Josh Allen gave Bills fans plenty to talk about in the opening night of Buffalo’s new Highmark Stadium, and it wasn’t just the scoreboard.
On a Thursday Night Football stage built for a franchise milestone, the quarterback helped turn the long-awaited debut into a showcase. Thousands packed the brand-new, multi-billion-dollar open-air stadium to see Buffalo host the Detroit Lions, and Allen had the home crowd buzzing from the start with a high-scoring performance.
The moment that really took off online came after Allen punched in a running touchdown and cameras caught him chewing on what appeared to be smelling salts. A post summed it up this way: “Josh Allen smoking the Lions with smelling salts in his mouth 😭,”
At that point, Buffalo was up 21-0.
Smelling salts are nothing unusual in pro sports as a quick adrenaline jolt, but Allen’s real pregame routine is even stranger. He has told reporters that he makes himself vomit before kickoff every week. His explanation was blunt: “Throw up, listen to my playlist, and drink water.”
Allen said that routine helps get rid of weird muscle cramps and physical mucus so he can play relaxed. The smelling salts, at least on this night, looked like an extra kick on top of a ritual that’s already become part of his game-day identity.
Allen entered the game at 1-0 after Buffalo opened the season with a 36-31 road win over the Houston Texans. That victory gave the Bills their first win in Houston since November 19, 2006.
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Dortch has bounced around the league and already saw action in 12 games this year, giving Buffalo an extra pass-catching option if it needs one. Gore, an undrafted free agent who has spent time on the Bills' practice squad and later signed a futures deal, remains part of the teams longer-term picture, but this move also puts him in position for a bigger immediate role if the backfield depth chart calls for it. [Read more 🡒]