One number says it all for the Buffalo Bills’ offensive dominance against the Detroit Lions on Thursday night

The Buffalo Bills could not be stopped. But one number really says it all about the night Buffalo had against Detroit.

Kyle Crabbs — NFL National Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Sep 17, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) runs against the Detroit Lions during the first half at New Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images Gregory Fisher

The Buffalo Bills are 2-0 and ready to charge up for their Week 3 opponent, the LA Chargers. Pun intended.

But before attentions shifts to Week 3, it is definitely worth acknowledging just how surreal the Bills’ offensive performance was in Week 2 against the Detroit Lions. Detroit got jumped early, as Buffalo sprinted up and down the field to a 21-0 lead before finishing the Lions off, 41-31. You score 41 points, you’re probably going to have some awesome stats at the end of the night. But one number says it all for this contest.

The Buffalo Bills had one of the highest first down totals in a single game of the last decade

Sep 17, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (86).Gregory Fisher

34 first downs.

Not a typo. That’s not supposed to be a ‘2’ at the front. The Buffalo Bills logged a mind-boggling 34 first downs throughout the course of Thursday night’s win against the Detroit Lions. It’s the most in this early season in 2026. It’s also more than any team posted in a single game throughout the course of the entire 2025 regular season, too.

To put the number completely into context, it is tied for the 10th most first downs a franchise has logged in a single game over the course of the last decade:

  • 38 first downs: Seattle Seahawks (vs DET, 2024), Detroit Lions (vs. JAX, 2024)
  • 36 first downs: Kansas City Chiefs (vs. LV, 2020), New Orleans Saints (vs. MIN, 2020), Los Angeles Rams (vs. TB, 2019), Baltimore Ravens (vs. MIN, 2021)
  • 35 first downs: Dallas Cowboys (vs. CLE, 2020), Houston Texans (vs. KC, 2019), Green Bay Packers (vs. NYJ, 2018)

That’s it. That’s the list of single-game performances with more first downs than what Buffalo logged against an NFC hopeful in Week 2.

It’s worth pointing out that Buffalo’s defense has given up plenty of points and first down of their own through the first two games. The Bills are allowing an average of 25 first downs per game through the first two contests this season. But when you’re putting up some of the best numbers we’ve seen in a decade? It certainly makes it an easier pill to swallow.

Play A to Z Daily Games

Related Articles