Bills Edge Steelers in Preseason Shootout That Wasn't Supposed to Happen

The Bills squeaked past the Steelers 28-27 in a preseason finale that made a mockery of our under 36.5 call. Fifty-five combined points from third-stringers and camp bodies? That's not how this was supposed to go.

We had every reason to love the under. Josh Allen was sitting. Pittsburgh's backups had just laid an egg with zero points in their previous exhibition. The script called for conservative playcalling, punts, and a merciful running clock. Instead, we got a track meet officiated by guys who apparently forgot their flags at home.

Buffalo's depth chart got frisky early and never let up, while Pittsburgh's reserves suddenly remembered how to move the football after their last embarrassment. The difference came down to one possession, but the real story is how both sidelines inexplicably decided to treat this like a playoff game instead of a glorified practice.

Credit where it's due: these rosters showed fight. But when you're banking on preseason pragmatism and get a barnburner instead, sometimes the football gods just aren't listening. The under never had a chance once both offenses found rhythm. Frustrating miss, but we'll take our lumps and move on to games that actually count.