The Bills gave fans and the new Highmark Stadium a winning debut Thursday night, and Josh Allen made sure the first game in the building was a big one.
Buffalo's quarterback scored on a one-yard run on the game's opening drive, then finished with five total touchdowns in the 41-31 win over the Lions that lifted the Bills to 2-0.
In all he'd finish 20-for-31 (64.5%) for 248 yards with three passing touchdowns and 69 ground yards on 14 carries with two rushing scores against Detroit.
Per Pro Football Talk, Allen is now the first quarterback in league history to open a season with five touchdown passes and four rushing touchdowns across two games. It was also the fourth such game of his career with three scoring strikes through the air and a pair
on the ground.
And he did it with flu-like symptoms per his postgame interview with the NFL on Prime tv crew.
"I'm just trying to do my job and help this team win football games," the QB said when asked about them.
His play earned the recognition of his head coach as well.
“He put the team on his back in a lot of those situations,” Brady said. “He was outstanding today, the score reflects that.”
Allen said the significance of the game in the new Highmark Stadium home opener hit before the ball was even kicked off.
"I think at the national anthem, I caught myself like taking it all in and understanding my job is the coolest thing in the world," Allen said. "It's everything that I've ever wanted to be the quarterback of an NFL franchise. And I'm just very fortunate that I ended up here in Buffalo and got to be the first quarterback to open this stadium. It's a special spot."
Two games into the Joe Brady era, Buffalo is 2-0 and its quarterback is putting up NFL MVP-like numbers. And Brady has a front and center view from the sideline.
“The only difference is now I'm on the field watching it and it's actually kind of more amazing,” Brady added. “When you're in the box, you're seeing everything from a TV copy, and there's a lot of good to that, but you don't feel the emotion of it.”
“Anytime the ball's in his hands, good things happen,” Brady said. “Love that guy.”
The old stadium is gone, but the successes of recent seasons have transferred over, along with the late-game sing-along of "Mr. Brightside" and the energizing fan base of Bills Mafia.
In the end, even Brady was a little wowed.
"That place was electric," he said.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Bills' Josh Allen explains emotions during first game at Highmark Stadium
