Josh Allen's Five-Touchdown Night Christens New Highmark Stadium

The new Highmark Stadium got the kind of opening night Buffalo could only dream of, as Josh Allen accounted for five touchdowns to lead the Bills past the Lions 41-31 on Thursday Night Football in the venue's inaugural game.

Allen wasted no time making history, capping Buffalo's opening drive with a 1-yard touchdown run — the first points ever scored at the new stadium. He kept rolling from there, throwing touchdown passes of 43 yards to Josh Palmer, 1 yard to Dawson Knox and 16 yards to Dalton Kincaid in the first half alone, while adding a second rushing score. By halftime, Allen had piled up 164 passing yards on 12-of-19 accuracy, 40 rushing yards on four carries, and Buffalo had built a commanding 27-10 lead.

Detroit clawed back into contention in the second half behind its own high-powered offense, but the Lions never fully closed the gap, ultimately falling 41-31 in a game that felt every bit like a potential Super Bowl preview. Running back James Cook complemented Allen's night with a strong ground performance, and Buffalo's passing attack got extra juice from a big game out of the backfield through the air as well.

The win didn't come without cost for Buffalo. Defensive tackle Ed Oliver was ruled out with a hip injury suffered pregame and did not play. Wide receiver DJ Moore left with a shoulder injury and stinger and was evaluated on the sideline, while fellow receiver Keon Coleman battled through a right ankle injury, getting taped up before returning to the game.

For the Lions, it's a tough way to open their new-stadium road trip against a rival many expect them to see again in the postseason. Detroit's offense showed it can score with almost anyone, but the defense couldn't slow down Allen and a Bills team that looked every bit like an AFC favorite in its long-awaited stadium debut.

Buffalo moves to 2-0 on the young season with a signature win to show off in its new building, while Detroit will look to regroup and tighten up defensively heading into Week 3. Both teams will be watched closely as potential AFC and NFC contenders whose paths could easily cross again in January.

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