The Buffalo Bills’ new Highmark Stadium hosted its first regular-season game Thursday night, and Josh Allen made sure it was memorable, throwing three touchdown passes and running for two more scores in a 41-31 win over the Detroit Lions.
Allen’s performance marked the fourth five-touchdown game of his career. It came a week after he threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more in a 36-31 season-opening win over the Houston Texans.
The $2.1 billion stadium, which officially opened last month, sits across the street from the Bills’ former home. Following a pregame fireworks show, Allen kept the momentum going by directing touchdown drives on each of Buffalo’s first four possessions, helping the Bills build a 27-10 halftime lead.
Running back James Cook added 134 yards rushing and sealed the win with a 1-yard touchdown run with just under three minutes left in the game.
Allen’s two rushing touchdowns brought his career total to 83, tying him for 18th on the NFL’s all-time list with Jim Taylor. He also picked up his 90th regular-season win, making him one of only four quarterbacks to reach that mark within their first nine seasons.
Detroit’s defense, already thinned by injuries, struggled to contain the Bills, while an injury-affected offensive line had trouble creating running lanes for Jahmyr Gibbs or protecting quarterback Jared Goff.
The Lions clawed back from a 21-0 hole to trail 34-24, but their offense stalled in the fourth quarter. Pinned at their own 10-yard line, Detroit went three-and-out after Goff had two passes tipped by Deone Walker and Gibbs was stopped for no gain.
Goff completed 26 of 38 passes for 327 yards and four touchdowns. Amon-Ra St. Brown caught nine passes for 142 yards and two scores. Gibbs, held to 52 rushing yards, scored on an 11-yard reception, and Sam LaPorta added a 1-yard touchdown catch.
A Stadium Built for Buffalo Winters
Despite being open-air, Highmark Stadium was engineered to handle the region’s harsh weather. Underground heating coils keep the natural-grass field from freezing, and roof sensors detect snowfall to trigger what is described as the world’s largest stadium snow-melt system.
A 360-degree canopy will also shield most fans from the wind. The stadium seats 60,108 people, about 10,000 fewer than the Bills’ previous home.
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