Josh Allen turned the opening night of the new Highmark Stadium into a five-touchdown showcase, leading the Buffalo Bills to a 41-31 victory over the Detroit Lions on Thursday night.
Allen threw three touchdown passes and ran for two more as Buffalo controlled a game that was more one-sided than the final margin suggested. The Bills quarterback said the occasion hit him before kickoff while the American and Canadian national anthems were played.
Allen makes stadium history
Buffalo won the coin toss, chose to receive and immediately drove for a touchdown. Allen capped that first possession with a 1-yard rushing score, becoming the first player to reach the end zone in the Bills’ new home.
- Allen completed 20 of 31 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns.
- He carried 14 times for 69 yards and added two rushing touchdowns.
- His five total touchdowns included the first score ever recorded at the new Highmark Stadium.
- Allen now has four career games with at least three touchdown passes and two rushing touchdowns.
Kordell Stewart is the only other NFL player to produce multiple games with those passing and rushing touchdown thresholds, doing so twice in 1997. Stewart also had been the most recent quarterback to score the first touchdown in a new primary NFL stadium on a run, finding the end zone from 8 yards out when Heinz Field opened in 2001.
The first touchdown at Buffalo’s former stadium, then called Rich Stadium, came in 1973 when New York Jets receiver Jerome Barkum caught a 34-yard pass from Al Woodall.
Allen said he paused before the game to appreciate the setting and his role with the franchise. “I was trying to take it all in,” he said. “Being an NFL quarterback is what I always wanted, and I feel very fortunate that it brought me to Buffalo.”
Bills offense overwhelms Detroit
Buffalo’s offense piled up 446 yards, 34 first downs and 203 rushing yards while converting 9 of 12 third-down opportunities. James Cook led the ground attack with 135 yards and a touchdown.
The Bills also generated 248 yards through the air. Aside from two sacks of Allen, Buffalo had little trouble finding productive plays against a Detroit defense that has struggled during the opening two weeks.
- Buffalo rushed for 203 yards as a team.
- Cook accounted for 135 of those yards and scored once.
- The Bills moved the chains 34 times.
- Detroit managed only two sacks despite sending frequent pressure.
Buffalo’s offensive performance followed an impressive showing against Houston the previous week, when the Bills also handled a Texans defense expected to rank among the NFL’s stronger units.
Allen answers the blitz
Detroit defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard repeatedly tested Allen with pressure, blitzing on 55.3% of his dropbacks. It was the highest blitz rate used by the Lions under Sheppard and the third-highest rate Allen has faced in a game over the past five seasons.
Allen punished those calls. Against the blitz, he went 12-for-17 for 137 yards and two touchdowns, while adding two scrambles for 10 yards and another score.
Bills coach Joe Brady said taking possession first was intentional in such a significant environment. He said the staff wanted to establish control immediately, adding that positive results tend to follow when Allen has the football.
Palmer sees danger across the roster
Receiver Josh Palmer rejected the idea that Buffalo’s threat is limited to one position group after the club’s fast start.
“Every position is dangerous,” Palmer said. He pointed to the running backs, tight ends, wide receivers, offensive line and Allen, saying the entire unit presents problems for opponents.
With Allen operating efficiently against pressure, Cook powering the running game and Buffalo converting third downs at a high rate, the Bills gave their new stadium the kind of offensive debut that could set an early tone for the season.
