard run in the second half, according to the Butler Eagle.
On the Buffalo side, rookie fourth-round draft pick Skyler Bell made a strong impression with seven receptions for 49 yards and a 28-yard rushing touchdown. Punter competition also featured prominently as rookie Tommy Doman averaged 52 yards on four punts, compared to veteran Mitch Wishnowsky’s 34-yard average across two punts, Syracuse.com documented.
| Team | Preseason Finale Result | Next Game / Opener |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | Won 28-27 (Undefeated preseason) | at Houston Texans (Sept. 13) |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Lost 28-27 (Preseason finale) | vs. Atlanta Falcons (Sept. 13) |
All NFL teams are required to trim their rosters down to 53 players by 6 p.m. Sunday. The Steelers open their regular season schedule hosting the Atlanta Falcons at Acrisure Stadium on September 13, while the Bills travel to face the Texans the same day.
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