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Game Recap: Saints visit Lions in season opener

In a dramatic season opener at Ford Field on September 13, 2026, the Detroit Lions held off the New Orleans Saints for a 31-30 overtime triumph. Detroit initially built a 21-0 advantage before the visitors mounted an aggressive second-half surge, sparked by Tyler Shough finding Devaughn Vele on a diving third-quarter touchdown reception.

Playing without defensive end Cameron Jordan, the New Orleans defense managed to bring down Jared Goff only a single time throughout the afternoon.

The contest ultimately headed into extra time, where Detroit chewed up nearly half the period before Goff connected with Amon-Ra St. Brown on a four-yard touchdown pass to establish a 31-24 edge.

While New Orleans responded with a score of their own, Shough's subsequent try for a decisive two-point conversion failed, ending the matchup and dropping the Saints to 0-1 ahead of their upcoming road fixture against the 1-0 Baltimore Ravens.