Josh Allen quickly put his stamp on the Buffalo Bills' new Highmark Stadium as he threw three touchdown passes and ran for two scores as the Bills beat the Detroit Lions 41-31 on Thursday night. It was Allen's fourth career five-TD outing, and followed a four-touchdown outing (two passing, two rushing) in Buffalo's 36-31 season-opening win at Houston. The $2.1bn stadium that officially opened last month was built across the street from the Bills' former home.
Allen followed the pre-game fireworks celebration with more fireworks of his own by overseeing touchdown drives on each of Buffalo's first four possessions. He scored the first regular-season TD in the stadium on a 1-yard run 5:51 into the opening quarter. He followed that with a 43-yard scoring pass to a wide-open Josh Palmer.
Tight ends Dalton Kincaid, with a 16-yard catch, and Dawson Knox, with a 1-yarder, also scored for Buffalo in the first half. Allen finished 20 of 31 for 248 yards, and added 72 yards rushing. James Cook had 134 yards rushing and put the game away with a 1-yard TD run with 2:50 left.
Allen's two rushing TDs upped his career total to 83, moving him into a tie for 18th on the NFL list with Jim Taylor. He also picked up his 90th regular-season victory, in becoming one of just four quarterbacks to reach that milestone through their first nine seasons. The Lions were undone by an injury depleted defense, and a banged-up offensive line that had difficulty opening holes for Jahmyr Gibbs and protecting Jared Goff.
After rallying from a 21-0 deficit to cut Buffalo's lead to 34-24, the Lions offense stalled midway through the fourth quarter. Backed up at their own 10, the Lions went three-and-out and forced to punt after Goff had two passes tipped by Deone Walker, and Gibbs was stopped for no gain. Goff finished 26 of 38 for 327 yards and four touchdowns, with Amon-Ra St.
Brown having nine catches for 142 yards and two scores. Gibbs also scored on an 11-yard catch but was limited to 52 yards rushing. Sam LaPorta also scored on a 1-yard catch.
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