Josh Allen is back dominating primetime games.
The Buffalo Bills cruised past the Detroit Lions 41-31 on Thursday Night Football to open Week 2 at the new Highmark Stadium. The Lions scored a late touchdown to flatter the scoreboard. Allen and Co. moved to 2-0 while Detroit dropped to 1-1.
Buffalo opened the game on fire, going up 21-0 before ending the first half with a 27-10 advantage as Detroit tacked on a last-second field goal. Allen erupted with four total touchdowns in the half, running in the first before tossing the next three.
Detroit gave a much better fight in the second, but the game was practically wrapped up at the interval.
Let’s analyze the Week 2 opener further with winners and losers:
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WINNER: Josh Allen, Bills
It was another MVP-level performance from Buffalo’s star QB1. Allen went off for 248 passing yards, three touchdowns and no picks on 20 of 31 completions. He forced a few easy ones that went incomplete, but this was prime Allen.
He also ran for 69 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns, though those numbers were decreased with three QB kneels. Allen just has to turn in these types of games in the playoffs.
LOSER: Lions’ defense
A week after Tyler Shough went off for 410 passing yards and three touchdowns for New Orleans, Buffalo helped answer some questions — maybe Detroit’s defense has regressed. Going down 21-0 with minimal pushback was quite telling, as players looked all out of sorts and lacked energy.
Things settled a bit in the second half, but Allen and Co. still generally got what they wanted whenever they wanted it. Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard will be under some pressure to turn the tide.
WINNER: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions
Detroit’s offense kept it in the game, otherwise the scoreline would’ve been much worse. After having a poor first half, Detroit’s WR1 stepped up in the second to help gain some much-needed momentum.
St. Brown finished the game with nine catches on 13 targets for 142 yards and two touchdowns, including the late fourth-quarter score. Still, every target that went his way felt like money. Jared Goff threw for 327 yards and four scores, with the final drive helping pad his numbers.
LOSER: DJ Moore, Bills
On the opposite sideline, Buffalo lost one of its new wideout acquisitions due to a shoulder injury. A low throw in the end zone by Allen resulted in Moore being landed on hard early on, and he could no longer continue.
He did not have a target in the game before the injury, but had one rush for minus-one yard. Fortunately for Buffalo, Keon Coleman showed his potential with six catches on six targets for 63 yards, including some key ones late to ice the game.
WINNER: New stadium vibes
The game marked Buffalo’s first in its new Highmark Stadium that features a total capacity of 66,000 and a much taller bowl shape. It’s a decrease from the previous venue’s capacity, but the overall vibes of the stadium definitely felt like a modern upgrade.
And what better way to celebrate it with a debut win.
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