The Detroit Lions kicked off their 2026 season at home, taking on the New Orleans Saints, an up-and-coming team in the NFC. Expectations are raised for Detroit this season after a disappointing 2025 campaign, and with an easy schedule, this could be the team’s best chance at reaching the Super Bowl.
It was a quiet start for the Lions offense, scoring on their second drive of the game, but it wasn’t until the third quarter that they scored again. The defense and special teams kept Detroit in the game despite
the sluggish start, holding the Saints scoreless until just past the halfway mark of the third quarter. Once the Saints found the end zone, the game flipped on its head and needed overtime to decide a winner. After the Lions offense moved down the field and scored, the game was decided on a two-point conversion that the Saints couldn’t complete, with Detroit winning 31-30
Here are my five takeaways from the Lions’ win against the Saints in Week 1.
Gibbs continues to be the lifeblood of the offense
With Detroit trading away former running back David Montgomery, the backfield was handed solely to Jahmyr Gibbs. Gibbs did more than run the ball today, catching multiple passes. While his biggest play was for 21 yards, he made the most of every chance he got the ball. Gibbs also saw more playing time with his new backup, Isiah Pacheco, starting off on IR.
Gibbs finished the game with 29 carries for 156 yards, finding the end zone twice, and five catches for 30 yards. With Pacheco out, expect Gibbs to continue to get the bulk of touches. The depth at the position has little in-game experience, with Sione Vaki getting just two carries for 7 yards and a catch for 11.
This offense had a rough game; even Gibbs fumbled at one point, but he was their most consistent player. He moved the chains, wasn’t afraid of contact, and did whatever he could to help the team win. He’s the lifeblood of this offense, and they’ll need him to keep up with the heavy workload if this team can succeed this season.
Lions run defense returns to form
After being a dominant run defense for the past few seasons, the Lions struggled to stop the run in 2025. The team wanted to get back to that identity on defense, and they answered the call against the Saints. Saints running back Travis Etienne Jr. led the team with nine carries for 46 yards, followed by Kendre Miller with nine carries for 30 yards and a touchdown.
The Lions also did a good job in limiting Saints quarterback Tyler Shough from making plays with his legs, containing him to eight yards on four carries. When Shough tried to move around and make a play, he faced pressure from all over and was sacked five times. Detroit held the Saints to 91 rushing yards, averaging 3.6 yards per carry. If the run defense and pass rush can hold their own, it’ll be the main reason the defense can stop opposing offenses.
Secondary woes are blaring
Heading into this game, the Saints rostered four wide receivers, with Chris Olave as the biggest threat. Behind him, the Saints have a bunch of players who are either rookies or lack experience. The Lions secondary held its own in the first half, getting an interception and making it difficult for Shough to complete passes. In the second half, the Saints found success repeatedly and picked apart the Lions’ pass defense.
Receivers like Devaughn Vele and Bryce Lance were making big catches on fourth down or diving for the ball. Lions cornerbacks Rock Ya-Sin and D.J. Reed couldn’t cover whoever they were matched up against, allowing Olave to finish with a career-high 182 yards on 10 catches. Vele had seven catches for 69 yards and a touchdown.
If the Lions secondary is struggling against a team’s lackluster receiving core, it will only get worse when they face a better group. They allowed a total of 410 passing yards and three touchdowns, an awful way to start the year for them.
Turnovers and special teams come up big
It wasn’t just the run defense that shined for the Lions on Sunday; it was the playmaking ability as well. In the first half, the defense made big pass breakups, tackles for loss, and came away with only one turnover. To start the second half, Detroit’s defense made massive plays to give them momentum.
It started on the first play of the second half with linebacker Derrick Barnes picking off Shough. Detroit capitalized on that turnover and scored to make it 14-0. On the next drive, Barnes would get a sack, and cornerback Roger McCreary came in for a strip sack, recovered by Detroit.
The Lions scored on that drive too, making it 21-0 early in the third quarter and quickly putting the Saints in a hole. Without those turnovers, Detroit doesn’t win this game.
You also got to give a shoutout to special teams, as the coverage on punts and kickoffs was excellent, and punter Jack Fox had a solid game, punting it seven times for 336 yards, three of them landing inside the 20 and one touchback. With the Saints repeatedly backed up, the defense had plenty of cushion and chances to be aggressive.
Guard rotation happened, but not the way anyone expected
One of the biggest storylines entering the game was who would start at left guard for the Lions. The battle between Christian Mahogany and Ben Bartch was supposed to happen all training camp, but Bartch dealt with injuries. When Bartch returned, Lions head coach Dan Campbell mentioned the starting job wasn’t locked yet, and the two could even rotate in the game.
Mahogany appeared to win the job, but he left the game in the first half with an injury and didn’t return. He walked off the field with help from the trainers, but later left the game on the cart. If Mahogany is out for a while, I think Bartch will be the starting left guard, with Miles Frazier backing him up and right guard Tate Ratledge.
After the game, Campbell said that initial tests on Mahogany’s knee were negative, but “they’re not out of the woods with that injury.” He also revealed it could be more of a hip injury.
