The Pittsburgh Steelers close the exhibition slate against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night, and the spread has quietly become the most interesting number on the board. Buffalo sits as a 3-point home favorite for the preseason finale at the brand-new Highmark Stadium, up from an opening spread of 2. Both staffs are shutting down their headliners, so this game hinges on backups and young quarterbacks rather than stars. That mix makes the short spread and the low total worth a closer look before kickoff.
Last Updated: Thursday, August 27, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Buffalo Bills — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park NY |
| When | Thursday, August 27 – 7:00 PM ET |
| TV | NFL Network (CBS locally: WIVB Buffalo, KDKA Pittsburgh) |
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Buffalo Bills Betting Preview
Buffalo arrives 2-0 this preseason and has looked sharp on the second and third levels of the depth chart. The Bills opened their new building with a 29-14 win over Carolina, then routed Cleveland 31-7 in game two. Head coach Joe Brady has confirmed that Josh Allen will not play, though some starters will see limited work. Buffalo held a joint practice the week before and played on Saturday, so the reps plan is deliberately light.
Pittsburgh comes in at 1-1 after beating Green Bay 28-9 and getting shut out 17-0 by the Jets last time out. The Steelers are taking a different approach to the finale. Head coach Mike McCarthy plans to rest veteran Mason Rudolph and hand the bulk of the snaps to young quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar. That means Pittsburgh may actually keep its passers on the field longer than Buffalo does. You can find the full slate on the NFL preseason Week 3 schedule, and our recent Bills preseason breakdown covers how Buffalo’s reserves have trended.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Buffalo Bills Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | +3.0 (-105) | +140 | U 35.5 (-120) |
| Bills | -3.0 (-115) | -165 | O 35.5 (+100) |
Odds accurate as of August 27, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NFL Odds – Futures – Props
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Buffalo Bills — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Steelers | 27% | 73% | Bills |
See the latest NFL Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Steelers vs. Bills Prediction — Can a Backup-Heavy Road Dog Cover a Short Number?
This line has moved toward Buffalo, and the public is a big reason why. Roughly 73% of spread bets sit on the Bills, and the number climbed from an opening 2 to the current 3. That is a classic pattern. Casual money flows to the recognizable home favorite in a game that means very little, and the price inflates as a result. When a preseason spread grows on one-sided action, the value usually drifts to the other side.
There is also a roster wrinkle worth weighing. Pittsburgh intends to give Howard and Allar extended time, so the Steelers could keep a rhythm passing attack on the field deep into the second half. Buffalo, by contrast, plans a lighter workload and sits Allen entirely. A road team that plays its quarterbacks longer often plays with more urgency late, exactly when preseason covers are decided.
The other side is real, however. Buffalo’s backups have outscored opponents 60-21 across two games, and the home crowd at the new stadium should give the reserves an early lift. If the Bills’ second unit strikes first, three points can hold. Still, at a short number with the hook, the case for the fade is stronger than the case for laying inflated wood.
The Pick: Steelers +3.0 (-105)
Steelers vs. Bills Prediction — Will Two Backup Offenses Keep the Scoreboard Quiet?
The total opened at 35.5 with even juice and has since shaded toward the Under, which now prices at -120. That movement tells you where the sharper money leaned once lineups were confirmed. Preseason finales tend to be conservative affairs. Vanilla play-calling, a running clock, and deep reserves usually drag scoring below the regular-season pace.
The counterpoint is Buffalo’s output. The Bills have topped 29 points in each of their first two exhibitions, so writing off this offense is risky. Meanwhile, Howard and Allar can push tempo for Pittsburgh. Even so, both defenses will feature roster hopefuls playing hard for jobs, and finale game scripts rarely inflate. The number movement and the spot both point the same direction.
The Pick: Under 35.5 (-120)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
If you like the Steelers to cover a field goal, the moneyline offers a way to press the same read at plus money. Pittsburgh sits at +140 as a road dog, while the public is even heavier here, with about 87% of moneyline bets on Buffalo. In a coin-flip game between backups, taking the underdog to win outright carries clear value against that lopsided support.
The risk is straightforward. Buffalo’s reserves have simply been better than Pittsburgh’s so far, and a home team can flip a preseason game with one special-teams play. Treat the moneyline as a smaller add-on rather than the headline position. To recap the card: Steelers +3.0 (-105) as the featured play, Under 35.5 (-120) on the total, and a bonus sprinkle on the Steelers moneyline at +140.
Bonus: Steelers Moneyline (+140)
NFL Steelers vs. Bills FAQ: Thursday August 27, 2026
What time does the Steelers vs. Bills game start?
The Steelers and Bills kick off at 7:00 PM ET on Thursday, August 27, 2026. It is the preseason finale for both teams and the final tune-up before the regular season opens in September.
What channel is the Steelers vs. Bills game on?
The game airs nationally on NFL Network. Locally, it is carried on CBS affiliates, with WIVB in the Buffalo market and KDKA in the Pittsburgh market handling the regional broadcast.
Where are the Steelers and Bills playing?
The game is played at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, Buffalo’s new home venue. This preseason finale is one of the first events held at the newly opened stadium, which debuted earlier in the 2026 exhibition season.
Is Josh Allen playing?
No, Josh Allen will not play in the preseason finale. Head coach Joe Brady confirmed that Allen is sitting out, though a handful of other Buffalo starters will see limited snaps before giving way to the backups.
Who is starting at quarterback for the Steelers and Bills?
Pittsburgh plans to play young quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar for the bulk of the game while resting veteran Mason Rudolph. Buffalo sits Josh Allen and turns the offense over to its backup passers for the finale.