Tonight isn’t just the first Thursday Night Football of the 2026 NFL season, it’s also the start of a brand new era in Buffalo.
The Buffalo Bills host the Detroit Lions tonight, Sept. 17, in the first regular season NFL game played in their new home.
The team is already getting used to the new Highmark Stadium as they won two preseason matchups there — a 29-14 opening victory against Carolina and an extremely close 28-27 win against Pittsburgh.
Watch Lions vs. Bills for free
- When: Sept. 17, 8:15 p.m. ET
- Where: Highmark Stadium (Orchard Park, New York)
- How to watch for free: Prime Video (30-day free trial)
- TV Channel: Streaming exclusive
Both the Bills and the Lions are entering this week off Week 1 victories, but the Lions have an opportunity to become part of Buffalo Bills history tonight by extending their record to 2-0 and winning the first official game played at the new Highmark Stadium.
The Bills opened the season in Houston with a 36-31 victory, where Josh Allen went 20-for-29 with two touchdowns and 334 passing yards. Detroit’s home opener against New Orleans was a narrow 31-30 overtime victory thanks to a clutch two-point conversion after the team had lost a three-touchdown lead in the third quarter.
Lions vs. Bills start time
Tonight’s (Sept. 17) Lions versus Bills TNF matchup is scheduled to kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET.
How to watch Lions vs. Bills for free
Thursday Night Football game is streamed exclusively on Prime Video nationwide, so you’ll have to be an Amazon Prime subscriber to watch the series.
All 18- to 24-year-olds, regardless of student status, are eligible for a discounted Prime for Young Adults membership as well, with age verification. After a six-month free trial, you’ll pay 50% off the standard Prime monthly price of $14.99/month — just $7.49/month — for up to six years and get all the perks.
2026 Thursday Night Football schedule
All Thursday Night Football matchups air on Prime Video.
| Week | Date | Teams | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Sept. 17 | Lions at Bills | 8:15 p.m. ET |
| 3 | Sept. 24 | Falcons at Packers | 8:15 p.m. ET |
| 4 | Oct. 1 | Steelers at Browns | 8:15 p.m. ET |
| 5 | Oct. 8 | Buccaneers at Cowboys | 8:15 p.m. ET |
| 6 | Oct. 15 | Seahawks at Broncos | 8:15 p.m. ET |
| 7 | Oct. 22 | Patriots at Bears | 8:15 p.m. ET |
| 8 | Oct. 29 | Panthers at Packers | 8:15 p.m. ET |
| 9 | Nov. 5 | Jaguars at Ravens | 8:15 p.m. ET |
| 10 | Nov. 12 | Commanders at Giants | 8:15 p.m. ET |
| 11 | Nov. 19 | Colts at Texans | 8:15 p.m. ET |
| 12 | Friday, Nov. 27 | Broncos at Steelers | 3 p.m. ET |
| 13 | Dec. 3 | Chiefs at Rams | 8:15 p.m. ET |
| 14 | Dec. 10 | Vikings at Patriots | 8:15 p.m. ET |
| 15 | Dec. 17 | 49ers at Chargers | 8:15 p.m. ET |
| 16 | Dec. 24 | Texans at Eagles | 8:15 p.m. ET |
| 17 | Dec. 31 | Ravens at Bengals | 8:15 p.m. ET |
Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
