The Bills won 27-14 on the road against the Carolina Panthers on Saturday, delivering an impressive performance on both sides of the ball. Second-year quarterback Josh Allen finished nine-for-11 for 102 yards as the Bills rushed into a 24-3 lead at halftime.
While Allen shone and newly signed wide receiver Cole Beasley hauled in all of his five targets for 54 yards, former England rugby star Christian Wade stole the show.
Wade, who signed for the Bills in April, caught a pass from Tyree Jackson, before setting off down the field and breaking four tackles as he gained 48 yards.
“Awesome,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said when asked to describe Wade’s run. “I could feel the sideline like a tidal wave about to come over me.”
The Lions, meanwhile, lost their second consecutive game when they fell 30-23 to the Texans in Houston.
Detroit looked better than they did in Week 1, when it was routed 31-3 by the New England Patriots but has now conceded over 30 points in two consecutive games, a concern for head coach Matt Patricia.
“There were definitely some more competitive snaps out there on the field this week,” he said.
“There were some players that stood out in making those really good plays, which was great. In the end, too many bad plays, obviously. Penalties were a big problem. We can’t have it.”
Here’s everything you to know ahead of Friday.
When and where is the game?
The Buffalo Bills take on the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, August 23.
Kick-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
TV coverage
The game will be broadcast nationally by CBS.
Live stream
A live stream will be available via CBS’s digital platforms, as well as via fuboTV.
Form
If Allen shone for the Bills against the Panthers, his backup was just as impressive.
Matt Barkley went eight-for-10 for 110 yards and a touchdown, while fellow backup quarterback Tyree Jackson completed just four of his 10 attempted passes for 68 yards and one interception.
Jackson, however, rushed for 27 yards over eight carries, while T.J. Yeldon accumulated 26 yards over seven attempts.
Wide receivers Isaiah McKenzie and Duke Williams impressed against Carolina, with one catch for 37 yards and three catches for 38 yards and a touchdown, respectively.
The Lions rested starting quarterback Matthew Stafford for the second consecutive week, with David Fales getting another opportunity to impress.
The 28-year-old did his chances no harm at all, finishing 12-for-19 for 226 yards and one touchdown, adding 11 rushing yards.
Detroit had good production from its receivers, with Andy Jones recording two receptions for 60 yards, while Brandon Powell and Travis Fulgham both had three receptions each for 53 and 52 yards respectively.
Odds
According to Oddschecker, the Bills are a one-point favorite and are 19/20 to win and cover the spread, while the Lions are evens to win the game and the over/under bar is set at 42.