Josh Allen accounts for five TDs as Bills beat Lions 41-31 in new stadium opener
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.
Josh Allen accounted for five touchdowns, three passing and two rushing, and the Buffalo Bills beat the Detroit Lions 41-31 on Sept. 18 in the opener at the Bills’ new stadium. The Bills improved to 2-0 while Detroit fell to 1-1. Allen opened the scoring with a 1-yard run and later added a 2-yard rushing touchdown that helped put Buffalo ahead in the third quarter. The game featured multiple lead changes and big plays from both offenses.
Allen threw touchdown passes to Joshua Palmer, Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid and also scored on short rushing attempts. The extra-point attempt after Kincaid’s score failed, while Tyler Bass converted other PATs and field-goal attempts for Buffalo. James Cook III added a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter as the Bills pulled away. Buffalo sustained several long drives that set up scoring opportunities throughout the game.
Jared Goff connected on four touchdown passes for Detroit, finding Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta and Amon-Ra St. Brown twice. Jake Bates capped the first half with a 31-yard field goal as time expired to keep the Lions within striking distance. St. Brown’s 27-yard touchdown with 1:42 remaining narrowed the gap but Detroit could not complete a comeback. The Lions finished with 31 points and multiple long scoring drives but trailed after Buffalo’s late fourth-quarter touchdown.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Buffalo made a statement in its home opener as Allen delivered a five-touchdown performance that Detroit could not match. Detroit’s offense produced big plays and 31 points, but the Lions fell short against a balanced Bills attack that converted short-yardage chances. Buffalo will carry momentum into the next week with a 2-0 start while Detroit must address defensive gaps after surrendering multiple touchdowns to the opposing quarterback. The Bills’ new stadium hosted a convincing offensive showcase that highlighted Allen’s dual-threat ability.