Our Lions vs Bills prediction favours Buffalo as the new Highmark Stadium stages its first regular-season game. Squawka Signal’s live read on the game updates on this page through the week.
Two 1-0 teams, and two wins that could hardly have looked less alike. The Buffalo Bills scored 36 on Houston from 52 plays and under 24 minutes of possession. The Detroit Lions ground out 31-30 at New Orleans across almost 37 minutes and 33 carries.
Detroit Lions @ Buffalo Bills
Detroit LionsWin prob33%
Buffalo BillsWin prob67%Squawka Signal is our model’s read, updated after every result — not betting advice. How the NFL Signal works. 19+ (18+ in AB/MB/QC). Please play responsibly. ConnexOntario: 1-866-531-2600 (ON). Full T&Cs & geo-restrictions apply: bet365.
Lions vs Bills: our editor’s props
Two editorial calls to sit alongside the live Signal numbers on this page.
AT 
Our props
An editorial call, not a Signal model output. 19+ (18+ in AB, MB and QC). Please play responsibly.
Lions vs Bills: 2026 form so far
One game each, so treat the table as an opening sketch. What it does show is two very different routes to the same record.
| 2026 season to date | Lions | Bills |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| Points for | 31 | 36 |
| Points against | 30 | 31 |
| Point differential | +1 | +5 |
| Total yards | 369 | 409 |
| Yards per play | 5.1 | 7.9 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Third-down offence | 38.5% | 33.3% |
| Red-zone offence | 80.0% | 33.3% |
| Sacks recorded | 5 | 3 |
| Opponent passer rating | 87.6 | 106.7 |
Buffalo’s 7.9 yards a play was the more eye-catching number, and they turned the ball over not once. Detroit, meanwhile, won the possession battle by more than 13 minutes.
Lions vs Bills injury report and team news
Buffalo move into the new Highmark Stadium for the first time in the regular season, a 60,108-seat replacement for the ground across the road.
This section updates as soon as the Out, Doubtful and Questionable tags land. Thursday fixtures compress the practice week, so designations arrive late.
Detroit LionsBuffalo BillsThe matchup that settles it: Buffalo’s efficiency against Detroit’s clock
Buffalo needed 52 plays to score 36 points. Detroit needed 73 to score 31, and that gap in efficiency is the game in a sentence.
Detroit’s answer is possession. Thirty-three carries and 36:51 with the ball kept a 469-yard New Orleans offence at arm’s length, and Jahmyr Gibbs took 29 of those carries.
Detroit’s pass defence is the vulnerability, having conceded 410 yards on Sunday. Josh Allen, by contrast, was sacked twice all afternoon and gave nothing away.
Players to watch
- Jahmyr Gibbs (DET, RB): 29 carries for 156 yards and two touchdowns in the opener.
- Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET, WR): Ten catches and two touchdowns against New Orleans.
- Josh Allen (BUF, QB): 334 passing yards at a 130.5 rating, plus two rushing scores.
- Dalton Kincaid (BUF, TE): Five catches for 130 yards, the highest total on either side.
How to watch Lions vs Bills
The game kicks off at 8:15 PM ET on Thursday, September 17, which is 7:15 PM CT and 5:15 PM PT. TSN has the English-language broadcast and RDS the French. DAZN carries every game of the season for Canadian viewers. Squawka may earn a commission if you subscribe through that link.
| Detail | Lions vs Bills |
|---|---|
| Date | Thursday, September 17, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 8:15 PM ET / 7:15 PM CT / 5:15 PM PT |
| Venue | Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY |
| TV | TSN (English) / RDS (French) |
| Live stream | DAZN (NFL Game Pass) / TSN app |
| Week | Week 2, 2026 NFL season |
Lions vs Bills prediction and score projection
Our Lions vs Bills prediction is a Buffalo win, 30-24. The Bills are the more efficient side and the new stadium should help.
Detroit can shorten the game through Gibbs, which keeps it within a score. Signal’s live number updates on this page through the week.
Every fixture in the round is covered across our NFL hub, and Signal rates every Week 2 game the same way. Compare the AFC Championship odds and NFC Championship odds as the season develops, and our guide to watching the NFL in Canada covers every window.
Lions vs Bills FAQ
Buffalo, at home. Both are 1-0, though the Bills needed only 52 plays to score 36 points in their opener.
8:15 PM ET on Thursday, September 17, which is 7:15 PM CT and 5:15 PM PT.
TSN has the English-language broadcast and RDS the French. DAZN carries it as a stream.
It is the first regular-season game there. Buffalo opened the season in Houston.
19+ (18+ in AB, MB and QC) | Please play responsibly | ConnexOntario: 1-866-531-2600 (ON) | Signal probabilities approximate at time of writing and subject to change