‘Allen led touchdown drives on the Bills’ first four drives, adding three touchdowns through the air to his one on the ground. The first of those came on a busted coverage by the Lions, who left Bills receiver Joshua Palmer wide open. Allen found him for a 43-yard touchdown catch with 3:42 left in the first quarter that capped an eight-play, 79-yard drive.’
Archives for September 18, 2026
Bills show ‘sky is the limit’ while scoring 77 points in 2 wins | Lance Lysowski
‘“It helps that we’ve been running this offense for a while,” center Connor McGovern said. “Joe and (offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael) are doing a great job. I’m excited because each week the defense is starting to click a little bit more and I know the next few weeks they’re going to be humming. When we put all three phases together, it’s going to be hard to stop us.”‘
If James Cook keeps running the same play? ‘Then … stop it’
‘“It was great because we ran the same play twice,” center Connor McGovern said. “We came up, (Cook) gave us a look, we alerted it both times. Everyone was locked in back there, and the second time we ran it, when he went for the 35 (yards), they were calling it out. They were saying, ‘Same play, same play.’’
Bills game balls: Deone Walker helps defense halt Lions’ rally
‘If your favorite NFL analysts are not yet talking about Walker, they will be soon. The second-year big man looked unstoppable at times Thursday night. He could have totaled multiple sacks.’
Three questions after the Buffalo Bills beat the Detroit Lions
‘The Buffalo Bills started off hot in their grand home opener, but they showed they still have work to do to put together a complete game, with some growing pains in the middle. But the final score won’t reflect it too harshly, with the Bills defeating the Detroit Lions 41-31 on “Thursday Night Football.” Neither team had a takeaway, but the Bills’ defense was able to get stops where it needed, particularly a three-and-out spearheaded by defensive tackle Deone Walker midway through the fourth quarter.’
Bills notebook: Ed Oliver sustains hip injury during warmups
‘“And he wanted to play badly, with everything going on as well. But he was just going through his normal pregame routine, like nothing out of the ordinary. And so I don’t have any more, any less.”’
Bills report card: Why the offense (and Joe Brady) get high grades after a shootout win
‘Pass defense: D.’
Where are they now? A look at what former Bills are up to throughout the NFL
‘DaQuan Jones joined the employment ranks last week when the former Buffalo Bills defensive tackle signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots. In so doing, Jones became the fourth former Bills player to now suit up for New England, the most of any other team in the NFL. He also reduced by one the number of Bills from last year’s divisional playoff roster still looking for a new team. That number is now 12, not including punter Mitch Wishnowsky (currently a member of the Patriots’ practice squad) and running back Frank Gore Jr., who is on the Bills’ practice squad.’
‘It’s our heart, it’s our soul’: Excitement reigns in a new era for the Bills
‘”The (bar) is filled up earlier than normal,” he said, somewhat resigned, “because of that giant building.”‘
3 things that stood out as Bills opened Highmark Stadium in style
‘But Coleman helped fill the void of Moore by playing 74% of the snaps and on many plays was the sole wide receiver on the field, and he responded with six catches for 63 yards, none bigger than his nine-yard reception which converted a third-and-7 at Lions 49, allowing the clinching TD drive to continue, and then a 12-yard catch a few plays later that pushed the ball to the 23.’
Bills report card: Josh Allen dazzles, James Cook breaks loose against Lions
‘After a great start in which the Bills sacked Jared Goff three times on the first two series of the night, things went downhill. There was occasional pressure but only one more sack, and Goff started finding his rhythm and was able to get Detroit within 34-24 early in the fourth quarter.’
DJ Moore injury update: Bills WR ruled out vs. Lions with shoulder injury
‘Allen rolled to his right and fired a low pass toward Moore, who dove for the ball and came down hard on his left shoulder as a Lions defender landed on him. Moore rolled onto his back and remained on the field while members of Buffalo’s training staff attended to him.’
8 stats from Bills’ electric win: Josh Allen makes NFL history in new stadium
‘The Bills have scored 77 points through two games. Allen has accounted for nine touchdowns. Greg Rousseau is doing something that hasn’t been done by a Bills pass rusher since Bruce Smith.’
Ryan Fitzpatrick jumps through table during Bills-Lions game
‘Between the third and fourth quarters, the Bills introduced Fitzpatrick from a platform in the corner of the field. Fitzpatrick climbed on top, stood above a table positioned below and launched himself off the platform, delivering an elbow drop that sent him crashing through the table.’
Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills put on clinic versus Lions in home debut (Observations)
‘Allen and the offense had their way with the Lions’ defense in the first half, marching up and down the field for touchdowns on their first four drives. Allen accounted for all four scores (three passing, one rushing), James Cook went over 100 yards on the ground and just about every pass catcher made a play or two along the way.’