Bills complete late comeback against Steelers to finish preseason unbeaten

The Buffalo Bills closed their 2026 preseason with a dramatic finish at home, rallying from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-27 on Thursday night.

Buffalo entered the final seven minutes trailing by 10 before completing the comeback in the closing stages. Ian Wheeler scored from two yards out with 1:06 remaining, and instead of settling for an extra point and a tie, the Bills kept their offense on the field.

Quarterback Shane Buechele delivered the decisive play under pressure, finding Dante Pettis for the two-point conversion that gave Buffalo a one-point advantage.

The defense then finished the job. Pittsburgh’s final possession ended when rookie quarterback Drew Allar failed to connect with Lake McRee on fourth-and-7 with 44 seconds remaining.

The victory gave Buffalo a perfect 3-0 preseason record as attention now shifts toward roster decisions and the start of the regular season.

Buechele delivers in the final minutes

With Kyle Allen appearing to have established himself as Josh Allen’s primary backup, Buechele handled the quarterback responsibilities against Pittsburgh and received an extended opportunity to close the preseason.

He completed 26 of 38 passes for 196 yards, with his biggest contribution coming on Buffalo’s final possession.

A 42-yard pass interference penalty against Pittsburgh moved the Bills to the seven-yard line. Wheeler eventually scored on third down before Buechele, retreating from pressure on the conversion attempt, managed to get the ball to an open Pettis near the left side of the goal line.

Buffalo’s comeback erased a 27-17 Pittsburgh advantage established early in the fourth quarter following Kaden Wetjen’s 45-yard punt-return touchdown.

Skyler Bell makes an impact in preseason debut

One of Buffalo’s notable performances came from rookie receiver Skyler Bell, who finally saw game action after missing the first two preseason contests with a groin injury.

Bell caught seven passes for a team-high 49 receiving yards and also made his only rushing attempt count. The fourth-round pick took a reverse 28 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter, displaying the speed Buffalo hoped to see after his return.

“Once the ball got in his hands, you felt the speed and he made the most of it,” Bills head coach Joe Brady said.

Frank Gore Jr. also scored for Buffalo on a one-yard run.

Hairston confirmed as Buffalo’s starting cornerback

The finale also provided clarity at one of the Bills’ defensive positions.

Maxwell Hairston started alongside Davison Igbinosun and played the first half in what was the first preseason appearance of his career. After the game, Brady confirmed that Hairston will enter the regular season as the starting cornerback opposite Christian Benford.

“He’s our starting corner,” Brady said. “Maxwell’s got exactly what we look for in a corner.”

Michael Hoecht also returned to competitive action approximately 10 months after tearing his right Achilles tendon, making his preseason debut against Pittsburgh.

With the exhibition schedule complete, Buffalo’s focus now turns to finalizing its 53-man roster. The Bills will then begin preparations for their regular-season opener at Houston on September 13.