Full Breakdown
Bills Edge Steelers 28-27 in Preseason Finale as Roster Decisions Loom
8/28/2026, 11:34:06 AM
Game Summary
The Buffalo Bills defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-27 in the final 2026 preseason contest. A 2-yard touchdown run by Ian Wheeler with just over a minute left gave Buffalo the lead, and a successful two-point conversion to Dante Pettis sealed the win. The Steelers’ last chance ended on a fourth-down pass that fell incomplete. The Bills finished the preseason 3-0, while the Steelers fell to 1-2.
Roster Battles Highlighted by Coach Brady
Head coach Joe Brady used the game to evaluate depth at quarterback and several skill positions. He confirmed that both Kyle Allen and Shane Buechele would see action, noting the competition for the backup role to starter Josh Allen remains “ongoing.” Brady also emphasized the importance of players executing within the system rather than trying to replace Allen’s production.
Key Player Performances
- Quarterbacks: Shane Buechele completed 28 of 36 passes for 196 yards, leading the game-winning drive and the two-point conversion. Kyle Allen handled the second-half duties, while Steelers rookie quarterback Will Howard threw for 88 yards and a touchdown.
- Rushing: Ian Wheeler’s decisive 2-yard run provided the go-ahead score. Frank Gore Jr. contributed a 1-yard touchdown run for Buffalo.
- Receiving: Skyler Bell, making his preseason debut, led Buffalo receivers with seven catches for 49 yards and a 28-yard end-around touchdown. Steelers rookie Germie Bernard scored on a 13-yard reception early in the first quarter.
- Defense: Keonta Jenkins recorded five solo tackles, the most on the Bills side.
Official Statements & Responses
He highlighted the learning experience for both quarterbacks, noting that hearing Allen’s thought process on the sideline has been “a lot of fun.” Josh Allen described his preseason outings as “good experience” and appreciated the live-action reps.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There’s so much to be proud of for those guys,” — Joe Brady, rookie head coach
- “Usually the first things that come to his head are the things that I probably should be calling. So I’ve had a lot of fun with it,” — Joe Brady, rookie head coach
- “You are going to see both of them on Thursday,” — Joe Brady, rookie head coach
- “I think both of them have gone out there and led us down the field and made really sound decisions, played clean football,” — Joe Brady, rookie head coach
- “I thought this was one of my best preseasons, if not the best,” — Steve Buechele
Steelers Perspective
Steelers quarterback Will Howard opened the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Germie Bernard, who recalled his childhood playing running back: “I played running back for a very long time in my childhood.” Howard also connected with tight end Lake McRee for a 5-yard touchdown before throwing an early second-quarter interception.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No substantive discrepancies appear among the sources regarding the final score, key statistics, or coach comments. Details on the health status of several Bills players (e.g., Ben Skowronek, Jude Bowry) remain unconfirmed.
What’s Next
Both teams open the regular season later this month, with the Bills traveling to Houston and the Steelers hosting Atlanta. The outcomes of the roster evaluations this week will shape the Bills’ 53-man roster for the upcoming campaign.
