The Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills meet Thursday, September 17 at 8:15 p.m. ET at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, the first regular-season game at the Bills' new home. Both teams enter 1-0. Kalshi traders have the Bills at 70% to win and the Lions at 30%.
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Who is favored to win the Lions-Bills Week 2 game?
Detroit finished 9-8 last season and missed the playoffs after a 15-2 campaign the year before. The offseason brought real turnover on the offensive line: left tackle Taylor Decker was released after declining a pay cut and remains unsigned, and center/guard Graham Glasgow was released in a cap-saving move. The Lions also traded running back David Montgomery to Houston, leaning further into Jahmyr Gibbs as the lead back, and signed Gibbs and linebacker Jack Campbell to long-term extensions. Right tackle Blake Miller (knee) and left guard Christian Mahogany (hip) are both out for Thursday, and cornerback D.J. Reed (foot) is questionable.
Buffalo went 12-5, finishing second in the AFC East, before an overtime loss to Denver in the divisional round ended its season, a defeat that cost Sean McDermott his job after nine seasons. Owner Terry Pegula promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach in January, and Brady gets his first home game at the new Highmark Stadium on Thursday. Safety Cole Bishop (knee/groin), running back Ty Johnson (hamstring) and defensive lineman T.J. Sanders (knee/illness) are all questionable.
Kalshi power rankings
The Bills enter as the No. 3 team in the league with a Power Score of 92.6 and an 81% playoff qualification price, while the Lions rank 10th with a Power Score of 74.7 and a 68% playoff price, a seven-spot gap heading into Buffalo's new-stadium opener.
What the Kalshi market says
Kalshi traders have the Bills at 70% and the Lions at 30% as Buffalo opens its new stadium as a clear favorite.
What is the point spread for Lions vs. Bills in Week 2?
Kalshi traders predict the Bills to be favored by 4.5 points over the Lions, as of this writing.
What is the projected point total?
Kalshi traders predict a point total of 55.3 for Thursday's game, as of this writing.
What is the biggest storyline in the Lions-Bills Week 2 game?
The sharpest storyline is the building itself. Buffalo christens the new Highmark Stadium with its first regular-season game, and first-year head coach Joe Brady gets his home debut in front of that crowd after inheriting a roster that fell one round short of the Super Bowl on Sean McDermott's watch. Detroit, meanwhile, is working a short week after needing overtime to beat New Orleans, and two starting offensive linemen are already out for Thursday.
What are the Lions' and Bills' expectations entering the 2026 season?
Detroit Lions: After missing the playoffs at 9-8 in 2025, the Lions are looking to reestablish themselves in a crowded NFC North. The offseason reshuffled the offensive line and leaned the backfield fully toward Jahmyr Gibbs, and Detroit opened 2026 with an overtime win over New Orleans.
Buffalo Bills: After a 12-5 season and a heartbreaking overtime exit in the divisional round, the Bills enter Joe Brady's first season as head coach still built around Josh Allen and a top-five scoring offense from a year ago. Buffalo opened with a win over Houston and hosts Thursday's game in a brand-new stadium.
When and where do the Detroit Lions play the Buffalo Bills in Week 2 of the 2026 season?
The Lions and Bills kick off Thursday, September 17 at 8:15 p.m. ET at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, with the game airing on Prime Video.
Conclusion
Kalshi traders see Buffalo as the clear favorite in Thursday's opener at the new Highmark Stadium, with Detroit's reshuffled offensive line and short week against a rested Bills team factoring into that price. Kalshi's prices for Lions-Bills will keep moving until the game has concluded.
What are the score predictions for Lions vs. Bills? As of this writing, Kalshi traders predict a point total of 55.3.
What is the spread for Lions vs. Bills? As of this writing, Kalshi traders have the Bills favored by 4.5 points.
Who is favored to win, Lions or Bills? As of this writing, Kalshi traders have the Bills favored at 70% to beat the Lions.
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