Bills celebrate new Highmark Stadium in style with big win - ESPN

The Buffalo Bills threw a heck of a housewarming party for their new Highmark Stadium on Thursday, launching fireworks to open the night and then piling up points in a 41-31 victory over the Detroit Lions that felt more dominant than the final score indicated.

The Bills are now 2-0, making Joe Brady the first coach in franchise history to win his first two games.

Brady said he felt little emotion during the festivities — that was on purpose; he wanted his players to remain composed, too — but that wasn't the case for everyone else in Orchard Park, New York.

Fans spent hours tailgating before the game and erupted when Hall of Famer Bruce Smith led them in a «Let's Go, Buffalo» chant.

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Josh Allen said he got emotional during the national anthem, thinking about how lucky he is to play in Buffalo.

«To be the first quarterback to open this stadium, it's a special spot,» Allen said.

The 60,000-plus fans there for the stadium christening roared as Allen accounted for five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing), with the first chants of «M-V-P» echoing in the din.

Allen scored the night's first TD on a 1-yard run, then found a wide-open Joshua Palmer on a 43-yard bomb for the next. Each time, the sound was so loud it felt like a roof would have blown off — had there been one on the new, $2.1 billion building.

It was part of a nightlong party, aided by the Bills' dominant performance. Their 41 points were the most in a team's home stadium debut since the Dolphins scored 42 at Joe Robbie Stadium in 1987, per Elias Sports Bureau.

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