Preseason Finale Screams Ugly Football as Backups Take Over

If you're tuning in expecting fireworks, you've come to the wrong place. This is preseason Week 3 – the dress rehearsal for guys fighting for roster spots, not primetime entertainment. Buffalo's already shut down Josh Allen, and Pittsburgh's doing the same with Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph. What you're getting instead is a parade of third-stringers running vanilla offense while coaches scribble on clipboards.

The Steelers just laid an egg in their last outing, scoring a grand total of zero points. Drew Allar looked lost at 11-for-23 with 110 yards, while Will Howard gifted the defense two interceptions on just 15 attempts. That's the offensive firepower we're banking on here? Buffalo's backups won't be much better – these games are about evaluation, not execution.

Both coaching staffs will play it safe, protecting bodies for games that actually matter. Expect run-heavy scripts, conservative play-calling, and drives that stall in field goal range. The oddsmakers set this total at 36.5, but with the talent level on display and the preseason finale mentality, we're looking at a rock fight.

DarkHorse is hammering the under 36.5 with strong conviction. When third-stringers can't move the chains and nobody's game-planning to score, ugly football is the safest bet on the board.