The Bills may have found the kind of matchup that can reveal a lot about their pass rush, and Thursday night against Detroit looks like the perfect test.
Buffalo flashed plenty of teeth in its 36-31 win over the Houston Texans, with Greg Rousseau, Deone Walker and Ed Oliver all delivering dominant stretches. That showing gave the Bills something to build on in Week 2, and now they get a Lions front that is missing key pieces.
Detroit’s final injury report ruled out two starting offensive linemen for Thursday Night Football: left guard Christian Mahogany, who is dealing with a hip injury, and right tackle Blake Miller, who is out with a knee injury. Both were hurt in the Lions’ Week 1 overtime win over the New Orleans Saints. Starting center Cade Mays is also unavailable because of a wrist injury suffered at training camp.
With those absences, Detroit is expected to turn to Ben Bartch at left guard, Juice Scruggs at center and Larry Borom at right tackle.
And it’s not just the line. The Lions will also be without their starting safeties, Brian Branch and Kirby Joseph, along with backup running back Isiah Pacheco.
That leaves Detroit down three members of what was projected to be its starting lineup over the summer, and it puts even more pressure on Jared Goff to operate behind a patched-together front. Buffalo defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard already admitted he pulled back on his pressure calls in Week 1 after C.J. Stroud found success against the rush.
“When we were pressuring in the pass game, it didn’t necessarily help us,” Leonhard said on sending pressure against the Texans. “I thought it was inconsistent because we didn’t necessarily play as clean when we pressured. And they did a good job of playing on rhythm and on timing.”
Thursday night could be a very different kind of game plan. Don’t be surprised if Leonhard and the Bills come after Detroit’s depleted offensive line early and often in primetime.
In Other News...
Bills Fans Get A Wild New Game Day Twist For Lions Opener
Bills fans heading into the season opener against the Detroit Lions will find a new concession item waiting for them at Highmark Stadium: an exclusive reusable beer horn that comes packed with a 16 oz. Labatt Blue or Labatt Blue Light can. The item will be sold for $30 and available only until kickoff, adding another bit of novelty to a day already carrying extra weight as the first regular-season game at the Bills new stadium.
The offer is limited to fans 21 and older, and it fits the kind of game-day atmosphere Buffalo has long leaned into, especially when the building is set for such a milestone moment. Beyond the souvenir appeal, the opener still has the more important football backdrop, with the Bills looking to start their home era at Highmark Stadium the right way and move to 2-0 in the new season. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allen Was Furious Over How Bills Teammates Family Tragedy Went Public
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Josh Allen later addressed how the news became public, and his frustration was clear. The Buffalo quarterback thanked the people who respected the familys privacy, but he also made it known that he was angry about the information being leaked before the family was ready to share it, a reminder that even around an NFL locker room, some moments are far bigger than the game. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Make A Game Day Choice That Says Plenty Vs Lions
The Bills made a pair of game-day moves ahead of their Week 2 matchup with the Lions, elevating wide receiver Greg Dortch and running back Frank Gore Jr. from the practice squad to the active roster. It is the kind of roster decision that usually says as much about depth and preparation as it does about the opponent, especially this early in the season when teams are still sorting out the best way to cover themselves for every phase of the game.
Dortch brings a little NFL mileage after stints with multiple teams and 12 games already on his 2025 resume, while Gore has been a steady presence on Buffalos practice squad since arriving as an undrafted free agent. The futures contract signaled the Bills wanted to keep him in the building, and this elevation gives him a chance to be part of the conversation in a meaningful spot, even if the bigger picture beyond Sunday is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]