Joe Brady became the first head coach in Buffalo Bills history to open a tenure 2-0 after the team beat the Detroit Lions 41-31 on Thursday night at Highmark Stadium.
The victory came in Buffalo’s home opener and marked the first regular-season game at the franchise’s new stadium.
Brady took over in January after the Bills parted ways with Sean McDermott. He had served as offensive coordinator the previous two full seasons and joined the staff in 2022 as quarterbacks coach.
The Bills have employed more than 20 head coaches since beginning play in 1960. Before Thursday, only three of them won their first game: Marv Levy in 1986, Rex Ryan in 2015 and McDermott in 2017. Each lost the following week.
Buffalo opened the 2026 season with a 36-31 win at Houston on Sept. 13, ending a long drought in that building. Four nights later the offense produced another high-scoring result.
The Bills have scored 77 points through two games and sit first in the AFC East at 2-0. They have averaged 38.5 points per game.
Against Detroit, Buffalo piled up 446 total yards and 34 first downs. Josh Allen and James Cook combined for 204 rushing yards. Cook finished with 135 yards on the ground.
Allen accounted for five touchdowns — three passing and two rushing. He threw for 248 yards and added 69 yards rushing.
Tight end Dalton Kincaid had seven catches for 95 yards and a score. The Bills converted early drives into points and never trailed after the opening series.
Attendance was listed at 60,644 for the stadium debut. The $2.1 billion venue replaced the previous Highmark Stadium and hosted its first prime-time regular-season game on Thursday Night Football.
Brady is 36 and the NFL’s youngest head coach this season. He signed a five-year contract after the coaching change.
The offense has averaged 427.5 yards per game through two weeks. Buffalo ranks among the league leaders in scoring and total offense after facing two opponents expected to contend for playoff berths.
Houston entered Week 1 with one of the stronger defenses from the prior season. Detroit arrived 1-0. Buffalo still put up 36 and 41 points.
Two games remain a small sample. The Bills next host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 27.
Brady’s first two results have already placed him alone in one category of franchise coaching history. No previous Bills head coach had won the first two games of his tenure.
The team now carries a 2-0 record into a stretch that includes additional prime-time dates and a Thanksgiving game later in the year.
