The last week of the 2026 NFL preseason kicks off Thursday with 16 games spread across three days before rosters get trimmed to 53 players on Sunday.
Most head coaches have already tipped their hand on who plays and who sits, with several marquee names like Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Dak Prescott sitting out the entire summer. Backup jobs are the real storyline in most of these games.
Each matchup breakdown below covers who’s playing, where the odds stand, and picks for the spread, over/under, and moneyline.
Thursday, August 27New England Patriots vs. Cleveland Browns(NE -2.5, o/u 35.5, -141/+118)Cleveland Browns coach Todd Monken addresses the media during day 12 of training camp, Aug. 11, 2026, in Berea, Ohio.
Cleveland’s coach Todd Monken made his call on the summer’s biggest storyline. Monken named Deshaun Watson the Browns’ starting quarterback for the 2026 season on Monday and said he will not play starters in Thursday’s finale. That hands the game to Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green, the same trio that has managed 41 combined second-half points allowed by Cleveland’s defense over two weeks.
New England has yet to play its starters through two preseason games, and coach Mike Vrabel said the roster’s lack of depth means keeping his best players on the sideline. Backups Tommy DeVito and Behren Morton will split time again, with veteran Jacoby Brissett also part of the mix.
Picks: NE -2.5, u35.5, NE -141
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Buffalo Bills(BUF -3, o/u 35.5, -149/+124)Bills head coach Joe Brady leads the offense through drills during day five of Buffalo Bills training camp in Pittsford.
Buffalo coach Joe Brady confirmed quarterback Josh Allen will not play in the finale. “Josh will not be playing Thursday,” Brady said. “He’ll be right there with me. Hopefully I’ll let him call some plays.” Kyle Allen is set to take the bulk of the offensive snaps, with Brady saying, “There will be some guys that are starters who are gonna be playing in the game.”
Pittsburgh coach Mike McCarthy has not committed to a plan, but early signs point toward Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph both sitting. That leaves Will Howard and rookie Drew Allar to run the offense, the same duo that was shut out by the Jets a week ago.
Picks: BUF -3, u35.5, BUF -149
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San Francisco 49ers vs. Las Vegas Raiders(LV -1.5, o/u 37.5, -175/+145)49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan watches during the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium.
San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan is keeping his starters away from the finale as the team prepares to open the regular season in Australia against the Rams. Brock Purdy played just one possession last week and will not play Thursday. Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Mike Evans remain out with injuries.
Las Vegas coach Klint Kubiak still has not named a starter between Kirk Cousins and rookie Fernando Mendoza, though both are more likely to sit than play extensively. Mendoza should get run alongside Aidan O’Connell.
Picks: LV -1.5, u37.5, LV -175
Los Angeles Rams vs. Los Angeles Chargers(LAC -3.5, o/u 38.5, -184/+152)Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) throws the ball at training camp at The Bolt.
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed Justin Herbert will start and play “six to nine plays,” with the rest of the group of starters who played last week returning, minus Khalil Mack and Derwin James. The Chargers’ backup rotation of Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei was outscored 41-17 by San Francisco a week ago.
Rams coach Sean McVay has yet to play Matthew Stafford and will not change that Thursday. Ty Simpson gets an extended run as he competes with Stetson Bennett for the backup job, with McVay unsure if Bennett plays at all after a 34-0 win over New Orleans in Week 2.
Picks: LAC -3.5, u38.5, LAC -184
Friday, August 28Washington Commanders vs. Baltimore Ravens(BAL -3.5, o/u 34.5, -156/+130)Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) throws passes during pregame warmups before their preseason game.
Washington’s offensive line is banged up, missing Laremy Tunsil, Nick Allegretti and Sam Cosmi, and quarterback Jayden Daniels is not expected to play, along with receiver Terry McLaurin. Backup Athan Kaliakmanis will need to lean on his line to avoid the pressure Washington saw in Wednesday’s joint practice.
Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson has not played a preseason snap and will not play Friday. Running back Derrick Henry is in the same situation. Backup Tyler Huntley should get the bulk of the offensive work behind a defense that has surrendered only two scoring drives all summer.
Picks: BAL -3.5, u34.5, BAL -156
Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins(MIA -3, o/u 36.5, -173/+143)Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski on the sideline against the Denver Broncos in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed his starters will play, and Tua Tagovailoa will get the start over Michael Penix Jr., who was only medically cleared for full practice work last weekend and will not play in his return to the building where he spent six seasons. Cooper Rush and Jack Strand follow Tagovailoa.
Miami first-year coach Jeff Hafley has said he wants running back Chris Bell to play barring setbacks, and Willis and the Miami offense could see extended snaps as the team builds chemistry ahead of the opener.
Picks: MIA -3, u36.5, MIA -173
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Houston Texans vs. Carolina Panthers(HOU -1.5, o/u 36.5, -123/+102)Head coach DeMeco Ryans with cornerback Myles Bryant (25) on the sidelines during the second half against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium.
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans has ruled out C.J. Stroud and the rest of Houston’s starters. Stroud completed 4 of 6 passes for 27 yards and a touchdown on his only drive of the preseason. Davis Mills and Brett Rypien will handle the workload behind him.
Carolina coach Dave Canales will also sit his starters, including quarterback Bryce Young, after what he called a mostly rough joint practice this week. Kenny Pickett and Kyle Trask will get the reps, with Trask playing for a roster spot.
Picks: HOU -1.5, u36.5, HOU -123
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars(TB -3, o/u 35.5, -155/+128)Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen during the second half against the Buffalo Bills in an AFC Wild Card Round game.
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is not playing, leaving the job to Jake Browning or undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels, who has taken snaps ahead of Browning in practice this week and has led five scoring drives in a little over three quarters this preseason.
Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence still has not played a preseason snap this summer and is not expected to change that Friday. Joey Aguilar and Carter Bradley will compete for the third quarterback job behind him.
Picks: TB -3, u35.5, TB -155
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New York Giants vs. New York Jets(NYG -3, o/u 37.5, -172/+143)New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston (19) looks at the field during a game against the Green Bay Packers.
Neither side has made a final call on its starting quarterback for this game. Giants coach John Harbaugh has stayed non-committal on Jaxson Dart’s status, though the team has prepared as if he plays. Jameis Winston went 15 of 21 for 150 yards in relief last week and could see more work behind Brandon Allen and Jake Haener if Dart sits.
Jets quarterback Geno Smith was sharp on his lone drive last week, completing all seven passes for a touchdown, but his status for the finale remained TBD as of this week, according to the team. Cade Klubnik remains the favorite for the backup job either way.
Picks: NYG -3, u37.5, NYG -172
Seattle Seahawks vs. Kansas City Chiefs(KC -1.5, o/u 36.5, -145/+121)Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) looks on before the 2026 NFC Championship Game.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will not play in his return from a torn ACL and LCL, the first time the two-time MVP has sat out an entire preseason. Coach Andy Reid said backup Justin Fields is also unlikely to play, leaving Garrett Nussmeier and Chris Oladokun to split the work.
Seattle has not played Sam Darnold at all this preseason, and every pass this summer has come from Drew Lock or Jalen Milroe. Coach Mike Macdonald has kept his established starters off the field in each of the first two games.
Picks: KC -1.5, u36.5, KC -145
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Philadelphia Eagles(PHI -2.5, o/u 36.5, -152/+127)Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni talks with wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) during training camp.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor confirmed his starters, including Joe Burrow, are finished for the summer. Joe Flacco did not even play last week, with Josh Johnson and Sean Clifford taking every snap in a 27-9 win over Chicago.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is unlikely to risk Jalen Hurts, leaving Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton to keep working out the backup job. Philadelphia’s Ty Robinson has three sacks and six pressures over two games after a slow start to camp.
Picks: PHI -2.5, u36.5, PHI -152
New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys(DAL -3.5, o/u 38.5, -144/+120)Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler (2) throws during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Caesars Superdome.
New Orleans has been unsettled at backup quarterback all summer. Spencer Rattler threw a 100-yard pick-six, and Zach Wilson added an interception in a 34-0 loss to the Rams’ backups last week. Starting QB Tyler Shough has not played a preseason snap but is expected to get a couple of series against Dallas after the two teams were fined $500,000 apiece for fighting during last week’s joint practice.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has not appeared in a preseason game since 2019 and will not change that Friday. Joe Milton III has the edge over Sam Howell for the backup job after a three-touchdown game against Arizona, with each expected to play about a half.
Picks: DAL -3.5, u38.5, DAL -144
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Arizona Cardinals vs. Green Bay Packers(GB -1.5, o/u 36.5, -123/+103)Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur attends the first day of training camp.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur has ruled out Jordan Love and the rest of Green Bay’s starters for the finale after playing them each of the first two weeks. Kyle McCord should handle most of the snaps behind him.
Arizona starter Jacoby Brissett and the rest of the Cardinals’ first-team offense are not expected to play. Backup Gardner Minshew has taken most of the first-team reps in camp and should see extended work, with rookie Carson Beck (ribs) still questionable and Kedon Slovis rounding out the rotation.
Picks: GB -1.5, u36.5, GB -123
Minnesota Vikings vs. Denver Broncos(MIN +3.5, o/u 37.5, +156/-190)Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High.
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell has ruled out starting quarterback Kyler Murray, but J.J. McCarthy is expected to play through a minor ankle injury as he tries to hold off Carson Wentz for the backup job. “We feel good about getting him those really important reps,” O’Connell said.
Broncos coach Sean Payton said Wednesday that Bo Nix “probably won’t play” after a strong return last week in which he went 6 of 9 with a touchdown. That turns the game into a Sam Ehlinger-Jarrett Stidham battle for Denver’s backup job.
Picks: MIN +3.5, o37.5, MIN +156
Saturday, August 29Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts(IND -3.5, o/u 35.5, -165/+137)Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) speaks with head coach Dan Campbell in the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings.
Detroit sits its starters as it always does in the preseason finale, with Jared Goff staying on the sideline. Josh Dobbs and undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer will continue splitting reps as they compete for the backup job, with Dobbs coming off a 50-yard touchdown run last week.
Colts coach Shane Steichen has laid out a full rotation. Anthony Richardson starts and plays the first quarter. Riley Leonard takes the second, and Easton Stick finishes the game. Richardson will take the field with many of Indianapolis’ starters, whom the team expects to play 8 to 12 snaps. Daniel Jones will not play.
Picks: IND -3.5, u35.5, IND -165
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Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans(TEN -2.5, o/u 36.5, -146/+121)Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) stands on the sidelines during the second half in the game against Cincinnati.
Caleb Williams went 2 of 5 for 28 yards in his only drive last week against Cincinnati’s backups. Chicago has not confirmed whether he plays at all Saturday. One line of thinking around the team is that Ben Johnson would rather get Williams his remaining reps in practice and avoid the injury risk of a meaningless finale. Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum and Miller Moss would handle the position if Williams sits.
Titans coach Robert Saleh has played his starters through two weeks. Cam Ward is expected to play again after going 5 for 12 in the opener and showing better command in a 19-16 win over Seattle. Saleh called the offense’s overall performance a work in progress heading into the finale.
Picks: TEN -2.5, u36.5, TEN -146
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