Category: NFL

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Most Week 3 preseason matchups are total snooze-fests, but pride and local bragging rights are on the line when the Giants and Jets collide at MetLife on Friday night.

Big Blue is actually putting real starters and core contributors on the field, giving them a massive edge over a reserve-heavy Jets squad. Grab the G-Men as 60% favorites at Kalshi in our best Giants vs. Jets predictions.

Let's take a closer look at my free NFL picks for Friday, Aug. 28.

Giants vs Jets prediction

For help understanding Kalshi probabilities, see our odds calculator.

Pick	Probability
Giants moneyline	60%
Over 36.5	51%

Percentages courtesy of Kalshi, one of the best prediction market apps.

 TOP PICK

Who will win Giants vs Jets: New York Giants

Kalshi probability: 60%

While both the New York Jets and New York Giants are still going to give reps to players who may play important roles for their teams this season, its the Giants who are turning more to their starters on Friday.

Giants coach John Harbaugh has said that he's considering giving starting quarterback Jaxson Dart at least one series to avoid a long layoff for one of his key offensive players ahead of the regular season. He's also said that the starting defense will get some reps to work on communication. 

Comparatively, the Jets will be working on determining backups and keeping many of their ailing offensive starters out to try to get them ready for Week 1. The Giants have a significant edge, and I like them at up to 65 cents.

 TOP PICK
Giants vs Jets Over/Under pick: Over 36.5 

Kalshi probability: 51%

The Giants will have a fair amount of offensive talent on the field Friday, whether Dart ultimately plays or not. That includes veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who looks likely to snag a roster spot for New York. 

On the other side, the Jets are likely to give significant time to rookie Cade Klubnik, who has already shown the ability to move the offense, going 10-for-14 for 75 yards so far in the preseason. Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe also have significant NFL experience at quarterback, and Geno Smith might even get limited playing time.

With both teams rotating in defenders fighting for roster spots, the relatively notable names on offense will have the better of the play on Friday night. I'm backing the Over up to 37.5 points.

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Giants vs Jets weather

On a partly cloudy night with temperatures cooling from a daytime high of 83 degrees, the weather should have minimal impact on this game.

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Giants vs Jets latest injuries

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Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs has been formally charged with two misdemeanors, court records show.

The charges – one for battery and the other for criminal damage to property – were filed via a complaint from Brown County District Attorney David L. Lasee on Thursday, Aug. 27. Both charges stem from Jacobs' arrest in Brown County, Wisconsin, on May 26 after an incident occurred on May 23.

"On May 23, 2026, at approximately 8:37 a.m., the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department was dispatched to a disturbance complaint involving Josh Jacobs," Hobart-Lawrence Police Chief Michael Renkas said in a statement on May 26.

JOSH JACOBS ARREST: Packers' RB faced multiple assault charges

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The Steelers head to Orchard Park tonight to close out their preseason slate against the Bills (7:00 p.m. ET, NFL Network).

Even with starter workloads up in the air, Buffalo is laying -2.5 on home turf. Our Steelers vs. Bill prediction and NFL picks are backing Joe Brady's squad to cover the short spread and cap off a perfect 3-0 preseason run on Thursday, Aug. 27.

Steelers vs Bills prediction

Pick	Probability
Bills -2.5	52%
Over 35.5	50%

Percentages courtesy of Kalshi, one of the best prediction market apps.

Who will win Steelers vs Bills: Bills -2.5 

The Buffalo Bills are 2-0 and have outscored opponents 60-21 in Joe Brady's first preseason at the helm.

Though Brady did say, "There will be some guys who are starters that are going to be playing in the game," backing Buffalo to cover against the Pittsburgh Steelers is all about the backup. Ninth-year vet Kyle Allen has been efficient behind center for the Bills, putting up a spectacular 96.2% adjusted completion percentage and committing zero turnover-worthy plays.

Allen has had support from his backfield, too, with running backs Ray Davis, Ian Wheeler, and Frank Gore Jr. combining to rush for 231 yards and three scores this preseason. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh's young and inexperienced backups on offense could struggle to keep up.

Drew Allar and Will Howard both struggled in a loss last week and will likely see the bulk of the snaps again. Allar was sacked three times and had an adjusted completion percentage of just 56.5%, while Howard had two turnover-worthy plays.

