The Buffalo Bills practiced at Highmark Stadium on Tuesday, getting out on the field before Thursday night's home opener against the Detroit Lions.
Here's what we learned ahead of the primetime matchup.
Controlling emotions on a monumental night
With so much buzz surrounding the Week 2 battle, the Bills are using different methods to get the most out of the excitement. Some players have fully leaned into the noise, pumped up to have the opportunity to be a part of such a big game.
The group is expecting it to be a night full of energy, itching to get in the building for a game that matters.
"It's gonna be electric," OLB Bradley Chubb said. "I'm excited to get in front of Bills Mafia. We got a taste of it in the preseason a little bit, but when the lights are bright Thursday night, everybody's watching at home, and that stadium right there is gonna be rocking."
Anticipating over 60,000 loud fans to be in the seats for the contest, the offense and defense are aware that their roles will be opposite what they saw on the road in Week 1.
"I want to play into it a little bit," T Spencer Brown said of the energy he expects in the crowd. "I think it's going to help the level of play a little bit, especially on defense. Hopefully everyone's super quiet offense-wise. But on defense, I'm probably right there with them, getting everybody hyped up. I'm going to enjoy it for sure. It only happens once, so go out there and enjoy it."
Head coach Joe Brady is also confident that Bills Mafia will be out in full force on Thursday, wanting to make sure his team stays level-headed. Understanding the magnitude of the night, he's preparing his guys to play it like any other game on the schedule.
"The environment is going to be outstanding. We can allow the environment to change, but we can't [change,]" Brady said. "… I hope that we approach Thursday as it's the most important game of the season because it's the next one. If we make it about more than it is, then I'm not doing a good enough job, and usually that's not going to end with the right result."
Brady's sentiment made an impact on QB Josh Allen, who is also treating Thursday like another day at the office.
"Every time I step out into a home game, you want to feel that excitement and energy, whether it's at old Highmark or new Highmark," Allen said. "I get the same feeling regardless of what stadium we're playing in. So again, the goal is the goal, and that's to go 1-0."
Despite the attempt to keep emotions at a manageable level, Brady understands how important the night is for so many people involved. He's just doing everything he can to ensure his squad shows up on the big stage.
"The city of Buffalo, it's a night that they deserve," Brady said. "It's going to be an outstanding environment. It's where we want to be; we want to play under the lights, and we wanna do all that. So let's embrace it. And now it's an opportunity for us to show kind of our conviction in what we believe in."
Highmark Stadium grass gets approval from Bills players
Getting back into Highmark Stadium on Tuesday allowed the players to test out the new grass that was installed after the end of the preseason. The sentiment in the locker room after Tuesday's practice was all positive.
"They did an awesome job. I'm not a grass person, so I don't know what they did to make it better, but it felt great," WR Khalil Shakir said. "… It just seems a little more set, and it felt good planning and cutting on it and running around on it."
Allen appreciated how the new grass felt as well, impressed by how quickly the turnaround was to change it out.
"The footing seemed better, seemed more stable, more solid," Allen said. "I'm very happy and fortunate that our team, our ownership, went out there and made it as good as possible and did the switch for us."
Happy that his players seem relieved, Brady is happy to have the "grass talk" behind them. No issues arose at practice, and he's excited to have his guys playing at full speed without thinking about it when Detroit comes into town.
"I credit our leadership with understanding that we want to have the best surface out there and be able to make the decision and kind of go with it," Brady said. "But yeah, there will be no concerns come Thursday."
The Lions' star players present a tough challenge
Brady and his squad are doing all they can to keep as much focus on the football game to be played on Thursday night. With so much buzz surrounding the new stadium, the Bills know that the Lions won't be an easy matchup.
Detroit has star talent all over its roster, coming fresh off an impressive 31-30 victory in Week 1 over the New Orleans Saints. The Lions still have many of the main pieces from their 2023 group that reached the NFC Championship, looking for a bounceback year after missing the playoffs last season.
"It's no easy task to go against a team that's as good as they are, and they're extremely well coached," Allen said. "They have a fantastic offense, so everything that we do, we've got to make sure that we go and execute."
