A four-game schedule launches Week 3 of the 2026 NFL preseason on Thursday. The action begins with the Steelers visiting the Bills at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the Patriots at the Browns and 49ers at the Raiders at 8 p.m. ET. The final matchup features the Rams taking on the Chargers at 10 p.m. ET.

The current NFL odds for Thursday list the Patriots as -2.5 road favorites and the Raiders also at -2.5 at home, while the Bills are -3 home favorites. The largest line of the night is the Chargers at -4.5 over the Rams, who are likely to field few starters.

Larry Hartstein, a seasoned analyst at SportsLine, has highlighted his strongest pick for Thursday: the Rams (+4.5) against the Chargers. Despite the Rams' expected lack of starters, both Ty Simpson and Stetson Bennett IV have delivered impressive performances this preseason. Simpson has completed 29 of 37 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns, while Bennett has completed 23 of 37 passes for 219 yards with no interceptions.

This is Ty Simpson's last chance to push Stetson Bennett for the backup job behind Matthew Stafford,

Hartstein has also locked in two additional best bets for Thursday, including an underdog poised to finish the preseason strong. For more insights and picks, visit SportsLine to see which teams are likely to win and cover the spread.