The loss took Mike McCarthy's preseason record since 2020 to 5-10.

 TOP PICK
Steelers vs Bills Over/Under pick: Over 35.5 

In Brady's three preseasons as the Bills' offensive coordinator/head coach, Buffalo's average final game total has been 41. Only once in those eight games has the game total hit a number below 35.5, and with the way Allen and Buffalo's running back room has played this preseason, the high-scoring should continue.

Buffalo's found reliable playmakers in its running backs, as well as veteran receivers Trent Sherfield and Mecole Hardman Jr., with rookie Ja'Mori Maclin providing a big-play threat.

Those receivers could put in work in the second half against a Steelers third- and fourth-string secondary full of undrafted rookies who were torched by the New York Jets late in Week 2.

Pittsburgh's offensive depth is less proven, but if Allar or Howard can settle in, the Steelers' pass catching depth could shine. Rookies Germie Bernard and Kaden Wetjen have made splashy plays while veterans Robert Tonyan and Ben Skowronek have been consistent threats.

Buffalo has allowed 22.3 PPG across its last three preseasons.

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Steelers vs Bills weather

There's a chance weather has an impact in Buffalo on Thursday night, with the forecast calling for rain earlier in the day and the potential for thunderstorms around 8 p.m. ET. In wet conditions (and a delay due to thunderstorms) last week, the Bills still managed to win 31-7.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers will wrap up their preseason slate Thursday, Aug. 27 with a visit to the Buffalo Bills and their brand new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.

The matchup will be a final showcase for young quarterbacks Drew Allar and Will Howard before Aaron Rodgers takes command of the offensive huddle for the regular season. Both are looking to leave lasting positive impressions after excellent outings in the opener against Green Bay Packers, then comparative duds last week against the New York Jets.

Howard threw a pair of interceptions as the starter last time out. The mistakes short-circuited drives that had reached deep into New York territory. Allar, meanwhile, battled receiver drops, penalties and his own indecision en route to a scoreless second half for the offense.

Required reading: Steelers, Joey Porter Jr. are at contract 'impasse,' coach Mike McCarthy says

Also of note will be the possible NFL debut of 2026 first-round NFL draft pick Max Iheanachor. The offensive tackle returned to practice this week after missing about half of training camp and all of the preseason to this point because of an arm/shoulder injury.

He'll look to give a boost to an offensive line that has struggled both with pass protection and run blocking through two games. While it's unlikely he can win a starting job after missing the amount of time that he has, eyes will be on starters Troy Fautanu and Dylan Cook to see whether they give him any openings.

USA TODAY will provide live updates on all the action that you can follow along with below.

Steelers vs. Bills live score

Steelers vs. Bills live updates

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steelers vs Bills live updates: TV info, live stream, odds for preseason game

This might be the last we see of Fernando Mendoza for a long time.

While the Las Vegas Raiders rookie is expected to have some level of playing time this season, the final preseason matchup between the Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers (8 p.m. ET) will be the last in-game action the rookie gets until he gets the keys.

Mendoza has appeared in both preseason games and the rookie has played like, well, a rookie. Mendoza has gone 10 of 16 passing for 193 yards, with 1 touchdown and 1 interception in limited action. While preseason isn't real, Mendoza's performance certainly adds some justification to the team wanting to take it slow with the neophyte.

On the 49ers' sideline, it's been another preseason of dodging landmines as the team tries to get healthy for Week 1. Plainly, nothing that happens in preseason Week 3 matters for a team that has its eyes on another run at the Lombardi Trophy this season.

For now, it's all about getting the entire band back together for Week 1, including tight end George Kittle and pass rusher Nick Bosa. Kittle is recovering from an Achilles injury he suffered in the playoffs, while Bosa is still eyeing a return to practice from ACL surgery.

USA TODAY Sports provides live updates, highlights and more from the Raiders-49ers matchup below. All times are Eastern.

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The final week of the NFL preseason kicks off tonight, and teams are taking dramatically different approaches with their starters in Week 3. Some are sitting their first units after extensive joint-practice work, while others are planning one final dose of game action before the regular season.

We're tracking the latest NFL preseason lineup updates and most important game-time decisions throughout the weekend to assist with your NFL preseason picks for Week 3.

