The Buffalo Bills opened their new $2.2 billion Highmark Stadium in style on Thursday night, riding a five-touchdown performance from Josh Allen to a 41-31 victory over the Detroit Lions in the first game played at the venue in Orchard Park, New York. Allen threw for 248 yards and made history along the way, scoring the first touchdown in the new stadium and carrying the Bills to a 2-0 start atop the AFC East.
The Bills set the tone immediately, building a 14-0 first-quarter lead that swelled to 27-10 by halftime. According to the team's public relations account, Buffalo became the first club to score 27 or more points in the first half of a new home stadium since the 1971 Dallas Cowboys put up 34 first-half points at Texas Stadium on Oct. 24, 1971.
How Josh Allen's Historic Night Unfolded
Allen's evening began with a milestone. His first touchdown came on a 1-yard run that not only opened scoring in the new Highmark Stadium but also marked his 82nd career rushing touchdown, tying him with Corey Dillon for 19th place on the NFL's all-time list.
The score extended Allen's own NFL record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. Cam Newton ranks second all-time at the position with 75, while Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles is the closest active quarterback with 63. By night's end, Allen had accounted for five total touchdowns, blending his arm and legs in a way no quarterback has ever produced through the first two weeks of a season.
The Lions, typically one of the NFC's toughest outs, rarely threatened after the opening burst. Detroit's high-powered offense was held in check early as Buffalo built a two-score cushion, and the visitors' comeback bid never closed the gap enough to spoil the celebration.
The Records Allen Rewrote Against Detroit
Through two games, Allen's production has landed him in territory the league has not seen in more than six decades.
"Josh Allen is the first player with 5+ pass TD and 3+ rush TD through two games of a season in NFL history," the Bills' PR team announced. ESPN Insights added more context: "Josh Allen is the first NFL player with 3+ pass TD and 3+ rush TD in his team's first 2 games of a season since 1960."
Allen entered Week 2 with 4,721 career rushing yards — the sixth-most among quarterbacks in NFL history — and now sits 1,801 yards behind Baltimore's Lamar Jackson for the most all-time at the position.
Timeline: How Buffalo's 2-0 Start Came Together
The Bills' fast start actually began a week earlier. On Sept. 13, Buffalo opened its season with a 36-31 road win over the Houston Texans, with Allen delivering a go-ahead 34-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Palmer late in the fourth quarter.
Four days later, on Thursday, Sept. 17, the Bills hosted the Lions on Thursday Night Football in the first game at the new Highmark Stadium. Buffalo raced to a 14-0 lead after one quarter and led 27-10 at the break before closing out the 41-31 win. Allen's 1-yard rushing score in the opening quarter became the first touchdown in the building's history.
Why Allen's Start Matters: An MVP Mission and a New Era
The victory underscored why the Bills made Allen the centerpiece of a new era. Entering his ninth NFL season at age 30, the 2024 league MVP is playing under a $330 million contract and now has a state-of-the-art home built to match his rare skill set.
Allen has been vocal about the value of the stadium's natural-grass surface, a deliberate contrast to the artificial turf he says takes a toll on his body. "I think grass is healthier for our bodies," Allen said. "I've gotten numerous, numerous burns on my legs from artificial turf to the point where I can't sleep at night because it's bubbling over. It's very painful... If I can snap my fingers and make every field grass, that's what I would do for sure."
NFL Network's Mike Garafolo pointed to how far Allen's legs could still carry him. "Josh Allen is halfway to Emmitt Smith's 164 rushing TDs. He's 30," Garafolo wrote. "Averaging just under 10 per year with 41 over the previous three seasons and 3 already this year. The question is whether he'll eventually be chasing Derrick Henry. We'll see."
The history matters beyond the novelty. No quarterback has ever blended passing and rushing production so seamlessly to open a season, and the company Allen is now keeping — Dillon, Smith, and eventually Jackson and Henry on the rushing charts — reflects how singular his skill set has become. The debut also marked a statement for head coach Joe Brady, who has leaned on Allen as the engine of a retooled offense built to compete deep into January.
Where Things Stand Now
With the victory, the Bills improved to 2-0 and hold sole possession of first place in the AFC East. The start reinforces Buffalo's standing as one of the early favorites in the conference, even as questions linger about a defense that was tested late in the season-opening win over Houston.
For now, the story belongs to Allen and the stadium he helped christen. Through two weeks, the quarterback has authored a start that places him squarely at the front of the early MVP conversation.
What's Next for Allen and the Bills
Buffalo will look to keep its perfect start intact as the early-season schedule continues. For Allen, every additional rushing touchdown pushes him further up the all-time list, and every passing score adds to a résumé that already has no peer among quarterbacks. If the first two weeks are any indication, the Bills' new home could witness a season for the history books.
Key Takeaways From Buffalo's Historic Home Opener
- Buffalo beat Detroit 41-31 in the first game at the new Highmark Stadium, improving to 2-0.
- Josh Allen accounted for five touchdowns and threw for 248 yards.
- Allen's 1-yard run was the first touchdown in the new stadium and his 82nd career rushing TD.
- He is the first player in NFL history with 5+ passing TDs and 3+ rushing TDs through two games, and the first since 1960 with 3+ of each.
- Buffalo led 14-0 after one quarter and 27-10 at halftime.
