Fans of high-powered offense should be well catered for as Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season kicks off with a Thursday night match-up between the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions.
In what is arguably the best game of the entire week, the spotlight will be on the Bills, who are the +400 favorites to win the AFC this season, as they play their first regular-season game at their new $2 billion Highmark Stadium.
Both teams are 1-0 after the Bills beat the Houston Texans 36-31 on the road last week, while the Lions were made to sweat at home against the New Orleans Saints in their opener but the visitors failed with a two-point conversion attempt in overtime and Dan Campbell's team hung on to win 31-30.
Over 54.5 points (-120)
The best bet on this game is to expect a great game and back a high points total. Both these teams came firing out of the starting blocks, scoring 67 points between them in Week 1, but they also conceded a combined 61 points to the Texans and Saints and their defences both face tougher challenges this week.
It could be a thrilling track meet with both teams moving the ball freely after the Bills allowed four different Houston receivers to record catches of 20-plus yards on them, while the Lions gave up 410 passing yards to New Orleans' Tyler Shough, who is not in the same league as Buffalo QB Josh Allen.
The last meeting between these teams certainly fitted that description as the Bills won 48-42 in Detroit in 2024 and while a repeat of that might be too much to ask for, a game with both teams capable of scoring 30 points looks realistic.
The Bills look the better side of the spread for those considering a bet in that market, particularly after the Lions almost let a 21-point lead slip in their first game at home and with the home crowd expected to be fired-up on a big night for the team.
With running back James Cook an often underrated star of the Buffalo offence while tight end Dalton Kincaid led the team last week with 130 receiving yards against the Texans, the Bills have plenty of weapons that can turn this into a memorable game.
DJ Moore over 61.5 receiving yards (-115)
The initial returns from Buffalo's off-season trade with the Bears to bring in wide receiver DJ Moore were very promising as he had a 100-yard game against the Texans including a 43-yard touchdown.
Moore was brought in to become the leading wide receiver for Allen and their partnership looks set to blossom as the former Bear was targeted a team-high eight times in Houston.
Against a Lions defence who allowed New Orleans' WR1 Chris Olave to make 10 catches for 182 yards last week, Moore should be hopeful of gaining at least 62 to exceed his receiving yards line in his second Bills appearance.
CJ Gardner-Johnson over 3.5 tackles (-110)
Like Moore, safety CJ Gardner-Johnson was right in the thick of the action in his debut for the Bills against the Texans last week.
CJGJ is playing for his seventh different NFL team in a career that included a spell with the Lions in 2023 but he was joint-first on the Buffalo box score for solo tackles against Houston with six (plus two assists) and could add at least four more to his tally on Thursday night.
The Lions will look to get the ball downfield quickly, looking for Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St Brown in particular, and that should bring free safety Gardner-Johnson into action regularly.
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Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills odds
Detroit Lions | +195 |
Buffalo Bills | -240 |
Spread | BUF Bills -5.5 |
Total Points | O/U 54.5 |
Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills
Anytime touchdown
Jahmyr Gibbs (DET Lions) | -270 |
James Cook (BUF Bills) | -150 |
Josh Allen (BUF Bills) | -135 |
Amon-Ra St Brown (DET Lions) | +115 |
DJ Moore (BUF Bills) | +160 |
Dalton Kincaid (BUF Bills) | +180 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
