Week 2 of the NFL season gets underway with a blockbuster Thursday Night Football matchup as the Detroit Lions travel to Orchard Park to face the Buffalo Bills. Both teams enter the contest at 1-0 after surviving high-scoring thrillers in Week 1, while the Bills will have the added motivation of playing the first regular-season game at the newly rebuilt Highmark Stadium.
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NFL Week 2 Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills Betting Tips
10:15am AEST, Friday September 18
Buffalo Bills
Buffalo were pushed all the way by Houston in Week 1 but eventually escaped with a 36-31 victory behind another excellent performance from Josh Allen. The Bills quarterback threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns while adding another two scores on the ground, with D.J. Moore and Dalton Kincaid both producing 100-yard receiving performances.
The bigger concern comes defensively after Buffalo gave up 31 points against the Texans, and that unit now faces another difficult assignment against Detroit. However, the Bills should have opportunities to generate pressure against a Lions offensive line missing starting guard Christian Mahogany and right tackle Blake Miller, while the combination of Allen, Moore, Kincaid and James Cook gives Buffalo plenty of ways to attack a Detroit defence that struggled badly in Week 1.
Detroit Lions
Detroit also had to work for its opening victory, requiring overtime to edge New Orleans 31-30. Jahmyr Gibbs was the star of the show with 156 rushing yards and two touchdowns from 29 carries, while Amon-Ra St. Brown hauled in 10 receptions and two touchdowns as the Lions leaned heavily on two of their biggest offensive weapons.
There were some warning signs defensively, however, with Detroit allowing New Orleans to pile up yards through the air during its second-half comeback. The Lions remain short-handed in the secondary, while cornerback D.J. Reed is questionable with a foot injury. That is hardly ideal preparation for a trip to Buffalo and a matchup against Allen, particularly after the Bills quarterback immediately clicked with his new receiving weapons in Week 1.
Prediction
Detroit possesses enough offensive firepower to make this competitive, particularly with Gibbs facing a Buffalo run defence that struggled throughout last season. However, the matchup on the other side of the football is difficult to overlook. Allen threw for 334 yards in the opener and now faces a Lions defence that surrendered 30 points to New Orleans and enters the short week with further concerns in the secondary.
Buffalo should also have opportunities to disrupt Goff behind Detroit's depleted offensive line, with two starters already ruled out. Throw in the emotion surrounding the first regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium and there is plenty pointing towards Buffalo. The Lions can score enough to hang around, but the Bills look capable of pulling away late and covering the line at home.
Buffalo Bills -5.5
$1.90(2 Units)
Player Prop
Josh Allen Over 250.5 Passing Yards
Allen wasted little time getting going in 2026, completing 69% of his passes for 334 yards and two touchdowns against Houston despite facing one of the NFL's strongest defences from last season. The arrival of D.J. Moore has added another genuine difference-maker to the Buffalo passing attack, while Dalton Kincaid opened the season with 130 receiving yards. Detroit enters this matchup short-handed in the secondary and gave New Orleans plenty of opportunities through the air in Week 1, making this an excellent spot for Allen to once again push beyond 250 passing yards.
Josh Allen Over 275+ Passing Yds
$2.00 (1.5 Units)
