Lions have a lot to prove in early-season road test against Bills

The Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills each came away with wins in Week 1, but the way they went about doing so was completely different.

While Bills quarterback Josh Allen overcame a curse against the Houston Texans and finally broke through against them in a thrilling 36-31 win, the Lions blew a 21-point lead over the New Orleans Saints and had to stop a two-point conversion attempt to escape with a 31-30 overtime win.

As both teams prepare for a Thursday night showdown and the first regular-season game at the Bills’ new Highmark Stadium, former Super Bowl champion and current ESPN analyst Jason McCourty views it as a huge opportunity for the Lions to prove themselves and show that they are much more formidable than what they showed in Week 1.

Lions searching for signature road win after lackluster Week 1 performance

“I think for (the Lions) in the secondary, on the defensive side of the ball, specifically, getting a challenge like Josh Allen in Week 2 and being able to perform,” McCourty said on Wednesday’s edition of “First Take.” “They gave up so many deep pass plays where guys just weren’t making a play on the football. I look at this, for the Lions standpoint, you weren’t a playoff team a year ago. Now this year, you feel like you’re back. In training camp, no joint practices, they said they had to get back to being who the Detroit Lions are.

"You have an opportunity. Yes, they won the game, but they skinned by. I think to beat a team like the Buffalo Bills and go up against a quarterback like Josh Allen the way they performed in Week 1, you can prove a lot to yourself in Week 2. I think that’s a win, as you look at the rest of the schedule early on, that you can build off of that carries you over throughout the course of the season.”