NFL Preseason Picks Today: 4 Matchups to Watch Thursday, August 27, 2026

Pittsburgh enters the preseason finale looking for a sharper offensive performance after being shut out 17-0 by the Jets in its second exhibition game. That result should not automatically create a fade or bounce-back angle, but it gives the coaching staff another opportunity to evaluate offensive depth before roster decisions arrive.

The Steelers' initial depth chart listed Aaron Rodgers first at quarterback, followed by Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar. In a final preseason game, however, the important question is not the order on the depth chart — it is who actually receives Thursday's snaps.

Buffalo faces the same late-August calculation. Established players have little left to prove in an exhibition game, while players on the back end of the roster may be receiving one of their final extended opportunities to make an impression.

New England enters its preseason finale at 1-0-1 after a 24-21 victory over Philadelphia. Rookie quarterback Behren Morton helped lead the Patriots' comeback, reinforcing why backup-quarterback performance becomes especially important once the starters leave a preseason game.

Head coach Mike Vrabel has emphasized building roster depth as New England approaches its final exhibition. That makes the game valuable from an evaluation standpoint even if established starters receive limited or no work.

Cleveland enters the finale 0-2. The record itself carries little handicapping value, but the Browns now have one last game environment to evaluate roster depth before final cuts.

San Francisco arrives in Las Vegas after a 41-17 preseason win over the Chargers. A high-scoring exhibition result can attract attention, but bettors should be careful about carrying one preseason game's offensive production directly into the next.

The more important issue is how San Francisco distributes Thursday's quarterback and roster-evaluation snaps. The final preseason game typically shifts the spotlight away from established stars and toward players still fighting for defined roles.

Las Vegas has already used joint-practice work during this preseason to create controlled evaluation opportunities. The finale against San Francisco now provides one final game-speed test before the roster deadline.

The Thursday board closes with the Rams and Chargers at SoFi Stadium. The shared-city matchup may carry familiar branding, but preseason handicapping still comes down to personnel rather than rivalry narratives.

The Chargers are looking for improvement after their 41-17 loss to San Francisco in Week 2. Head coach Jim Harbaugh specifically pointed toward areas that needed to improve after that game, giving younger players another opportunity to show progress in the finale.

For the Rams, preseason quarterback development and depth evaluation remain central. Sean McVay has continued evaluating Stetson Bennett and the players competing deeper on the roster through August practices and game work.