How to bet Lions-Bills on 'TNF': Analysis, tips and favorite plays - ESPN

The «Thursday Night Football» slate gets going with the Buffalo Bills hosting the Detroit Lions in the first regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium.

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The Lions and Bills both won in Week 1, but neither defense looked particularly good doing it. Buffalo gave up 31 points to the Houston Texans and Detroit blew a 21-point lead before escaping with a 31-30 overtime win over the New Orleans Saints.

I'd be concerned about Detroit's secondary heading into this matchup. Tyler Shough just threw for 410 yards against the Lions, who are dealing with injuries to safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. Now they have to face Josh Allen, who can beat you through the air or take off running when the coverage holds up. The Bills' addition of wide receiver DJ Moore gives Allen another playmaker to work with.

The Lions have plenty of firepower, too. Jahmyr Gibbs should be heavily involved against a Bills defense that had trouble slowing down the Texans. Jared Goff also has top wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown to lean on.

The matchup I'm watching is defensive end Aidan Hutchinson against the Bills' offensive line. Detroit needs to make Allen uncomfortable. If he has time to throw, that Lions secondary could be in trouble again.

I'm more interested in the total than the spread here. The Bills opened as a 3-point favorite, but that number has moved to 4.5. The total has also climbed, from 52.5 to 54.5. I would have been much more comfortable backing Buffalo at the opening number, but I'm not interested in