Latest NFL preseason Week 3 lineup updates

Updated at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 27.

• Josh Allen will sit, but Buffalo won't rest everyone: Allen will not play against Pittsburgh, while the Bills still plan to give some starters game reps. Kyle Allen and Shane Buechele will handle the quarterback work.
• Patriots regulars expected out; Browns starters officially out: Drake Maye and New England's top regulars are not expected to play, while Cleveland has formally ruled out its starters, including starting QB Deshaun Watson and backup Shedeur Sanders. Todd Monken said he and Mike Vrabel initially discussed playing the starters for a series or two before deciding against it.
• 49ers expect to sit almost everyone; Ashton Jeanty's status remains unclear: Kyle Shanahan said he'd be surprised if more than a couple of regular starters play against Las Vegas. Jeanty, meanwhile, has not received a game-status update since leaving Sunday's practice; Klint Kubiak said only that he's “on the mend”.
• Justin Herbert will start against the Rams: Jim Harbaugh plans roughly six to nine plays for Herbert and the Chargers' first-team offense, while Khalil Mack and Derwin James Jr. will sit. The Rams have confirmed Ty Simpson will play, but Sean McVay has not finalized the rest of his quarterback rotation.

Who will play in NFL preseason Week 3?

Here are the latest updates on the top players entering Week 3 of the NFL preseason. For more information on every game, scroll down to our full matchup breakdowns.

Game	Player(s) / unit	Status	Latest update
PIT at BUF	Josh Allen	Out	Allen will rest the preseason finale, although Buffalo plans to give some other starters game reps.
NE at CLE	Starters	Expected out	New England's top regulars are not expected to play after Vrabel and Monken discussed using the starters for a series or two before deciding against it.
NE at CLE	Starters	Out	Cleveland will rest its starters, with Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green set to handle the quarterback work.
SF at LV	Most starters	Expected out	Shanahan expects almost all of San Francisco's regular starters to sit with the Australia opener approaching.
SF at LV	Ashton Jeanty	TBD	Jeanty has been sidelined since leaving Sunday's practice, and Kubiak has only said the running back is “on the mend”.
LAR at LAC	Justin Herbert	Playing	Herbert will start and lead the first-team offense for roughly six to nine plays.
WAS at BAL	Lamar Jackson	Out	Jackson got his final opponent work in Wednesday's joint practice and will sit Friday night.
HOU at CAR	Starters	Out	DeMeco Ryans said Houston's starters are done for the preseason after Wednesday's joint practice.
HOU at CAR	Starters	Out	Canales said the first units took roughly 75% of the joint-practice reps and will sit Friday.
ATL at MIA	Tua Tagovailoa	Playing	Tagovailoa will start against his former team as Atlanta gives its starters varying amounts of work.
ATL at MIA	Michael Penix Jr.	Out	Penix is back in 11-on-11 work, but Atlanta won't rush him into game action after only a few full practices.
TB at JAX	Starters/key regulars	Expected out	Tampa Bay expects to rest its established players, leaving the finale largely to players fighting for roster spots.
TB at JAX	Starters	Expected out	Jacksonville's starters are not expected to play after the first units got their work in joint practices.
NYG at NYJ	Jaxson Dart	TBD	Harbaugh has not committed to playing Dart in the finale.
NO at DAL	Most starters	Out	Moore said his starters got enough work from 145 joint-practice snaps and will sit Friday.
SEA at KC	Patrick Mahomes	Out	Mahomes will rest with Garrett Nussmeier set to start and some other offensive starters potentially seeing brief action.
CIN at PHI	Starters	Out	Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Cincinnati's other starters will rest the finale. Chase is also coming off a minor knee hyperextension that could affect his status for Week 1.
ARI at GB	Carson Beck	TBD	Beck is still working through rib discomfort, and Mike LaFleur has left his availability for Friday undecided.
ARI at GB	Most starters	Out	Most Green Bay starters will sit after getting their final competitive work this week.
MIN at DEN	Kyler Murray	Out	Kevin O'Connell plans to rest Minnesota's starters, including Murray, while the backup QB rotation remains unsettled.
MIN at DEN	Bo Nix	Expected out	Payton said Nix “probably won't play”, although Denver has not finalized every role for Friday.
DET at IND	Most starters	Playing	Shane Steichen plans to give most starters eight to 12 snaps before turning the game over to the reserves.
DET at IND	Daniel Jones, Jonathan Taylor	Out	Jones and Taylor are the two notable exceptions to Indianapolis' starter plan and will sit Saturday.
CHI at TEN	Starters	Expected to play	Saleh's published plan calls for 30-plus starter snaps; Tennessee has not announced a post-joint-practice change.

