2026 NFL Preseason: Week 3 Picks

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills kick off the final week of the NFL preseason on Thursday night with a contest at Highmark Stadium. This game serves as the "dress rehearsal" finale before both clubs must cut their rosters down to the final 53-man limit. Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady confirmed that starting QB Josh Allen will not play on Thursday night. Instead, backup Kyle Allen is slated to take significant snaps after a strong Week 2 performance (10-of-12, 128 yards, 1 TD) against Cleveland. And veteran Aaron Rodgers will likely sitting out for Pittsburgh as Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy plans to split the game between young signal-callers Will Howard and Drew Allar. Both struggled behind a leaky offensive line last week against the Jets.

PITTSBURGH AT BUFFALO ODDS, GAME TIME

• Game Date: Thursday, August 27, 2026
• Game Time: 7:00 PM ET
• Location: Orchard Park, NY
• Stadium: Highmark Stadium
• Favorite: Buffalo Bills
• Underdog: Pittsburgh Steelers
• Over/Under: 35.5
• Point Spread: Buffalo (-2.5)

HOW TO WATCH PITTSBURGH AT BUFFALO

• TV Channel: NFL Network

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR PITTSBURGH AT BUFFALO

Dunkel Ratings: Pittsbrugh 123.147; Buffalo 121.748
Dunkel Line & Total: Pittsburgh by 1 1/2; 33
Vegas Line & Total: Buffalo by 2 1/2; 35 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (+2 1/2); Under

Below are all of Dunkel's Picks for Week 3 of the NFL Preseason schedule:

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR SAN FRANCISCO AT LAS VEGAS

Date: Thursday, August 27, 2026
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco 118.290; Las Vegas 124.231
Dunkel Line & Total: Las Vegas by 6; 44
Vegas Line & Total: Las Vegas by 2 1/2; 37 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Las Vegas (-2 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR NEW ENGLAND AT CLEVELAND

Date: Thursday, August 27, 2026
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: New England 117.225; Cleveland 118.718
Dunkel Line & Total: Cleveland by 1 1/2; 31
Vegas Line & Total: New England by 2 1/2; 35 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (+2 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR LA RAMS AT LA CHARGERS

Date: Thursday, August 27, 2026
Time: 10:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: LA Rams 116.478; LA Chargers 128.957
Dunkel Line & Total: LA Chargers by 12 1/2; 32
Vegas Line & Total: LA Chargers by 4 1/2; 38 1/2
Dunkel Pick: LA Chargers (-4 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR WASHINGTON AT BALTIMORE

Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Washington 112.574; Baltimore 129.071
Dunkel Line & Total: Baltimore by 16 1/2; 30
Vegas Line & Total: Baltimore by 3; 35 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (-3); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR ATLANTA AT MIAMI

Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta 119.332; Miami 118.238
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 1; 33
Vegas Line & Total: Atlanta by 4 1/2; 36 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Miami (+4 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR HOUSTON AT CAROLINA

Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Houston 120.614; Carolina 114.412
Dunkel Line & Total: Houston by 6; 42
Vegas Line & Total: Houston by 2 1/2; 36 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Houston (-2 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR TAMPA BAY AT JACKSONVILLE

Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Tampa Bay 117.218; Jacksonville 120.364
Dunkel Line & Total: Jacksonville by 3; 39
Vegas Line & Total: Tampa Bay by 1 1/2; 35 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Jacksonville (+1 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR NY GIANTS AT NY JETS

Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: NY Giants 127.941; NY Jets 129.313
Dunkel Line & Total: NY Jets by 1 1/2; 31
Vegas Line & Total: NY Giants by 3; 37 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Jets (+3); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR NEW ORLEANS AT DALLAS

Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: New Orleans 113.221; Dallas 124.244
Dunkel Line & Total: Dallas by 11; 41
Vegas Line & Total: Dallas by 1 1/2; 38 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Dallas (-1 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR CINCINNATI AT PHILADELPHIA

Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati 121.171; Philadelphia 116.624
Dunkel Line & Total: Cincinnati by 4 1/2; 40
Vegas Line & Total: Philadelphia by 3; 36 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (+3); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR SEATTLE AT KANSAS CITY

Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle 115.185; Kansas City 120.121
Dunkel Line & Total: Kansas City by 5; 31
Vegas Line & Total: Kansas City by 1 1/2; 36 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Kansas City (-1 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR ARIZONA AT GREEN BAY

Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona 124.540; Green Bay 118.671
Dunkel Line & Total: Arizona by 6; 32
Vegas Line & Total: Arizona by 2 1/2; 37 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (-2 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR MINNESOTA AT DENVER

Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 9:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 114.286; Denver 131.783
Dunkel Line & Total: Denver by 17 1/2; 33
Vegas Line & Total: Denver by 6 1/2; 39 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Denver (-4 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR DETROIT AT INDIANAPOLIS

Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 113.893; Indianapolis 111.335
Dunkel Line & Total: Detroit by 2 1/2; 32
Vegas Line & Total: Indianapolis by 3 1/2; 35 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (+3 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR CHICAGO AT TENNESSEE

Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 126.321; Tennessee 121.999
Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 4 1/2; 42
Vegas Line & Total: Tennessee by 3; 36 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (+3); Over