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5 players who powered Bills' victory over Lions in new Highmark opener

The Bills have scored 77 points in two games so far thanks to the help of these 5 players.
ByJamie Malloy
Sep 17, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA;  Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs against the Detroit Lions during the first half at New Highmark Stadium.  Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
Sep 17, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs against the Detroit Lions during the first half at New Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

With the Buffalo Bills defeating the Detroit Lions in their first home game at the new Highmark Stadium, Joe Brady became the first Bills head coach to start 2-0 in his first season.

There were many players who helped contribute to Joe Brady's accomplishment and made the night a real success. From coaches to players to fans, everyone played their role in helping the Bills earn their third straight 2-0 start to the season.

Let's take a look at the five outstanding players who gave it their all to lead the Bills to their first win in their brand-new stadium.

5 players who outplayed Lions to give Bills the 41-31 win

1.) QB Josh Allen

There's a reason why this new stadium is known as "The House that Josh Built." He scored five touchdowns: three of those were passes, and two were rushing touchdowns of his own, while completing 20 of 31 passes for 248 yards and rushing for 69 yards on 14 attempts.

He now has 83 career rushing touchdowns, which ties him with Hall of Fame running back Jim Taylor for 18th overall.

2.) RB James Cook

James Cook led the Bills' rushing attack with 21 carries for 135 yards and a touchdown. He's picking up right where he left off last year, when he won the NFL rushing title with 1,621 rushing yards.

The powerful back outperformed Lions star running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who was held to just 16 carries for 52 yards and proved why his contract was a steal, whereas Gibbs was recently named the game's highest-paid running back.

3). TE Dalton Kincaid

The fourth-year tight end is already on a new level after two games this season. After putting up 130 yards receiving against the Houston Texans, Dalton Kincaid piled up 7 catches for 95 yards and a touchdown.

If he stays healthy for 17 games, he will finally be able to clip 1,000 yards receiving for the first time in his career. The 6-foot-4, 246-pound athlete looks like a man on a mission this season and is starting to show why the Bills kept four tight ends on the roster and no fullback.

4.) WR Keon Coleman

Keon Coleman deserves all the flowers so far this season for maturing into a serious, hard worker, while blending his natural talent with a big-bodied, physical receiver. When D.J. Moore was ruled out with a shoulder injury, the 6-foot-3, 213-pound athlete stepped up big time, catching 6 passes for 63 yards and coming through in the clutch with key first downs throughout the game.

It's really nice to see a new version of the speedy receiver as the Bills play in a new stadium. Will it lead to new beginnings for Coleman?

5.) OLB Greg Rousseau

Greg Rousseau has really stepped his game up since the Bills switched to this aggressive multiple 3-4 defensive scheme. After tallying 2 sacks and a fourth-quarter fumble recovery against the Texans, Rousseau had another dominant performance this week, sacking Lions quarterback Jared Goff twice.

He is the first Bills player since Mario Williams in 2013 to have the most sacks in the team's first two games.

Honorable Mention - Bills Mafia

None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the Bills Mafia. They took advantage of this new facility's loudness, from when Allen first ran out of the tunnel during introductions to when the Bills made those critical third-down stops late in the fourth quarter.

While the fans were loud at the old stadium, the new stadium takes the noise and the buzz to another level, like being at the Super Bowl but for every week of the regular season. Imagine if the Bills end up hosting their first playoff game here, how the building will really shake by then.

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