NFL Week 2 primetime predictions: Bills QB Josh Allen delivers against Lions in grand opening for $2.2B Highmark Stadium

Each week, Yardbarker looks at prime-time NFL games on Thursday, Sunday and Monday nights, predicting the result of each. Here are picks for Week 2. 

Thursday night: Detroit Lions (1-0) at Buffalo Bills (1-0) (Prime Video, 8:15 p.m. ET) 

Buffalo plays its first regular-season game at Highmark Stadium — which cost approximately $2.2B to build — on Thursday night. Lions head coach Dan Campbell expects Bills quarterback Josh Allen to deliver in the grand opening. 

"I can't say enough about this quarterback," Campbell said Tuesday (h/t Field Level Media). "He's the catalyst for them." 

Allen was the catalyst for Buffalo in a 36-31 win over the Houston Texans in Week 1, totaling 357 yards (334 passing, 23 rushing) and four touchdowns (two passing, two rushing). With that performance, he became the sixth QB in NFL history with at least four combined passing and rushing TDs in at least 25 career games. 

Perhaps Allen will make it 26 to kick off Buffalo's new building in style. The Lions — who feature standout running back Jahmyr Gibbs — should keep it close in a high-scoring matchup. Detroit's defense, however, should flounder after struggling to stop New Orleans Saints second-year QB Tyler Shough in Week 1. In the 31-30 Detroit overtime win, Shough finished 35-of-56 passing for 410 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. 

Prediction: Bills, 31-27 

Sunday night: Indianapolis Colts (0-1) at Kansas City Chiefs (1-0) (NBC, 8:20 p.m. ET) 

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor called the team's 41-23 home loss to the Baltimore Ravens "a wake-up call." Indianapolis may not wake up at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. 

Baltimore RB Derrick Henry ran for 144 yards and three TDs on 24 carries in Week 1. Like "King Henry," Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker III has a catchy nickname: "K9." He's also a game-breaking runner. 

After running for a career-high 173 yards in a 31-10 win over the Denver Broncos, Walker should continue rolling against the Colts. That would take more pressure off QB Patrick Mahomes, who went 15-of-27 passing for 184 yards, two TDs and one interception in his first game since tearing the ACL/LCL in his left knee in December 2025. 

Prediction: Chiefs, 30-20 

Monday Night: New York Giants (1-0) at Los Angeles Rams (0-1) (ESPN/ABC, 8:15 p.m. ET)

As of Wednesday morning, ESPN Analytics gives the Rams a 66.1 percent chance to win this matchup. We're still picking the upset.

While there's a "realistic chance" that Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald returns in Week 2, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year shouldn't be nearly as impactful after two seasons in retirement. He may also face more double-teams now that defensive end Myles Garrett (knee) is being placed on injured reserve. 

Outside of Garrett and Donald, L.A.'s pass-rush appears to lack another impact player after logging no sacks in a 27-7 Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne. The Rams may blame the embarrassing Week 1 showing on jet lag. L.A. arrived in Melbourne just 28 hours before kickoff. 

While they'll no longer be feeling drowsy on "MNF," L.A. will still struggle to corral Giants QB Jaxson Dart, who appears to be taking a Year 2 leap under new HC John Harbaugh. In a 28-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys, Dart had 284 yards (230 passing, 54 rushing) and three TDs (all passing).

Prediction: Giants, 27-21