Josh Allen immediately left his mark on the Buffalo Bills' brand‑new Highmark Stadium, delivering a spectacular performance that helped his team defeat the Detroit Lions 41‑31 on Thursday night. The quarterback threw three touchdown passes and added two rushing scores, showcasing the dual-threat ability that has become his signature. This outing marked Allen's fourth career game in which he accounted for five touchdowns, following a similarly impressive showing just a week earlier when he tallied four touchdowns—two through the air and two on the ground—in Buffalo's 36‑31 season‑opening triumph over the Houston Texans.
The new stadium, a $2.1 billion project that officially opened last month, sits directly across the street from the Bills' former home field, symbolizing a fresh era for the franchise. After the pre‑game fireworks display, Allen ignited his own fireworks show by engineering touchdown drives on each of Buffalo's first four possessions. He recorded the inaugural regular‑season touchdown in the venue with a one‑yard rush just 5:51 into the opening quarter. He then connected on a 43‑yard strike to a wide‑open Josh Palmer, extending the lead.
Tight ends also contributed: Dalton Kincaid hauled in a 16‑yard reception and Dawson Knox added a one‑yard catch, both before halftime. Allen completed 20 of 31 pass attempts for 248 yards and rushed for an additional 72 yards.
His ground game was bolstered by running back James Cook, who amassed 134 rushing yards and sealed the win with a one‑yard touchdown run with 2:50 left on the clock. Cook's effort helped Buffalo maintain control after building a sizable lead. Allen's two rushing touchdowns pushed his career total to 83, tying him with Hall of Famer Jim Taylor for 18th place on the NFL's all‑time list.
The win also gave him his 90th regular‑season victory, making him one of only four quarterbacks to reach that milestone within their first nine seasons. The Lions, on the other hand, were hampered by an injury‑ravaged defense and a battered offensive line that struggled to create running lanes for rookie back Jahmyr Gibbs and to protect quarterback Jared Goff. Detroit managed to claw back from a 21‑0 deficit to narrow the gap to 34‑24, but their momentum stalled midway through the fourth quarter. Backed up at their own 10‑yard line, the Lions went three‑and‑out, forcing a punt after Goff threw two passes that were tipped by Bills defender Deone Walker and Gibbs was stopped for no gain.
Goff finished with 26 completions on 38 attempts for 327 yards and four touchdowns. His favorite target, Amon‑Ra St.
Brown, hauled in nine passes for 142 yards and two scores. Gibbs contributed an 11‑yard touchdown reception but was limited to just 52 rushing yards. Fellow rookie tight end Sam LaPorta added a one‑yard touchdown catch.
The combination of St. Brown and Gibbs scoring in the same game for the 22nd time ties them with the legendary Cleveland Browns duo of Paul Warfield and Leroy Kelly for fourth place on the NFL's record list for quarterback‑receiver/running‑back pairings.
Defensively, the Lions struggled from the outset, surrendering 27 points and 299 yards in the first half alone. Their woes echoed a season‑opening overtime victory over the New Orleans Saints, a game in which the Saints rallied from a 21‑0 first‑half hole before ultimately losing after a failed two‑point conversion in extra time.
The Lions' defensive collapse began on Buffalo's second drive when two defenders converged on Detroit receiver DJ Moore in the flats, allowing Allen to find Palmer deep for a 43‑yard touchdown. On the following Bills drive, a holding penalty against Rock Ya‑Sin nullified a potential interception by Skyler Gill‑Howard, keeping the momentum firmly with Buffalo. Detroit's offense also sputtered. Goff was sacked twice and suffered a snap that sailed over his head on the Lions' first two series, further disrupting their rhythm.
Despite these setbacks, the Lions managed to put up 31 points, but the early deficit proved too large to overcome. Looking ahead, fans can tune in to watch the 2026 NFL season live on Sky Sports, which will broadcast every playoff game and the Super Bowl LXI scheduled for Sunday, February 14, 2027. Viewers can access Sky Sports through a subscription or stream the games contract‑free with the NOW platform.