Bills Today

Bills Today | A look at the past five Bills home openers

Sep 13, 2022 at 04:20 PM

Grace Heidinger

Contributing Correspondent

Buffalo Bills vs Pittsburgh Steelers, September 12, 2021 at Highmark Stadium. Photo by Craig Melvin

On Monday, Highmark Stadium and the surrounding parking lots will be filled with Bills fans. The Bills are 3-2 in their last five home openers, and they look to add to the win column next Monday night against the Tennessee Titans.

Here's a look at the past five Bills home openers:

2021: Bills vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Bills opened up at home last season on September 12, 2021, against the Pittsburgh Steelers in front of 69,787 fans. The Bills went up 10-0 in the first half, but the Steelers rallied back in the second half from the deficit and came away with a 23-16 win over the Bills.

Kicker Tyler Bass went 3/3 on field goal attempts while wide receiver Gabe Davis was responsible for the Bills' lone touchdown off a 3-yard pass from quarterback Josh Allen.

2020: Bills vs. New York Jets

The New York Jets came to town for the 2020 home opener on September 13, and this time, in front of no fans due to the pandemic. Allen led the team to a 27-17 victory over the Jets with three consecutive first-half touchdown drives and 312 passing yards.

This game also marked wide receiver Stefon Diggs' debut with the Bills where he had eight catches for a team-leading 86 yards.

2019: Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bills defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 21-17 on September 22 to open up the 2019 season 3-0. The Bills entered the second half with a 14-0 lead and despite the Bengals gaining their first lead of the game late in the fourth quarter, running back Frank Gore responded with the game-winning touchdown for the Bills with 1:50 left in the game.

Tight end Dawson Knox opened the scoring with his first TD of his NFL career and led the Bills with 67 receiving yards. Cornerback Tre'Davious White recorded two interceptions while safety Jordan Poyer had 10 solo tackles and one recovered fumble.

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2018: Bills vs. Los Angeles Chargers

The 2018 home opener on September 16 against the Los Angeles Chargers was Allen's first career start in the NFL. Despite the 31-20 loss to the Chargers, Allen provided a spark to the team's offense after they lost 47-3 to the Baltimore Ravens on the road in Week 1.

While the Chargers limited the Bills to 110 yards in the first half, Allen finished 18/33 for 245 yards and produced two TD drives in the second half, including a TD pass to wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin.

2017: Bills vs. Jets

In the past five seasons, the Bills have opened up at home against the Jets twice and came away victorious both times. The 2017 season opener at New Era Field on September 10 ended in a 21-12 win in head coach Sean McDermott's debut as the Bills' HC.

After QB Tyrod Taylor opened the scoring on a 1-yard TD pass to TE Charles Clay just over three minutes into the second quarter, the Bills didn't trail the rest of the game. Buffalo's defense combined for three interceptions and safety Micah Hyde secured the Bills' victory when he intercepted Jets QB Josh McCown to close out the game.

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Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills vs Los Angeles Rams, Week 1, September 8, 2022 at SoFi Stadium.