A slight chance of rain isn't expected to significantly affect Thursday night's Bills-Lions game at new Highmark Stadium.
Rain is possible Thursday night in Orchard Park, but forecasts currently call for only light precipitation and minimal wind during the Bills-Lions matchup.
The new Highmark Stadium doesn’t have a fully enclosed dome or retractable roof, but most fans (about 64%) should be protected by a canopy designed to shield them from rain, wind and snow. The Bills will also contend with a new playing surface, with the natural grass in place of artificial turf, when Jahmyr Gibbs and the Detroit Lions come to town.
Orchard Park weather for Lions vs. Bills game
The National Weather Service in Buffalo expects temperatures in the upper 60s at kickoff, with muggy conditions and a small chance
of rain for the duration. Wind shouldn’t be a factor, with light winds out of the west. Less than a tenth of an inch of precipitation is expected.
The AccuWeather forecast calls for more of the same, with high humidity, cloudy skies, a chance of rain and temperatures in the upper 60s. The forecast does predict slightly stronger winds out of the north by northwest, but still mild.
How Lions vs. Bills weather will impact odds, betting
The Bills are 4.5-point favorites in their home opener and the first game in their new digs. The over/under is set at 53.5 points, indicating a high-scoring romp between offenses capable of going blow-for-blow.
The high over/under suggests oddsmakers do not expect the forecast to significantly affect the Josh Allen and Jared Goff-led offenses. With wind expected at or below the average wind speed for an NFL game (7 mph), it shouldn’t play a role. Any rain, even light rain, can decrease passing production by around 12%, according to betting site Covers.
- The Buffalo Bills lead the all-time series against the Detroit Lions, 8-4-1. The last time the Bills and Lions met was a high-scoring affair in Detroit, with Buffalo winning 48-42 on Dec. 15, 2024, behind four Josh Allen touchdowns.
- Buffalo and Detroit play Thursday, Sept. 17 at 8:15 p.m. at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. The game will be broadcast on Amazon Prime. Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit will call the game with sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills vs. Lions weather forecast for Thursday Night Football game
