The concluding matches of the National Football League's preseason schedule featured a mix of outcomes, with standout performances and challenging moments for various teams. The Las Vegas Raiders faced a defeat at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers, primarily due to an underwhelming display from their rookie quarterback, Fernando Mendoza. In contrast, the Buffalo Bills orchestrated a thrilling turnaround against the Pittsburgh Steelers, clinching a victory in the final minutes. The Cleveland Browns also delivered a commanding performance, overwhelming the New England Patriots with a strong offensive showing.
During the Thursday night encounter, Fernando Mendoza, the top overall draft pick for the Las Vegas Raiders, found it difficult to make an impact. Facing the San Francisco 49ers, Mendoza completed only 7 of 14 pass attempts for a modest 57 yards, throwing one interception and enduring two sacks. This performance contributed to the Raiders' 18-12 loss in their final preseason game. Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who started the game for the Raiders, showed more efficiency, completing 8 of 11 passes for 51 yards and leading two drives that resulted in field goals. The game itself was characterized by numerous field goals, with San Francisco's Eddy Pineiro successfully converting all six of his attempts, including impressive kicks of 59, 51, and 54 yards. Matt Gay of the Raiders also contributed four field goals out of five attempts, with his longest being 53 yards. On the ground, Mike Washington Jr. of the Raiders was the most productive rusher, gaining 49 yards on eight carries. For the 49ers, Mac Jones played two series, managing only 7 yards on 1 of 5 passing attempts, while regular starter Brock Purdy was rested.
In another exciting matchup, the Buffalo Bills staged a dramatic comeback to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-27. With just over a minute left in the game, Ian Wheeler scored a 2-yard rushing touchdown, followed by a successful two-point conversion pass from Shane Buechele to Dante Pettis, sealing the win for Buffalo. Buechele played the entirety of the game for the Bills, completing 26 of 38 passes for 196 yards. Despite an early 14-3 lead for Buffalo after the first quarter, Pittsburgh had surged ahead 27-20 by the middle of the fourth quarter before the Bills' late rally. Notably, Buffalo's primary quarterback, Josh Allen, did not participate in the game, having only played two series in one prior preseason contest. Skyler Bell of the Bills was a key receiver with seven catches for 49 yards and also recorded a 28-yard rushing touchdown. For the Steelers, Aaron Rodgers was kept out of action, with Will Howard starting and throwing for 69 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Drew Allar took over in the second half, contributing 88 yards through the air.
The Cleveland Browns delivered a convincing 37-13 victory over the New England Patriots in their final preseason outing. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel was a standout performer for Cleveland, completing 12 of 15 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns. Gabriel quickly connected with Luke Floriea for a 6-yard touchdown on the game's opening drive and found Floriea again from 14 yards out after the Patriots responded with a touchdown. The Browns established a commanding 27-10 lead before halftime, with Gabriel linking up with Ahmani Marshall for another touchdown. In the second half, Cleveland's fourth-string quarterback, Taylen Green, led all rushers with 66 yards on eight carries and added 27 passing yards. For the Patriots, Tommy DeVito, formerly of the New York Giants, started and completed a 45-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Williams, ending his day with 55 yards on 2 of 4 passing. Neither New England's top quarterback, Drake Maye, nor Cleveland's Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders participated in this contest.
The NFL preseason provided a valuable platform for teams to assess their rosters and prepare for the upcoming regular season. While some players like Fernando Mendoza faced initial setbacks, others, such as Dillon Gabriel and the resilient Buffalo Bills, demonstrated promising potential. These games, often characterized by experimental lineups and strategic adjustments, offer a glimpse into the strengths and areas for improvement for each team as they fine-tune their strategies and personnel before the official season kicks off.
