Buffalo Bills vs Cleveland Browns Picks and Prediction for Saturday, August 22, 2026

The Buffalo Bills visit the Cleveland Browns on Saturday at Huntington Bank Field, with the opening kickoff scheduled for 1:00 PM ET. Buffalo is 1-0 in the preseason after beating Carolina 29-14 in its opener. Cleveland is 0-1 after losing 34-10 at Chicago last Saturday. The Bills used Josh Allen for two series before evaluating their depth, while Cleveland gave Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders extended opportunities in its quarterback competition. The Browns plan to start Sanders this week before Watson opens the second half. Be a winner with our free NFL picks.

Buffalo Bills Continue Evaluating New-Look Roster

Buffalo opened the preseason with a 29-14 victory over Carolina. Allen completed 6 of 8 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown while directing two scoring drives. DJ Moore caught three passes for 61 yards, while Keon Coleman caught Allen’s nine-yard touchdown pass. Ian Wheeler and Frank Gore Jr. added fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns. Buffalo now has another opportunity to evaluate its depth after several established offensive players made brief appearances in the opener.

The Bills are also using the preseason to work through major defensive changes under coordinator Jim Leonhard. Buffalo is moving to a 3-4 base after playing a different scheme under Sean McDermott, making these exhibition games important for assignments and personnel decisions. Terrel Bernard is one player to monitor as he adjusts to the new system. Buffalo also has a left guard competition between Austin Corbett and Alec Anderson, while the wide receiver group and punter battle remain areas the coaching staff can evaluate Saturday.

Cleveland Browns Continue Quarterback Competition

Cleveland lost 34-10 to Chicago in its preseason opener, but the quarterback competition remains the main story. Watson completed 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards and led two scoring drives, though he lost a fumble. Sanders completed 6 of 11 passes for 79 yards and threw an interception. Dillon Gabriel finished 5 of 8 for 23 yards. Rookie KC Concepcion scored on a 14-yard run and added three receptions for 27 yards before leaving the game with useful early work.

Coach Todd Monken has already outlined the quarterback plan for Saturday. Sanders will start against Buffalo, while Watson is scheduled to begin the second half. The two are also expected to share starting repetitions during Thursday’s joint practice with the Bills. Cleveland is evaluating more than quarterback, with competition along the interior offensive line and at wide receiver. The defense is also adapting without Myles Garrett and former coordinator Jim Schwartz, leaving first-year coordinator Mike Rutenberg with several personnel and scheme decisions before the regular season.

What to Watch

Buffalo’s approach at quarterback will matter after Allen played only two series in the opener. With the regular-season starter already looking sharp, the Bills can spend more time examining reserves and roster battles. Cleveland has a more defined quarterback evaluation, with Sanders receiving the opening opportunity and Watson following him. That setup should give the Browns meaningful quarterback play for a large portion of the game.

The joint practice before Saturday also gives both coaching staffs another evaluation point. Buffalo can continue testing Leonhard’s defensive changes, while Cleveland can compare Sanders and Watson against the same opponent before making future decisions about the position.

Buffalo Bills vs Cleveland Browns Game Pick

• Buffalo Bills +3

Buffalo +3 is the game pick after the Bills showed better depth in their 29-14 preseason opener. Buffalo produced points with its starters and reserves, including two fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns after Allen had left the game. Cleveland led Chicago 10-0 but was outscored 34-0 afterward, raising questions about the Browns’ depth. Sanders and Watson will receive important work, but Buffalo has several roster competitions that should keep its reserves motivated. Taking three points with the Bills offers the stronger play Saturday afternoon.

Buffalo Bills vs Cleveland Browns Over/Under Pick

• Over 36.5

Over 36.5 is the total pick after both preseason openers provided reasons to expect enough scoring opportunities. Buffalo scored 29 points against Carolina and produced touchdowns with both its starting offense and reserves. Cleveland managed only 10 against Chicago, but Watson led two scoring drives, and Sanders now receives the start before Watson enters for the second half. The Browns also allowed 34 points in their opener. With Buffalo showing capable offensive depth and Cleveland giving both quarterback candidates extended work, 36.5 is reachable Saturday.