Top 3 Things We Learned

Top 3 things we learned from Bills vs. Steelers | Preseason Week 3 2026

Aug 27, 2026 at 11:52 PM

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Buffalo Bills vs Pittsburgh Steelers, Preseason, August 27, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.

The Buffalo Bills pulled off a comeback preseason win over the Steelers on Thursday night, battling back from a 10-point fourth quarter deficit to win 28-27.

Down 27-20 with three minutes remaining, BIlls QB Shane Buechele engineered a game-winning drive that culminated in a two-yard touchdown run by RB Ian Wheeler and a two-point conversion pass from Buechele to WR Dante Pettis.

Buffalo took the lead with just over a minute left in the game and got a defensive stop to seal the win and end the preseason 3-0. Here's what we learned from the preseason finale.

1 — Skyler Bell leads Bills in receiving and rushing in preseason debut

Dealing with an injury the last two weeks, wide receiver Skyler Bell finally made his NFL debut in Buffalo's preseason finale Thursday night. The rookie led the Bills with 49 receiving yards on 7 catches, and his lone rush attempt was a jet sweep that resulted in a 28-yard touchdown run.

Bell relished the moment and hopefully will head home with a souvenir to remember the night.

"I just got to make sure they give me that ball," Bell said. "But I'm super grateful I was super excited to get my first TD."

Bills head coach Joe Brady said it was a deliberate in-game decision to call a jet sweep for Bell. The receiver showed off his speed and agility on the 28-yard score in the third quarter.

"Once the ball got in his hands, you felt the speed and he made the most of it. It was a great block by [Dante] Pettis. It was good to get him back out there," Brady said.

Bell played the entire game, getting valuable reps ahead of Week 1. He had been held out of Buffalo's first two preseason games while dealing with a groin injury.

"Super important for me," Bell said of the playing time. "I've been itching to get back. I was just glad I was able to get some action before the bullets really got flying."

Earlier this week, Bell shared that this was the first injury in his career that had kept him out of games. He came into Thursday with the mindset that he was back doing what he loves/

"That's what it was for me — just getting back in the groove of things," Bell added.

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2 — Maxwell Hairston named a starting cornerback

Bills cornerbacks Maxwell Hairston and Davison Igbinosun both started against the Steelers, playing the first half. For Hairston, last year's first-round pick, it was the first preseason game of his career.

"I thought it was important for Maxwell, he hasn't had an opportunity," Brady said of his decision to play Hairston. "I thought it was just good for him to just be able to come out, go through it, get a feel for the environment and game, all of that. That was the biggest reason for it."

Brady also had another announcement regarding Hairston, officially naming him as the team's second starting cornerback across from Christian Benford.

"He's our starting corner. Maxwell's got exactly what we look for in a corner," Brady said.

Given Hairston's injury-related absence in recent weeks and Igbinosun's strong training camp, there had perhaps been ambiguity regarding the team's thought process. Brady put any cloudiness to rest with his announcement.

Though Hairston missed a tackle that led to a touchdown in the first quarter, Brady believes those are the teaching moments that will prepare Hairston for true game action in a couple weeks.

"That's why we want to get out there. And I know he had the missed tackle, and that's why we're practicing. That's why you go through the preseason to feel that to be able to clean that stuff up," Brady said. "He's our guy. And we're fortunate of who we got."

3 — Tommy Doman Jr. showcases strong leg

The Bills rotated punters against the Steelers as they aim to make their decision on who will make the team's 53-man roster. Last year's starting punter, Mitch Wishnosky, booted Buffalo's first two starting punts. His first was a 19-yard misfire that went off the side of his foot. The second punt was much better,

Doman Jr., the Bills' seventh round draft pick in April, continued to showcase his strong leg and consistency. He punted four times, averaging 52 yards per kick, including a long of 59 yards. Twice, Doman Jr. pinned the Steelers at their own 10-yard line.

The Florida product also served as Buffalo's kickoff specialist the entire game, netting three touchbacks and the special teams unit not allowing a return longer than 26 yards on the other three kickoffs.

The Bills will make the decision on their starting punter, and other roster battles, by Sunday as the initial 53-man roster must be submitted to the NFL by Sunday at 6 p.m. EST.

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Buffalo Bills vs Pittsburgh Steelers, Preseason, August 27, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.

Emilee Fails/Buffalo Bills

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Buffalo Bills vs Pittsburgh Steelers, Preseason, August 27, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.

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Buffalo Bills vs Pittsburgh Steelers, Preseason, August 27, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.

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Buffalo Bills vs Pittsburgh Steelers, Preseason, August 27, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.

Emilee Fails/Buffalo Bills

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Buffalo Bills vs Pittsburgh Steelers, Preseason, August 27, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.

Emilee Fails/Buffalo Bills