Bills edge Steelers 28-27 in preseason finale as Wheeler scores late and Allar’s final pass falls short

Ian Wheeler’s 2-yard touchdown with 1:06 left and a Steve Buechele-to-Dante Pettis two-point conversion send Buffalo past Pittsburgh in a preseason game that ended with a fourth-and-7 swing for Drew Allar.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The Buffalo Bills finished their preseason with a one-point win, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-27 on Thursday night after a late surge that flipped the game’s final minutes. Ian Wheeler scored on a 2-yard run with 1:06 remaining, putting Buffalo back on top, then Steve Buechele connected with Dante Pettis on an off-balance pass for a two-point conversion to make it a one-score finish.

Pittsburgh had one last opportunity to take the lead, and the final play sequence underscored how thin the margin can be in late preseason situations. With 44 seconds left, Drew Allar’s pass attempt on fourth-and-7 sailed behind tight end Lake McRee, sealing the result for Buffalo.

For the Steelers, the final stand had added meaning because Allar was trying to establish separation in an internal quarterback conversation. According to the game report, the rookie was attempting to separate himself from Will Howard in the competition for Pittsburgh’s third-string quarterback spot.

That context matters because preseason quarterback pecking orders often hinge on a small number of drives rather than a single stat line. With roster spots and depth roles still in motion, late-game execution, the ability to move the offense under pressure, and reliability on boundary-breaking throws become the primary evidence coaches can evaluate when the regular season is approaching.

Buffalo’s closing sequence also highlighted how second- and third-team units can shape outcomes even when neither side is playing for anything approaching standings. Wheeler’s short touchdown did the heavy lifting, and Buechele’s improvisational two-point throw to Pettis gave the Bills a decisive cushion that Pittsburgh could not erase on its final series.

What to watch next is how both teams translate these end-of-preseason reps into regular-season preparation. For Pittsburgh, Allar and Howard’s continued standing behind the starter group will likely be shaped by how quickly the coaching staff turns these preseason looks into a clearer depth chart. For Buffalo, the game closes out a preseason chapter with encouragement for the depth roles, but the focus now shifts to which units can replicate that late-game poise when the games count more.

Why It Matters

A one-point preseason win like this can validate depth-game planning, especially for offenses that need a closing script.
For the Steelers, the result arrives in the middle of an internal quarterback competition, with Allar seeking separation from Will Howard for a depth role.
Late conversions and final-drive decisions are often the best preseason indicators of how prepared second and third units are for the regular season’s situational football.
The fourth-and-7 miss also shows how quickly roster battles can swing based on a single throw, even in a low-leverage environment overall.

Sources

Key Facts

Ian Wheeler scored a 2-yard touchdown with 1:06 left to give Buffalo a late lead.
Steve Buechele completed an off-balance pass to Dante Pettis for a two-point conversion to extend the Bills’ advantage.
The Steelers’ final chance came with 44 seconds remaining on fourth-and-7.
Drew Allar’s pass on fourth-and-7 sailed behind tight end Lake McRee.
The Bills defeated the Steelers 28-27 in the preseason finale for both teams.
The report describes Allar trying to separate himself from Will Howard for Pittsburgh’s third-string quarterback job.