The Buffalo Bills close out their preseason tonight at Highmark Stadium, hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers with a chance to finish 3-0 for the first time since 2021. Buffalo has already handled the Panthers and Browns by double digits, winning by 15 against Carolina and by 24 against Cleveland, and the roster picture still has plenty of moving parts heading into the final tune-up.
That’s been the theme all preseason: the Bills have put together two convincing wins, but they’ve also made life tougher on the coaching staff when it comes to sorting out the back end of the roster and settling a few position battles. There are still players trying to prove they belong, and tonight gives them one more shot before the games start counting for real.
For fans looking to follow along, the game will also be on 97 Rock with Eric Wood and Chris Brown.
There’s a little recent history between these two teams, too. The last preseason meeting came two years ago and turned into a low-scoring grind, with Buffalo edging Pittsburgh 9-3 in a game that produced just 12 combined points. That night also became a notable one for Buffalo native Joe Andreessen, who led the Bills with 12 total tackles and two tackles for a loss, a performance that helped him earn a final roster spot that season.
The teams also met last season in Pittsburgh in a Week 13 game that started with the Bills missing both starting offensive tackles, Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown. It didn’t slow Buffalo down. The Bills piled up 249 rushing yards, including 144 from James Cook, and after trailing 7-3 at halftime, they poured in 23 unanswered points to win 26-7.
Now the preseason is about to be over. Once tonight ends, the next Bills game will count for real.
In Other News...
Bills Final Roster Debate Just Got A Lot More Interesting
The Bills closed their preseason with a 28-27 comeback win over the Steelers, finishing 3-0 for the first time since 2019 and giving the front office one more encouraging data point before the roster trim. Shane Buechele handled all four quarters and steered the rally, while rookie Skyler Bell turned in a promising debut, adding another name to a group of players trying to make the final cut by forcing the issue late in August.
Damar Hamlin also kept building a case with his second interception of the preseason, and rookie punter Tommy Doman Jr. continued to make the competition for the starting job more interesting. For a team that entered the summer looking for answers at a few fringe spots, the finale did not just end the exhibition slate on a high note, it sharpened the debate about which young players have done enough to stick. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Bubble Battles Will Define Joe Bradys First 53-Man Roster
The Bills have started trimming the roster ahead of the 6 p.m. Sunday deadline, and the first moves already offer a hint at how sharply Joe Brady and the new leadership group are weighing every spot. Mecole Hardman Jr. and Mitch Wishnowsky were among the early cuts, with Hardman losing ground because of performance issues and Wishnowsky out after a rough preseason punt.
Those decisions are only the opening act for a much larger week of bubble battles, with the final 53-man roster set to reflect how this staff values production, fit and reliability. For a team settling into a new era, the back end of the roster may end up saying as much about the Bills direction as any headline player on the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Receiver Room Just Sent A Clear Message Before Cutdowns
The Bills are trimming their roster ahead of the 2026 NFL season, and one of the early signals came in the receiver room with Mecole Hardman Jr. being released as part of cutdowns. Buffalo had viewed the three-time Super Bowl champion as a depth option, likely the No. 6 wideout on the chart, but he never found much of a foothold in the preseason on offense or on special teams.
For a roster still being sorted into its final form, the move opens another spot for Buffalo to work with as the 53-man deadline comes into focus. It also says something about how tight the competition was at the back end of the receiver group, where reputation and experience were not enough to overcome a quiet summer. [Read more 🡒]