What happened: Thursday's game against Detroit arrives as more than a Week 2 date for Buffalo, with fans treating it as the payoff to years of stadium wrangling and old fears about the franchise's future in the city. Wire Report's games feed had the scoreboard at 0-0 before kickoff. The club also planned American and Canadian national anthems for the occasion.

Why it matters: That history gives the opener weight beyond the standings, especially for a fan base that remembers the playoff drought and the years when staying in Buffalo did not feel automatic. It also extends a week of buildup around the Bills' home opener, turning the night into a civic marker as much as a football game.

What to watch: The next read comes once Buffalo and Detroit kick off, when the opener shifts from ceremony to result. The crowd response and final score will decide how quickly the night stops being about the venue and starts being about the season.