Joe Brady highlights Bills’ mindset after preseason comeback

The Buffalo Bills’ 28-27 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers may not count in the standings, but the way Buffalo finished its preseason provided head coach Joe Brady with something more valuable than an exhibition result.

Trailing 27-17 in the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium, the Bills responded with 11 unanswered points and completed the comeback with just over a minute remaining. For Brady, the final stretch offered another look at how players throughout the roster responded when the game became difficult.

“I learned a lot about the mindset of both our starters, just how they were on the sidelines, but also the makeup of the football team,” Brady said.

Buffalo finished the preseason 3-0, but the greater emphasis now turns toward the players competing for opportunities as the Bills prepare to finalize their roster.

Buechele takes control late

Shane Buechele was given the opportunity to handle the quarterback duties throughout the game and delivered his best work when Buffalo needed points in the fourth quarter.

The Bills first put together a nine-play, 41-yard possession that ended with a field goal and reduced Pittsburgh’s advantage to seven.

Buffalo’s defense then kept the game within reach. After forcing consecutive punts, Jim Leonhard’s unit produced a fourth-down stop in Bills territory, returning possession to the offense with 3:20 remaining.

Buechele took over from there.

Dante Pettis gained 16 yards on the final drive before drawing a pass interference penalty that moved Buffalo another 40 yards and placed the offense inside Pittsburgh’s 10-yard line.

Ian Wheeler eventually scored on a two-yard run, leaving Buffalo one point behind.

Rather than attempt an extra point to tie a preseason game, the Bills went for two.

Brady trusted Buechele to finish the possession after allowing the 28-year-old quarterback to remain in rhythm throughout the night.

“Shane’s the one quarterback that hasn’t got as much preseason time through the years,” Brady said. “The way the game was flowing, I was like, ‘I kind of just want to keep him rolling with it.’”

Pettis and Buechele finish the comeback

Pittsburgh generated pressure on the conversion attempt, forcing Buechele backward as the play developed.

The quarterback managed to release the ball before being taken to the ground and found Pettis near the front left pylon. The receiver completed the catch and kept both feet in bounds, giving Buffalo a 28-27 lead.

The Bills’ defense then closed the game with one final stop.

For Buechele, the decisive possession came down to players carrying out their assignments in a high-pressure situation.

“It was just execution,” Buechele said. “Me personally, I love a two-minute drill. You just get to play free, and the guys did a good job of executing, giving guys chances.”

He also credited the offensive line, Wheeler’s running and Pettis’ route on the conversion.

“Everything came together,” Buechele added.

The result completed an unbeaten preseason for Buffalo, but Brady’s comments reflected a broader takeaway from the night.

With roster decisions approaching, several players were competing for more than a preseason victory. The fourth-quarter comeback gave the Bills another opportunity to evaluate how those players handled a difficult situation before attention shifts fully to the regular season.