The 2026 Detroit Lions schedule won't be fully released until Thursday, but one matchup is already locked in: the Lions will face the Buffalo Bills in Week 2. Amazon Prime announced Monday that Detroit will travel to Buffalo for a Thursday Night Football showdown on September 17.
This game marks a historic moment for the Bills as it will be their first contest at the newly constructed Highmark Stadium. The state-of-the-art venue, which has been under construction for roughly two years, is expected to seat over 60,000 fans. It's a fresh chapter for Buffalo, and the Lions will be the first to test the home-field advantage.
These two teams last clashed in December 2024, and it was nothing short of a thriller. Buffalo jumped out to an early lead and held on for a 48-42 shootout victory. Quarterbacks Jared Goff and Josh Allen put on a show, combining to complete 65.6% of their passes for 856 yards and seven touchdowns. Allen also added 68 rushing yards and two scores on the ground, as Detroit's depleted defense struggled to contain the eventual MVP.
History leans heavily in Buffalo's favor—the Bills have won five straight matchups against Detroit. The Lions' last victory over the Bills came way back in October 2006, when running back Kevin Jones rushed for 127 yards and Detroit's defense forced five turnovers in a 20-17 win.
Both teams have seen significant roster changes since their last meeting. Key Bills departures include offensive guard David Edwards (signed with the New Orleans Saints), cornerback Taron Johnson (traded to the Las Vegas Raiders), and safety Taylor Rapp (released). Edge defenders Nick Bosa and A.J. Epenesa remain free agents.
On the flip side, Buffalo made some splashy additions—headlined by wide receiver D.J. Moore, acquired in a trade with the Chicago Bears. Other newcomers include edge defenders Bradley Chubb (formerly of the Miami Dolphins) and Mike Danna (Kansas City Chiefs), along with safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson (Bears) and Geno Stone (Cincinnati Bengals).
The Bills' 2025 season ended with a playoff loss to the Denver Broncos on January 17, and the team parted ways with head coach Sean McDermott just two days later. Joe Brady, who served as Buffalo's offensive coordinator for the past two seasons, was promoted to replace him. Brady has assembled a new coaching staff, including Pete Carmichael (offense) and Jim Leonhard (defense), to lead the Bills into this new era.
With a revamped roster and a brand-new stadium, Week 2's Thursday night clash is shaping up to be a must-watch—and a true test for both teams.