Thursday, Aug. 27

Steelers vs. Bills lineup updates (7 p.m. ET)

Steelers: Mike McCarthy has not announced a complete starter plan for Pittsburgh. In the Steelers' latest camp update, McCarthy said he had not decided who would play or for how long, while Drew Allar said he was preparing as if he would start.

Bills: Josh Allen will not play, while Buffalo plans to use Kyle Allen and Shane Buechele at quarterback. Joe Brady has confirmed that both backups will see the field Thursday, with some other Bills starters also expected to get work.

➡️ Check out our full Steelers vs. Bills predictions.

Patriots vs. Browns lineup updates (8 p.m. ET)

Patriots: New England's top regulars are expected to sit. Browns coach Todd Monken said he and Mike Vrabel initially discussed giving their first units one or two series before deciding that both teams were too thin — particularly up front — to justify the extra exposure.

Browns: Cleveland's starters will sit, including Deshaun Watson. Shedeur Sanders won't play either, leaving Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green to handle the quarterback work.

➡️ Check out our full Patriots vs. Browns predictions.

49ers vs. Raiders lineup updates (8 p.m. ET)

49ers: Expect few, if any, San Francisco starters. Kyle Shanahan said he'd be surprised if any regular starters played, while leaving open the possibility of a couple of exceptions. The 49ers have a shortened turnaround before opening the regular season in Australia.

Raiders: Las Vegas has not announced a blanket participation plan for its starters, so its overall first-unit workload remains TBD. Ashton Jeanty is also worth monitoring after leaving Sunday's practice early; Kubiak said Tuesday that the running back was “on the mend”.

➡️ Check out our full 49ers vs. Raiders predictions.

Rams vs. Chargers lineup updates (10 p.m. ET)

Rams: Sean McVay has confirmed that rookie quarterback Ty Simpson will play. The Rams have not finalized whether Stetson Bennett IV will appear or exactly how the quarterback reps will be divided, with McVay also interested in finding an opportunity for Matthew Caldwell.

Chargers: Justin Herbert will start, with Jim Harbaugh targeting roughly six to nine plays for Herbert and the first-team offense. Khalil Mack and Derwin James Jr. will not play.

➡️ Check out our full Rams vs. Chargers predictions.

Friday, Aug. 28

Commanders vs. Ravens lineup updates (6 p.m. ET)

Commanders: Washington has treated its joint practice with Baltimore as the more important work for the starting units, while framing Friday's game as a final evaluation opportunity for players fighting for roster spots. The Commanders' own preview points toward Athan Kaliakmanis and Sam Hartman handling the quarterback work.

Ravens: Lamar Jackson will not play. Baltimore used Wednesday's joint practice as Jackson's final work against another defense before the regular season.

➡️ Check out our full Commanders vs. Ravens predictions.

Texans vs. Panthers lineup updates (7 p.m. ET)

Texans: Houston's starters will not play Friday after getting their meaningful work during Wednesday's joint practice with Carolina.

Panthers: Bryce Young and Carolina's starters will also sit. Canales said the first units took roughly 75% of the team snaps during Wednesday's joint practice. Haynes King remains unavailable with a hamstring injury, leaving Kenny Pickett and Kyle Trask to handle the quarterback work.

Falcons vs. Dolphins lineup updates (7 p.m. ET)

Falcons: Tua Tagovailoa will start against his former team as Atlanta gives its starters varying amounts of work. Michael Penix Jr. will not play despite recently returning to full-team drills; with only three full 11-on-11 practices behind him, the Falcons don't want to rush him into game action. Cooper Rush and Jack Strand are also in line for quarterback reps.

Dolphins: Miami has not announced a blanket participation plan for its starters, leaving the broader first-unit workload TBD.

