The Buffalo Bills faced the Pittsburgh Steelers this past Thursday night in their third and final preseason matchup at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Besides the Bills pulling off a 28-27 comeback victory, it also marked the team capping off an undefeated preseason at 3-0, the first time since 2019 the team has done so.
It was also important for head coach Joe Brady and GM Brandon Beane to evaluate their players one last time to help decide who would make the 53-man roster. Here are four key takeaways uncovered from the Bills' last preseason game.
Four key factors that impacted Bills' 28-27 win
1.) Shane Buechele's comeback victory
Head coach Joe Brady decided for the final preseason game that Shane Buechele would play all four quarters, and the former practice-squad quarterback delivered a solid outing that contributed to the comeback.
The 6-foot, 210-pound quarterback stood a little taller, going 26 of 38 for 196 passing yards. He capped off the magical night with a game-winning 2-point conversion pass to receiver Dante Pettis with 1:06 left in the preseason finale. Overall, it was a brilliant ending to his 2026 preseason and possibly his last as a member of the Bills.
2.) Skyler Bell turns heads in preseason debut
Since Skyler Bell has been injured and unavailable to play in the Bills' first two preseason games, Brady wanted to use preseason game three as a chance for Bell to prepare for the regular season after coming off his injury.
The rookie made an immediate impression as he was the Bills' leading receiver with 49 yards on seven catches, and he ran the ball on a jet sweep, taking it to the house for a 28-yard touchdown run.
Bell continued to play the whole game, becoming a dynamic target for Buechele. He showed that his injury was not a factor and that he would be a valuable asset to the Bills' receiving corps.
3.) Damar Hamlin the "fan" favorite
On Thursday night, it appeared the fan favorite could be sticking around with the Bills for a little bit longer after being in the right place at the right time.
With the safety position being overly crowded, players must find a way to stick out for the coaches to notice them, and that is exactly what Hamlin did in two preseason games this year.
In preseason Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns, Joe Andreessen deflected a pass thrown by Browns QB Shedeur Sanders, which Hamlin jumped in to pick off, and in Thursday night's game, he shined again and recorded his second interception against the Steelers.
4.) Tommy Doman Jr. could win punting job as a rookie
After not being able to punt at all in the first preseason game, and having more chances to punt in the second preseason game, the Bills decided to rotate between rookie Tommy Doman Jr. and veteran Mitch Wishnowsky to determine the Week 1 starting punter once and for all.
Wishnowsky attempted the first two punts, but didn't do himself any favors by kicking his first attempt for a mere 19-yard punt. Thankfully, he made up for it with an improved second punt.
As for Tommy Doman Jr., the rookie did not look fatigued and showed why his strong leg and consistency made the Bills draft him in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He totaled four punts, averaging 52 yards per punt, with his longest punt coming from 59 yards.
He even pinned the Steelers offense twice inside the 10-yard line, and those drives stalled.
The Florida native also served as the Bills' kickoff specialist the whole game, saving Tyler Bass for field goals and extra points, all of which he made. Doman Jr. kicked three touchbacks and did not allow the special teams unit to give up a kick return exceeding 26 yards on his other three kickoffs.
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