The Buffalo Bills opened their new Highmark Stadium with a 41-31 win over the Detroit Lions on Thursday night, giving the 60,000-plus crowd plenty to celebrate.
Fireworks kicked off the stadium’s first game before the Bills quickly took control, racing into a 21-0 lead and never allowing the Lions to get within striking distance.
The result moved Buffalo to 2-0 and made Joe Brady the first coach in franchise history to win his opening two games.
Allen scores five touchdowns
Allen admitted he became emotional during the national anthem while reflecting on what it meant to be the first quarterback to play in the new stadium.
“To be the first quarterback to open this stadium, it’s a special spot,” Allen said.
He then produced a performance worthy of the occasion, accounting for five touchdowns with three passing scores and two rushing touchdowns.
Allen opened the scoring with a one-yard rushing touchdown before finding Joshua Palmer for a 43-yard touchdown pass.
The noise continued throughout the night as James Cook and the Bills’ offence kept the pressure on Detroit.
Bills Mafia keeps its edge
Brady had said before the game that he did not want his players to simply put on a show for the stadium opener. Instead, he wanted them to “put on a clinic”.
The Bills did exactly that in the opening stages, with their 21-0 start helping turn the stadium debut into a party.
There had been questions over whether moving into a new stadium could affect Buffalo’s formidable home-field advantage, but Thursday’s scenes offered little evidence of that.
The old stadium now sits in ruins across the street, but many of the traditions that made the Bills’ former home so intimidating have followed them.
Fans continued to roar after every Allen pass and Cook run, while the familiar late-game singalong to “Mr. Brightside” also made an appearance.
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