by They opened a $2.1 billion house.
Josh Allen put his name on it before the first quarter ended.
Buffalo beat Detroit 41–31 on Thursday night in the first regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium. The Lions scored late. The night was already decided.
How Buffalo went up 21–0
The Bills received. Ten plays, 85 yards. Allen walked in from a yard out. First touchdown in the new building.
Then Joshua Palmer from 43. Then Dawson Knox from a yard. Detroit had not scored. Highmark had a lead it would not give back.
Allen added a dart to Dalton Kincaid before half. He had four total touchdowns by the break. Buffalo 27, Detroit 10.
Allen, then Cook
Allen finished 20-of-31 for 248 yards, three passing touchdowns, no picks. He ran 14 times for 69 yards and two scores. Five touchdowns. Sixth time in his career.
James Cook went 21 carries, 135 yards, one touchdown. That run closed the door after Detroit had made the score look respectable. Buffalo ran for 203. Detroit ran for 66.
Yards: Bills 446, Lions 355. Time of possession: 33:45 to 26:15. Zero turnovers both ways. Detroit’s problem was the start, not a gift.
What Detroit actually did
Jared Goff threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns. Amon-Ra St. Brown caught nine for 142 and two scores. Jahmyr Gibbs had an 11-yard touchdown catch and 52 yards on the ground. Sam LaPorta scored too.
That is a 31-point night. It is also a 21–0 hole in a new building against a quarterback who can run the last three yards himself.
Dan Campbell said the little stuff was killing them. Ten penalties for 58 yards. The scoreboard at the end was a compliment. It was not a comeback.
The box
- Final: Bills 41, Lions 31.
- Allen: 20-of-31, 248 yards, 3 pass TDs, 2 rush TDs.
- Cook: 21–135, 1 TD.
- Goff: 26-of-38, 327 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INT.
- St. Brown: 9–142, 2 TDs.
- New Highmark Stadium. First regular-season game. Crowd 60,644.
What it means
Buffalo is 2–0. Detroit is 1–1. Week 2 is open. Sunday is the real slate.
The desk already has a Sunday Night game that belongs to Sportimatic: Indianapolis at Kansas City. Jones starts. Richardson is still QB2 unless something changes. Mahomes is 1–0 with a brace and a running back who just took a Monday.
Thursday was Allen’s house. Sunday is the next exam on pages you already built.
Desk note. Final and box from the Sept. 17 Prime Video window and team box scores. Stadium cost and “first regular-season game” from game coverage. Sunday Night is Colts at Chiefs.
More: Chiefs 31, Broncos 10 · Ravens 41, Colts 23 · Richardson, QB2
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