Michigan Sports

Bills’ stadium biggest star with Lions coming to Buffalo

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The new car smell of the Buffalo Bills’ Highmark Stadium has already worn off on Josh Allen a little more than a month since the gleaming $2.1 billion facility opened.

So excuse the quarterback for being part of a small minority in declining to buy into the heightened anticipation felt around town of the Bills hosting the Detroit Lions in the first regular-season game at their new home tonight.

“We’ve already been in there a couple of times,” Allen said, referring to Buffalo’s two preseason outings, plus three practice sessions. “I get the same feeling (of excitement) regardless of what stadium we’re playing in. So the goal’s the goal, and that’s to go 1-0 (this week).”

However much Allen wants to downplay the moment, the game has a primetime stage and features numerous musical acts, including OneRepublic’s halftime performance, and two of the NFL’s most potent offenses.

The Bills even rolled out a new carpet by resodding the entire grass field after it showed signs of wear and tear last month.

“It’s a lot more firm,” right tackle Spencer Brown said.

Buffalo is coming off a season-opening 36-31 win at Houston, in which Allen accounted for all four touchdowns, and sealed the victory with his 26th career game-winning drive.

Detroit, meantime, opened with a 31-30 overtime win against New Orleans, in which Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown each scored twice, and the outcome was decided on the Saints’ failed 2-point attempt.

Both teams are facing a short turnaround, but the Lions in particular know they’ll have to contend with a raucous environment.

If Bills games were loud at their old home which now lies in rubble across the street, the new facility has a vertical seating arrangement and a canopy designed to project the clamor to near-deafening levels on the field.

“I’m going to tell the guys, especially young players, just drink it in,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said.

“It’s a new environment, and this is the first one in that place, the christening,” he added. “That’s stuff you never forget. You’re telling your grandkids one day, so enjoy this.”

Injury update

The Lions will be without two starting offensive linemen tonight, ruling out rookie offensive tackle Blake Miller and guard Christian Mahogany with injuries.

Cornerback D.J. Reed was questionable on the injury report Wednesday.

Miller was drafted No. 17 overall after not missing a game at Clemson. He played through a knee injury during his NFL debut in an overtime win over New Orleans on Sunday. Mahogany was hurt early in the game against the Saints.

The Lions have veterans to fill in for Miller and Mahogany with Larry Borom and Ben Bartch.

Need to know

Detroit (1-0) at Buffalo (1-0)

TV: 8:15 p.m., Amazon Prime

Latest odds: Bills by 4 1/2

Last meeting: Bills beat the Lions 48-42 on Dec. 15, 2024, in Detroit.

Series record: Bills lead 8-4-1.

Matchup to watch

The Bills run defense versus Gibbs. Buffalo allowed 124 yards rushing to the Texans, with Gibbs’ former backfield mate, David Montgomery, finishing with 60 yards and three scores, including one receiving. Gibbs had 156 yards rushing, plus five catches for 30 yards. Though the Bills have changed coordinators with Jim Leonhard taking over, their run-stopping issues have yet to be corrected from last season, when Buffalo allowed 150 or more yards rushing seven times.