BUFFALO — Josh Allen fittingly scored the first touchdown in the Buffalo Bills' brand-new Highmark Stadium, powering Buffalo to a 41-31 win over the Detroit Lions in the inaugural game at the $2.2 billion venue on Thursday night.
Buffalo got the ball first and Allen went right to work. He rushed for 40 yards on the opening drive, including a 14-yard run from the Lions' 15-yard line, then finished the march with a 1-yard quarterback sneak for a 7-0 lead and the first points in the new building.
Allen kept rolling on the Bills' second drive, hitting Joshua Palmer wide open down the middle for a 43-yard touchdown pass and a 14-0 advantage. The former NFL MVP eventually accounted for five scores in the 41-31 romp over the Lions, a game that wasn't as close as the final score indicated.
Unless Thurman Thomas or Andre Reed was coming out of retirement, Allen was the perfect player to make history. One of the greatest players in Bills history, he made sure he played in the first preseason game in the new stadium last month and called his own number again for the historic first touchdown.
The new Highmark Stadium provided a great atmosphere for the Thursday night debut. On a historic night in Western New York, Allen delivered the moment everyone in attendance will remember.