After waiting months to see what the newest version of the Buffalo Bills would look like in action, fans have been treated to two regular-season games in the span of five days. With the Bills hosting the Detroit Lions for the first regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium in primetime for Thursday Night Football on Prime, there hasn’t been a ton of time to reflect on their game in Week 1.
So, what can we take away from Buffalo’s thrilling victory over the Houston Texans last Sunday? It’s clear
the offense is going to attack opponents, and it’s also likely that quarterback Josh Allen will need to orchestrate a large handful of points each game. That is, at least unless the running game finds easier sledding and the defense begins to click to the point that games don’t always feel like it’s a last-team-with-the-ball-wins situation.
Allen was incredible in Houston, and so was tight end Dalton Kincaid, and wide receivers DJ Moore. With a couple of real game-changing plays to claim strip sacks of quarterback C.J. Stroud, outside linebacker Greg Rousseau had one of the finest performances of his career.
What’s in store for Thursday Night Football? Here are a few bold predictions…
Josh Allen finishes with most total yards
Okay, maybe this isn’t such a bold prediction. But it’s not a given when you consider who’s on the Lions’ roster. The last time these teams squared off, quarterback Jared Goff led the way with the most total yards — going 38-of-59 for 494 yards and five touchdowns, plus two carries for 13 yards. Allen finished that game 23-of-34 for 362 yards and two touchdowns, adding 11 carries for 68 yards and two rushing scores.
Given the state of each team’s defensive roster for Week 2, I expect a shootout. This time, Allen shouldn’t have to rely on the underneath stuff so much, and I expect him to flirt or surpass the 400-yard mark. Detroit has some real concerns at safety with both starters there out of the lineup. In Week 1, quarterback Tyler Shough hit the Lions with a final statline of 35-of-56 for 410 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Allen is on a completely different level than Shough, and he often plays his best football in primetime. FanDuel Sportsbook currently has Josh Allen at +265 to throw for 300+ yards. With Allen in Week 2, you can wager all the way up to 375+ yards, which has him with +1200 odds.
This is all before considering what Allen brings to the table as a rusher. If you’re looking to really dive into the odds, Allen’s least-likely rushing yards wager in this game is at 40+ yards (+158). If, like in Week 1, the defense sets out to limit running back James Cook III, it’s possible Allen finds his way to the type of yardage he piled up the last time these teams met. It’s unlikely he leads the game in rushing, and that’s reflected in his +1900 yards to do it.
If anyone’s capable of pulling it all off in primetime, it’s Josh Allen.
Dalton Kincaid leads all receivers
In Week 1 Dalton Kincaid was unstoppable, a true matchup nightmare and a highly potent X-factor against Houston’s vaunted defense. Kincaid finished with five catches (6 targets) for 130 yards. Head coach Joe Brady called a game that asked Kincaid to play featured snaps way down the middle of the field, and also outside as a boundary receiver.
Kincaid is a tight end by trade, but he profiles like wide receiver with true size and speed. He’s very important to what the Bills intend to do in 2026, which is utilizing a heavy dose of 13 personnel.
Right now, FanDuel Sportsbook lists Kincaid with the fourth-best odds (+650) to finish Thursday night’s game with the most receiving yards. It’s not a guarantee, simply because we don’t have weeks of data to back up Kincaid’s potential as one of the NFL’s elite yardage receivers. Now the healthiest he’s been in several seasons, Kincaid may be ready for a truly breakout season.
Add in the aforementioned injury woes for Detroit’s starting safety tandem, and I believe Brady will look to test the defense with Kincaid the mismatch king. Interestingly, FanDuel lists Kincaid with only +230 odds to record a 30+ yard reception.
Add it all up, and that should mean another 100-plus yard receiving day and maybe the first touchdown of the season for Kincaid.
Greg Rousseau continues wrecking havoc
As discussed in this article’s intro, Rousseau was absolutely dynamite last Sunday. Claiming a strip-sack of Stroud on Houston’s opening drive of the game, and repeating the effort on the Texans’ last drive of regulation served as major turning points. It’s possible that without those two plays by Rousseau, the Bills struggle to win in Houston.
This will be just Rousseau’s second game at outside linebacker — ever in his NFL career. Yes, there’s now film on his work at the position, but Rousseau carries X-factor potential as a very large human being at outside linebacker.
FanDuel currently lists Rousseau with the second-best odds of recording a sack (-108), and I like him to push for a second. Rousseau hadn’t played this explosive ever in prior head coach Sean McDermott’s scheme. Now off the line a bit, his length and speed can be put to much better use. He might even find his way to another turnover or pass breakup.
The Lions’ injury woes have also decimated their starting offensive line. Bet on Groot to dominate Detroit Thursday night.
Think you’ve got what it takes to make a play with the Buffalo Bills in 2026? Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook now to put it to the test!
