Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR) - The Buffalo Bills will look to win their second game in-a-row to start the 2026 season when they host the Detroit Lions in the regular season debut of the new Highmark Stadium on Thursday night.
Here are my three keys to the games, plus notes and stats:
Detroit, Mich. - Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs carries the football against the New Orleans Saints at Ford Field on Sept. 13, 2026. Gregory Shamus - Getty Images
1.) Slow down Jahmyr Gibbs
Gibbs was sensational in the Lions’ opening week 31-30 overtime win over the New Orleans Saints, carrying the ball 29 times for 156 yards and catching another five passes (on all five targets thrown his way) for an additional 30 yards.
The Lions know the Bills have a very explosive offense, and would love to limit their chances by controlling the game with Gibbs and opening up their own explosive passing game themselves.
The Bills have to start by slowing him and their running game down, especially on early downs.
Houston, Texas - Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen passes the ball against the Houston Texans during the third quarter of a game at Reliant Stadium on Sept. 13, 2026. Tim Warner - Getty Images
2.) Keep attacking
Last week, quarterback Josh Allen's average length of pass through the air to his target was 13.21 yards, far-and-away the most in the NFL. He threw the ball down the field often, and was very successful doing it, completing 20-of-29 passes for 334 yards and a pair of touchdowns. One was a 43-yard pass, and the other a 34-yarder.
That should continue to be the recipe against a Lions defense that is banged up in the secondary, and allowed 410 yards through the air to Saints quarterback Tyler Shough.
Houston, Texas - Buffalo Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard celebrates a fumble recovery during the fourth quarter of a game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium on Sept. 13, 2026. Alex Slitz - Getty Images
3.) Defensive communication
Last week against the Texans, there were too many communication breakdowns by the Bills defense, especially in the secondary.
Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard acknowledged that this week, and said the issues are “correctable.”
With several players missing time in training camp and the preseason, their time on task together certainly contributed to that. But they’ll need to get those issues corrected quickly, especially considering the crowd at Highmark Stadium will be incredibly loud when the Bills defense is on the field, forcing them to have a lot of non-verbal communication before the snap.
NOTES AND STATS:
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