NFL Preseason Week 3 Preview: Final Roster Battles Take Center Stage

The final week of the 2026 NFL preseason arrives Thursday through Saturday, giving teams one last opportunity to evaluate backups, rookies and players fighting for spots on the 53-man roster before the regular season begins Sept. 9. Week 3 no longer serves as the traditional dress rehearsal for most teams. Many established starters will sit, including Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Baker Mayfield and Deshaun Watson, while other clubs will use the weekend to settle backup quarterback competitions and evaluate young players under game conditions.

Key Games and Players to Watch

• Falcons at Dolphins: This may be the most interesting matchup of the weekend. Tua Tagovailoa is expected to start for Atlanta in Miami against his former team after the Dolphins moved on from him during the offseason. Malik Willis is scheduled to start for Miami, making quarterback play the main storyline.
• Rams at Chargers: Los Angeles will get another look at Ty Simpson and Stetson Bennett IV as they compete for the Rams’ backup quarterback role. On the other side, Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei are battling behind Justin Herbert.
• Saints at Cowboys: Dallas’ Joe Milton III is trying to secure the No. 2 quarterback job after throwing three touchdowns against Arizona. Sam Howell remains in the competition. New Orleans will again evaluate Spencer Rattler and Zach Wilson after both struggled against the Rams.
• Bengals at Eagles: Cincinnati is sitting its starters, giving Josh Johnson and Sean Clifford another opportunity. Philadelphia’s Ty Robinson is also worth watching after recording three sacks and six pressures through two preseason games.
• Bears at Titans: The final game of the preseason could include another appearance from Cam Ward. Tennessee has continued giving its young quarterback preseason work, while rookie receiver Carnell Tate is still looking for his first catch after five targets.

NFL Preseason Week 3 Schedule and Betting Lines

The following betting odds were available ahead of NFL Preseason Week 3 and are subject to change before kickoff.

Date	Matchup	Spread	Moneyline	O/U
Aug. 27	Steelers at Bills	BUF -3	BUF -152 / PIT +127	35.5
Aug. 27	Patriots at Browns	NE -2.5	NE -150 / CLE +125	35.5
Aug. 27	49ers at Raiders	LV -3.5	LV -174 / SF +144	37.5
Aug. 27	Rams at Chargers	LAC -3.5	LAC -181 / LAR +150	38.5
Aug. 28	Commanders at Ravens	BAL -2.5	BAL -143 / WAS +119	34.5
Aug. 28	Texans at Panthers	HOU -1.5	HOU -123 / CAR +102	36.5
Aug. 28	Falcons at Dolphins	ATL -3.5	ATL -165 / MIA +137	36.5
Aug. 28	Giants at Jets	NYG -3	NYG -175 / NYJ +145	36.5
Aug. 28	Buccaneers at Jaguars	TB -3	TB -156 / JAX +129	34.5
Aug. 28	Bengals at Eagles	PHI -3	PHI -155 / CIN +129	36.5
Aug. 28	Saints at Cowboys	DAL -1.5	DAL -129 / NO +108	38.5
Aug. 28	Cardinals at Packers	ARI -2.5	ARI -146 / GB +122	37.5
Aug. 28	Seahawks at Chiefs	KC -1.5	KC -124 / SEA +104	36.5
Aug. 28	Vikings at Broncos	DEN -6.5	DEN -287 / MIN +231	39.5
Aug. 29	Lions at Colts	IND -3.5	IND -173 / DET +143	36.5
Aug. 29	Bears at Titans	TEN -2.5	TEN -146 / CHI +121	36.5

Betting Outlook

Week 3 NFL preseason betting is driven more by expected playing time and roster depth than by regular-season team strength. Denver is the largest favorite on the board at -6.5 against Minnesota, according to major sportsbooks like BetMGM and FanDuel, while several games sit within a field goal. Backup quarterback situations deserve particular attention. Dallas, Denver, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Minnesota and the Rams still have meaningful depth-chart questions being decided this weekend. Those rotations can influence both spreads and totals more than the presence of star players who may not take a snap. With many starters sitting, late injury and playing-time announcements could produce significant line movement before kickoff. Bettors should pay particular attention to confirmed quarterback plans before placing preseason wagers.