Thursday Night Football: Bills vs. Lions — Time, Channel, Odds & Prediction

Week 2's Thursday Night Football slate delivers one of the season's marquee early matchups: the Buffalo Bills host the Detroit Lions, two teams many expect to be in the Super Bowl conversation come January.

It's also a historic night for Buffalo — this is the first-ever regular-season NFL game at the brand-new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.

What Time Is the Game Tonight?

• Date: Thursday, September 17
• Kickoff: 8:15 PM ET / 5:15 PM PT
• UK Viewers: Friday, September 18 at 1:15 AM BST
• Venue: Highmark Stadium (Orchard Park, New York)

What Channel Is Thursday Night Football On?

• US Streaming: Prime Video (exclusive home for TNF)
• International Streaming: DAZN
• Audio Broadcast: SiriusXM (Bills: Ch. 192 | Lions: Ch. 193 | National: Ch. 88)

Bills vs. Lions Odds

Per DraftKings Sportsbook:

Betting Note: Buffalo enters as the home favorite on a short week, with betting markets projecting a high-scoring affair between two explosive offenses.

How Both Teams Got Here

Both the Bills and Lions opened the season 1-0, though in very different fashion:

• Buffalo Bills: Needed a second-half push to defeat the Houston Texans 36-31. Josh Allen threw for over 300 yards and accounted for four total touchdowns (two passing, two rushing).
• Detroit Lions: Outlasted the New Orleans Saints in a 31-30 overtime thriller, securing the victory after forcing an unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt in OT.

Key Players to Watch

1. Josh Allen (Bills QB): Coming off a dominant 4-TD performance in Week 1, Allen remains the core engine of Buffalo's offense and one of the league's most dangerous dual-threat playmakers.
2. Jared Goff (Lions QB): Detroit's offense runs through Goff, who will be looking to lead a clean passing attack against a tough Bills front.
3. Amon-Ra St. Brown & Sam LaPorta (Lions): Detroit's primary receiving duo gives Goff elite reliability underneath and in the red zone; St. Brown is coming off a two-TD performance in Week 1.
4. James Cook (Bills RB): Adds balance to Buffalo’s high-flying attack, capable of taking pressure off Allen on the ground and out of the backfield.
5. Jahmyr Gibbs (Lions RB): A total dynamic threat coming off a 156-yard, 2-TD game against New Orleans.

Injury Report Notes

• Detroit Lions: Dealing with offensive line depth issues on a short week, alongside lingering concerns around guards and tackles. The backfield and secondary remain shorthanded with key depth pieces on IR and PUP lists.
• Buffalo Bills: Comparatively healthier entering Week 2, though fans and bettors should check final pre-game scratch lists 90 minutes prior to kickoff.

Prediction

With Buffalo debuting their state-of-the-art venue behind Josh Allen and a pass rush expected to bring heavy pressure on Goff, the Bills hold the edge at home. Expect a competitive, high-scoring battle with plenty of offensive fireworks, but Buffalo ultimately pulls away in the fourth quarter.

Projected Final Score: Bills 31, Lions 24