The Buffalo Bills opened their new home in style on Thursday night, defeating the Detroit Lions 41-31 in the first regular-season game at Highmark Stadium. Quarterback Josh Allen delivered a five-touchdown performance, throwing for three scores and running for two more as Buffalo built a 27-10 halftime lead and never looked back.
A Fast Start for Buffalo
After a pregame fireworks celebration, Allen and the Bills wasted little time making themselves at home. Buffalo scored touchdowns on each of its first four possessions, a stretch that put the Lions in an early hole. Allen’s dual-threat ability was on full display, as he consistently found open receivers and also hurt Detroit with his legs.
The victory marked Allen’s fourth career game with five touchdowns. It came just one week after he threw for two scores and ran for two more in a 36-31 season-opening win over the Houston Texans.
Cook Helps Put the Game Away
Running back James Cook finished with 134 rushing yards and sealed the win with a 1-yard touchdown run with just under three minutes remaining. His production on the ground helped Buffalo maintain control even as Detroit mounted a comeback attempt.
Allen’s two rushing touchdowns increased his career total to 83, tying him with Jim Taylor for 18th on the NFL’s all-time list. The win was also the 90th regular-season victory of Allen’s career, making him one of only four quarterbacks to reach that mark in their first nine seasons.
Lions Battle but Fall Short
Detroit, playing with an injury-depleted defense and a banged-up offensive line, struggled to contain Buffalo’s offense and had trouble opening holes for running back Jahmyr Gibbs or protecting quarterback Jared Goff. After falling behind 21-0, the Lions rallied to cut the deficit to 34-24, but their offense stalled midway through the fourth quarter.
Backed up at their own 10-yard line, the Lions went three-and-out. Goff had two passes tipped by Deone Walker, and Gibbs was stopped for no gain, forcing a punt that effectively ended Detroit’s chances.
Goff finished the night 26 of 38 for 327 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown caught nine passes for 142 yards and two scores. Gibbs scored on an 11-yard reception but was limited to 52 rushing yards, while tight end Sam LaPorta added a 1-yard touchdown catch.
A New Home Built for Buffalo Weather
The Bills’ new $2.1 billion stadium, which officially opened last month, was built across the street from the team’s former home. Although it is an open-air facility, the design includes features to handle Buffalo’s harsh winters. Underground heating coils keep the natural-grass field from freezing, while roof sensors monitor snowfall and activate what is described as the world’s largest stadium snow-melt system. A 360-degree canopy also shields most fans from the wind.
Highmark Stadium seats 60,108 fans, roughly 10,000 fewer than its predecessor. The regular-season debut drew a crowd eager to see the Bills christen their new venue, and the team delivered a performance worthy of the occasion.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
