Josh Allen battled major illness in silence before delivering a five-touchdown nightmare for the Lions

Josh Allen had plenty of reasons to celebrate after leading the Buffalo Bills to a 41-31 win over the Detroit Lions. But the quarterback's remarkable performance on September 17, 2026, came with a physical struggle that fans couldn't see. According to Amazon Prime analyst Richard Sherman, Allen was battling an illness before kickoff, making his five-touchdown display even more striking.Josh Allen's illness comes to light after five-touchdown Bills winAllen's health became a talking point after the game when Sherman revealed what the quarterback had been dealing with before taking the field. The former NFL cornerback, now an analyst for Prime Video, said Allen appeared visibly unwell in the hours leading up to the matchup.“You were shivering in the hot tub before the game,” Richard Sherman told Allen after the game. “You’re getting IVs. You don’t want to admit it, but you were having a flu game.”Allen did not make a big deal of the revelation. Instead, he kept his response brief, saying he was “just trying to do my job.”That understated reply followed a performance that helped Buffalo make a memorable start at its new Highmark Stadium. Allen completed the night with 248 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and 69 rushing yards, adding two scores on the ground.The Bills' offense came out firing, too. Buffalo surged to a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter after recording 11 first downs in the opening period. The fast start put Detroit under pressure and gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about.Running back James Cook III also played a major role in the win. He finished with 135 rushing yards and a touchdown, including 101 yards in the first half.Josh Allen has previously spoken about getting sick during gamesAllen's reported illness before the Lions game also brings attention to his past comments about feeling sick during NFL matchups. The Bills quarterback has previously explained that throwing up on the sidelines is not unusual for him, even during regular-season games.After becoming ill during a game against the New England Patriots in December 2025, Allen told reporters that the experience happens more often than fans might expect.“If they don’t catch it every game, I don’t know,” he later told reporters. “It basically happens every game. If I don’t get enough out pregame, it usually happens at halftime.”He added, “If I don’t get enough at halftime, it usually happens in the third or fourth quarter. I don’t know why I do it. It just happens. It’s due to nothing else other than a weird feeling. You got to get it out.”Allen's comments offer some context for his ability to keep playing through uncomfortable moments. However, Sherman’s account of the quarterback shivering before kickoff suggests that the Lions matchup brought a different challenge.Buffalo head coach Joe Brady also highlighted the importance of making a strong first impression at the new stadium. The Bills delivered that statement with a decisive offensive showing, while Allen's performance became one of the night's biggest talking points.Although Allen brushed off the illness after the win, his five-touchdown effort gave Buffalo another memorable moment in its new home.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.