Our Lions vs Bills prediction leans to Buffalo in a meeting of two 1-0 teams who won their openers in opposite ways. Thursday night is also the first regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium. Squawka Signal’s live read on this game, including where the value sits, updates on this page through the week.
The Detroit Lions needed almost 37 minutes of possession and 33 carries to edge New Orleans 31-30. The Buffalo Bills needed 52 plays and under 24 minutes to put 36 on Houston. Consequently the question is whether Detroit can dictate the terms a second week running.
Detroit Lions @ Buffalo Bills
Detroit LionsSquawka33%Market34%▬ Fair
Buffalo BillsSquawka67%Market66%▬ FairSquawka Signal is our model’s read against devigged market prices, updated after every result — not betting advice. How the NFL Signal works. 21+. Play responsibly. Full T&Cs & geo-restrictions apply: Kalshi, Polymarket, ProphetX.
Lions vs Bills: our editor’s props
Two editorial calls to sit alongside the live Signal numbers on this page.
AT Our props
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Lions vs Bills: 2026 form so far
One game is a small sample, so read the table as a starting point rather than a settled picture. Even so, the shape of each win is instructive.
| 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 offense | 38.5% | 33.3% |
| Red-zone offense | 80.0% | 33.3% |
| Sacks recorded | 5 | 3 |
| Opponent passer rating | 87.6 | 106.7 |
Buffalo averaged 7.9 yards a play to Detroit’s 5.1, and did not turn the ball over. Detroit, by contrast, 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. Thursday night is its opener.
This section updates as soon as the Out, Doubtful and Questionable tags land. Practice reports for a Thursday game arrive on a compressed schedule, so the picture firms up late.
Detroit LionsBuffalo BillsWhere Lions vs Bills is decided
Detroit’s pass defense is the obvious pressure point. New Orleans threw for 410 yards against them, and Tyler Shough is not Josh Allen. Buffalo’s quarterback added two rushing touchdowns of his own in Houston.
The counter is Jahmyr Gibbs, who carried 29 times in the opener. Detroit ran 33 times in total and held the ball for 36:51, which is how they kept a 469-yard New Orleans offense at arm’s length.
Detroit’s front did land five sacks and two interceptions, so the pass rush is real. Nevertheless Buffalo gave up only two sacks and no turnovers in Week 1.
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 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Prime Video carries it in the United States. Additionally it is the only game of the night, so there is no competing window.
| 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 | Prime Video |
| Live stream | Prime Video / NFL Game Pass (DAZN) |
| Week | Week 2, 2026 NFL season |
Lions vs Bills prediction and score projection
Our Lions vs Bills prediction is a Buffalo win, 30-24. Allen against a secondary that has just conceded 410 yards is the cleanest edge on the card.
Detroit will move the ball and will run it, and Gibbs is good enough to keep this close. Ultimately, though, the live win probability 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.
Lions vs Bills FAQ
Buffalo, at home. Both teams are 1-0, but the Bills averaged 7.9 yards a play in their opener against Detroit’s 5.1. The live win probability updates on this page through the week.
8:15 PM ET on Thursday, September 17, which is 7:15 PM CT and 5:15 PM PT.
Prime Video has the game in the United States. NFL Game Pass on DAZN carries it internationally.
It is the first regular-season game there. Buffalo opened the season in Houston, so Thursday night is the new ground’s regular-season debut.
21+ | Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER | Signal probabilities and odds approximate at time of writing and subject to change