Buccaneers vs. Jaguars lineup updates (7:30 p.m. ET)

Buccaneers: Tampa Bay's starters and key regulars are expected to sit. The Bucs' official Thursday preview says the finale will instead serve largely as a final audition for players battling for the last spots on the 53-man roster.

Jaguars: Jacksonville is taking a similar approach. Liam Coen has consistently emphasized joint practices for his established players, and the Jaguars have said their starters are not expected to play Friday.

➡️ Check out our full Buccaneers vs. Jaguars predictions.

Giants vs. Jets lineup updates (7:30 p.m. ET)

Giants: Jaxson Dart's status remains TBD. Harbaugh has not committed to playing him in the finale, leaving the Giants with one of the week's more notable unresolved quarterback decisions.

Jets: Aaron Glenn has also stopped short of announcing a final starter plan. In the Jets' Thursday preview, Glenn was still described as weighing the “right decision” for his first units.

Saints vs. Cowboys lineup updates (8 p.m. ET)

Saints: Most New Orleans starters will not play. Moore said his first units logged 145 joint-practice snaps across sessions with Jacksonville, Dallas, and the Rams, giving him enough work to shut most of them down for the finale.

Cowboys: Dallas' backup quarterback competition remains unsettled. Brian Schottenheimer has not named a winner between Joe Milton III and Sam Howell, with the competition continuing into Friday's finale.

Seahawks vs. Chiefs lineup updates (8 p.m. ET)

Seahawks: Seattle's regular starters are expected to sit again after being held out of the team's first two preseason games. Seahawks.com noted this week that the starters “figure to do the same” Friday, especially with Seattle going from a Sunday preseason game to Friday's finale and then a Wednesday regular-season opener.

Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes will not play, with Garrett Nussmeier set to start at quarterback. Kansas City could still give brief work to some other offensive starters before turning the game over to its reserves.

➡️ Check out our full Seahawks vs. Chiefs predictions.

Bengals vs. Eagles lineup updates (8 p.m. ET)

Bengals: Cincinnati's starters will not play, including Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase. Chase hyperextended his left knee during Tuesday's practice and sat out Wednesday, although he downplayed the injury and said he would have been able to play if Cincinnati had a regular-season game.

Eagles: Philadelphia has not announced a detailed participation plan for its first unit. The team's own preview frames Friday's finale primarily as one last evaluation opportunity before roster cuts.

Cardinals vs. Packers lineup updates (8 p.m. ET)

Cardinals: Carson Beck remains TBD as he works back from the rib discomfort that has limited him since the Hall of Fame Game. Mike LaFleur said Beck's recent throwing session went well but stopped short of committing to him for Friday. LaFleur has likewise declined to make a blanket declaration on Arizona's other starters.

Packers:Most Green Bay starters will sit. Matt LaFleur had planned for the first units to get their final game reps in Denver before using Wednesday's joint practice with Arizona for their remaining competitive work.

Vikings vs. Broncos lineup updates (9 p.m. ET)

Vikings: Minnesota plans to rest its starters, including Kyler Murray. The quarterback plan behind Murray remains unsettled as J.J. McCarthy works through an ankle injury that kept him out of Wednesday's practice.

Broncos: Bo Nix is expected to sit. Payton said Nix “probably won't play”, although Denver had not finalized every role for the finale when the decision was discussed.

➡️ Check out our full Vikings vs. Broncos predictions.

Saturday, Aug. 29

Lions vs. Colts lineup updates (1 p.m. ET)

Lions: Detroit has not announced a defined starter workload for Saturday, so the first-unit plan remains TBD. The Lions are finishing their training-camp work with an intrasquad scrimmage Thursday before turning their attention to the finale.

Colts: Indianapolis plans to play most starters for roughly eight to 12 snaps. Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor will sit, while Anthony Richardson Sr. will start and play the first quarter before Riley Leonard takes over in the second.

Bears vs. Titans lineup updates (6 p.m. ET)

Bears: Chicago has not announced its final starter plan. Ben Johnson addressed the media before Thursday's joint practice with Tennessee, but the Bears have yet to commit publicly to a Saturday workload for Caleb Williams and the first unit.

Titans: Saleh's published preseason progression called for Tennessee's starters to play more than 30 snaps Saturday. The Titans have not announced a post-joint-practice change, so that remains the working plan rather than a fresh reconfirmation.

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