One of the biggest pieces on Detroit's dynamic offense comes in the backfield in the form of RB Jahmyr Gibbs. The 24-year-old signed a record-setting, three-year extension with the Lions in August, showing off why he deserved the payday in Week 1.
Gibbs finished the first week of the season first in the NFL in carries (29) and rushing yards (156), adding two touchdowns in the process. He'll be a main focal point for defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, understanding how quickly he can single-handedly change a game.
"He's fast; when it comes to running backs, he's top of the league," OLB Greg Rousseau said. "The way he can make you miss, and I mean, usually the first guy is hard for the first guy to get him down. So we're gonna have to run to the ball. We're gonna have to be locked in, be in our gaps, and we've got to do our job."
Buffalo's offense will also have its hands full on Thursday night, not getting a break after a battle against the Houston Texans' star-studded pass rush. Detroit has a game-wrecker of its own, with EDGE Aidan Hutchinson coming off a big week as well.
The 26-year-old tallied a pair of sacks against the Saints last Sunday, coming off a career year in 2025 that featured 14.5 sacks. The Bills' game plan up front on the offensive line worked well to begin the year, and they'll look to replicate the success when Hutchinson comes screaming off the edge on Thursday night.
"He can wreck a game; He's been doing that since his college days. You have to have all eyes on him at all times," Brady said. "… He has a tremendous motor. Has great pass-rush moves, and he has an arsenal to be able to get to the quarterback.
"And the run game is just as important to him as the pass game. And so it's another challenge for our offensive line and for our offense to not allow him to wreck it."
Check out the best photos from the Buffalo Bills practice at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY.
Tommy Doman Jr. (39). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Connor McGovern (66). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Alec Anderson (70). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Alec Anderson (70). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Travis Clayton (67). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Jude Bowry (74). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
DeWayne Carter (90). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Ed Oliver (91). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Dion Dawkins (73). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Ed Oliver (91). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Ed Oliver (91). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Joshua Palmer (5). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Helmet. Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Skyler Bell (13). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Chase Lundt (77). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Anthony Kendall (30). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Zane Durant (92), Ty Johnson (26). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Khalil Shakir (10). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Ty Johnson (26), Will Greenberg. Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Khalil Shakir (10). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
DJ Moore (2). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Trent Sherfield (18). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Khalil Shakir (10), Keon Coleman (0), DJ Moore (2). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
DJ Moore (2). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Joshua Palmer (5). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Generic. Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Khalil Shakir (10). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Jordan Hancock (37). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Davison Igbinosun (21). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Jalon Kilgore (29). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Skyler Bell (13). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Jude Bowry (74). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Frank Gore Jr. (20). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Andre Jones Jr. (59). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Deone Walker (96). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Landon Jackson (94). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Greg Gaines (97). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
DeWayne Carter (90). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Travis Clayton (67). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Travis Clayton (67). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Greg Rousseau (15). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
TJ Parker (99). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson (22). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson (22). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Helmet, Generic. Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Ty Johnson (26). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Trent Sherfield (18). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Joe Brady. Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Dion Dawkins (73). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17), Pete Carmichael. Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Pete Carmichael. Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Maxwell Hairston (1). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Maxwell Hairston (1), Cole Bishop (24). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Greg Rousseau (15). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Jordan Hancock (37). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17), James Cook (4). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Kyle Allen (11). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Joe Andreessen (44). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Landon Jackson (94). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Deone Walker (96). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Deone Walker (96). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Stephen Gosnell (89). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Ja'Mori Maclin (84). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Rob Boras. Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Khalil Shakir (10). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Joshua Palmer (5). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Pete Carmichael, Kyle Allen (11). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
DJ Moore (2). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Keleki Latu (83). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Joe Brady. Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Trent Sherfield (18). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Khalil Shakir (10). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Khalil Shakir (10). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Connor McGovern (66). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Jim Leonhard. Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
Khalil Shakir (10). Buffalo Bills Week 2 Practice on September 15, 2026 at Highmark Stadium.
