The Buffalo Bills open their new Highmark Stadium on Thursday night against the Detroit Lions in the first Thursday Night Football game of the season. Both teams are 1-0 after one-score NFL Odds wins. Buffalo beat Houston 36-31 on the road. Detroit beat New Orleans 31-30 in overtime after blowing a 21-point lead.
This is the first regular-season game in the new building. So the crowd and the setting will be part of the story. The Bills are a modest home favorite with a high total. Correlate that with the fact that the side and total odds match two offenses that just scored in the 30s.
Josh Allen and the Buffalo attack looked sharp against a good Houston defense. At the same time, Jared Goff and the Lions survived a collapse and still found a way to win.
Thursday nights after short weeks can flatten teams that just played physical games. Detroit had overtime as Buffalo traveled to Houston. Both staffs will try to stay aggressive anyway because neither offense looked like it wanted to slow down. Of course, the new venue should be loud. And the football should be fast. The question is which side handles the short week and the new stadium better once the first punch is thrown.
Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills NFL Betting Information
| Date and Time: | Thursday, September 17, 2026, 8:15 PM ET. |
|---|---|
| Location: | Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. |
| TV Coverage: | Amazon Prime Video |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions | +5½ ( -118 ) | 54½ ( -115 ) | +195 |  |
| Buffalo Bills | -5½ ( -108 ) | 54½ ( -111 ) | -243 | |
| ||||
The Detroit Lions visit the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, September 17, 2026. Kickoff is at 8:15 p.m. Eastern at the new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The Sportsbook Odds matchup airs on Amazon Prime Video as Thursday Night Football.
Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills Matchup Analysis
Both offenses just showed they can score on good defenses. Buffalo put 36 on Houston. Detroit put 31 on New Orleans even after giving away a three-score lead. The NFL Betting matchup will turn on whether either front seven can win first down on a short week. If the offensive lines hold, this stays a track meet. However, if one side gets tired or sloppy in the trenches, the other quarterback will take over.
Detroit’s problem is the short week after overtime. In addition to a road trip into a brand-new stadium that will be loud from the first snap. The Lions cannot afford another slow start. Especially after they already learned what happens when they sit on a lead.
On the other hand, Buffalo’s problem is whether the new field and the first primetime home game in the building create more energy than rust. Namely, Josh Allen at home in September is usually enough. It is not automatic after a physical road game four days earlier.
It is true that the spread treats Buffalo as the clearer home team without pretending Detroit’s offense disappears. The Detroit Lions can cover if they run the ball, protect Goff, and keep Allen from living in the middle of the field.
In sum, the Bills can cover if they score first and force Detroit to play from behind again. The matchup is two explosive offenses and two defenses that just gave up 30-plus. In turn, the hidden game is which offensive line lasts longer after a short week.
SBG Free Picks
To conclude, Buffalo as a three-and-a-half to four-and-a-half-point home favorite is a fair number for a new-stadium opener. But Detroit just survived overtime and still has the skill to keep this a one-score game. The Wise Guy lean is the Lions plus the points on a short week that cuts both ways. Assuming the short week turns it into a field-position slog, the under is the better lean.
SBG Best Bet: Detroit Lions and Under the Total.