The Buffalo Bills host the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football in the inaugural game at the renovated Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo enters Week 2 after a comeback 36-31 win over the Houston Texans, a game in which Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more while the Bills’ offense put up big numbers against one of the league’s more respected defenses. Detroit also survived a chaotic opener, edging the New Orleans Saints in overtime after surrendering a 21-0 lead; Jahmyr Gibbs piled up 186 yards from scrimmage and two scores, but Detroit’s defense showed vulnerabilities.
Game details
– Date: Thursday, Sept. 17 | Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
– Location: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y.
– Streaming: Amazon Prime
– Follow: CBS Sports App
– Odds: Bills -4.5, Over/Under 54.5 (DraftKings Sportsbook)
Why a shootout is likely
The 54.5 point total is the highest of the week by four points. Both teams combined for 67 points in Week 1 and also allowed 61 points to opponents who aren’t considered elite offensive units, so another high-scoring affair is well within reason given defensive questions on both sides.
Josh Allen’s form
Allen’s two passing and two rushing TDs in Week 1 marked the ninth time in his career he’s recorded that mix in a game — more than any player in NFL history ahead of the next closest. He completed 69% of his passes against Houston at an average of 11.5 yards per attempt, and looks poised to be a central figure in another big offensive night.
Gibbs as a bell-cow
After three seasons splitting work with David Montgomery, Gibbs saw a true lead-back role in Week 1: he played 74% of Detroit’s snaps and touched the ball 34 times — the most in the league that week. At 5-9 and 202 pounds he’s not huge, but coach Dan Campbell has entrusted him with a heavy workload. The Bills contained Montgomery last week, but they did give up multiple scores to Gibbs’ former teammate.
DJ Moore’s usage
Moore started slowly in Week 1 but finished strong, catching five passes for 100 yards and a touchdown on eight targets and drawing a pass-interference call that set up a Bills scoring opportunity. He ran routes on 81% of drop-backs and was targeted on about 30.8% of those routes — elite usage for a team’s top receiver, something Buffalo has missed since Stefon Diggs’ departure.
Lions’ offensive line concerns
Detroit will be without left guard Christian Mahogany and right tackle Blake Miller (hip and knee injuries), forcing Ben Bartch to fill in at left guard and likely Larry Borom to step in at right tackle. That could be problematic against a Buffalo front that pressured Houston effectively, with Greg Rousseau a potential mismatch against Borom.
Prediction
Expect a high-scoring game with plenty of big-play potential on both sides of the ball. I give the Bills the edge in the new stadium but anticipate a close finish — Bills 35, Lions 31.
Fan take: This matchup matters because it pits two dynamic offenses against suspect defenses, offering an early-season glimpse at how each team will handle heavy offensive expectations. If shootouts like this become the norm, it could further accelerate the league’s trend toward pass-heavy, high-scoring games that prioritize playmakers and quarterback mobility.
Source: www.cbssports.com
