There may not be two more successful yet snake-bitten teams in the NFL than the two facing off on "Thursday Night Football" in Week 2: the Detroit Lions (1-0) and the Buffalo Bills (1-0).
Both squads are tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for the best record in the entire league since 2023 at 37-15. Detroit is the only team to play every season in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) and never reach the title game, while Buffalo has the best record in the NFL since 2020 (73-27, .730 winning percentage) and has not reached the Super Bowl since 1994.
Thursday night's matchup, which will kick off the opening of the Bills' new Highmark Stadium, is guaranteed to have points. The last time these two teams met, Buffalo won 48-42 in a game with 90 combined points and 1,080 combined yards.
Detroit Lions
The Lions' best chance to win it all was in 2023 when they went 12-5 and won the NFC North. However, they suffered a meltdown in the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers, blowing a 24-7 halftime lead and losing 34-31.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills' best chance to win it all was in 2025 when they had a wide-open AFC playoff field. However, they suffered a disaster in the AFC divisional round against the Denver Broncos, with Josh Allen committing a playoff career-high four turnovers.
Who gets closest in 2026?
Both teams have top-10 offenses with top-10 quarterbacks and running backs. However, the gap between the two teams comes down to their defenses and their respective conferences. The Bills have playmakers on defense and a more favorable conference, making them more likely to get closer to Super Bowl glory in 2026.
Content Original Link:
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/lions-vs-bills-2026-a-battle-of-teams-who-blew-super-bowl-window/
How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
