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The Detroit Lions launched their 2026 season on Sunday, hosting the New Orleans Saints in a game that featured wild swings and an overtime finish. The Lions jumped out to a 7-0 halftime lead before both offenses exploded in the second half. Detroit scored two quick touchdowns in the first 2:20 of the third quarter, capitalizing on turnovers, but New Orleans battled back to tie the game at 24 with just one minute remaining in regulation. The Saints had a chance to win it in regulation, but their field goal attempt as time expired sailed wide, sending the game to overtime—the first extra period of the 2026 NFL season.
In overtime, the Lions scored a touchdown, and the Saints answered with a touchdown of their own. However, New Orleans' two-point conversion attempt failed, sealing the victory for Detroit. The game marked the first live action for many Lions starters, who sat out the preseason.
Winners
S Chuck Clark
Starting in place of the injured Kerby Joseph, Clark delivered the Lions' first takeaway of the season. The Saints' offense sputtered early, with quarterback Tyler Shough completing just four passes for under 50 yards until the final drive of the first half. Clark, a 10-year veteran, benefited from an errant throw by Shough, who targeted him directly despite the safety being a step or two behind the receiver. The interception was reminiscent of the plays Joseph typically makes, and Clark rose to the occasion.
RB Jahmyr Gibbs
With David Montgomery traded away and Isiah Pacheco injured in training camp, Gibbs was expected to carry a heavy load. He responded by scoring the first two touchdowns at Ford Field this season. Gibbs took what the defense gave him and contributed as a receiver, though one of his catches resulted in a fumble recovered by New Orleans. Nonetheless, he eclipsed 100 total yards by the third quarter. With 8:54 left in the third, Gibbs had 105 total yards, more than the entire Saints offense (101 yards). On his first touch of the fourth quarter, he surpassed 100 rushing yards for the game.
LB Derrick Barnes
Barnes had a solid but quiet first half before making a splash after halftime. On the opening defensive play of the third quarter, he intercepted Shough to set the tone. After the Lions extended their lead, Barnes sacked Shough on second down, setting up a third-and-long. The Lions then sent a nickel blitz that forced a fumble. In overtime, Barnes added a crucial pass breakup in the end zone.
CB Roger McCreary
With Ennis Rakestraw Jr. inactive and Avonte Maddox sidelined briefly by injury, McCreary saw increased snaps. He made his presence felt in the second half, sacking Shough and stripping the ball, which D.J. Wonnum recovered to set up an Amon-Ra St. Brown touchdown.
WR Tay Martin
Though Martin saw limited offensive snaps, he proved his worth on special teams. He recorded two punt coverage tackles, including one that forced a return for no gain, and added a kickoff coverage tackle in the third quarter. Martin is already making a case for Pro Bowl consideration as a special teamer after Week 1.
EDGE Aidan Hutchinson
After sitting out the preseason along with other starters, Hutchinson made his 2026 debut and lived up to his contract. He came up with two crucial sacks. In the first quarter, with the Saints driving, Hutchinson sacked Shough to push New Orleans out of field goal range and preserve Detroit's touchdown lead. In the fourth quarter, with the Saints threatening to take the lead, Hutchinson sacked Shough on second down, forcing a third-and-12 and the two-minute warning. In overtime, he pressured Shough into the waiting arms of Alim McNeill.
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
There was little rust for St. Brown, who opened 2026 with two touchdowns. He was a frequent target for Jared Goff and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, seeing 10 targets. While his 67 receiving yards were modest, his two scores—including the game-winning touchdown in overtime—land him in the winners' circle. The second touchdown was the biggest play of the game.
EDGE Eric O'Neill
The only 2026 undrafted free agent to make the Lions' opening-day roster, O'Neill continues to impress. He beat out 2025 draft pick Ahmed Hassanein for a roster spot and responded with two key special teams tackles. One came in overtime, and he also recorded a run stuff at the two-minute warning of the extra period.
Losers
RB Sione Vaki
With Pacheco out, Vaki got his first taste of RB2 duties. He had some flashy moments, including a first-down catch on the Lions' second touchdown drive. However, in pass protection, he had a disastrous play, whiffing on a chip block on left tackle Penei Sewell, allowing Saints EDGE Chase Young a free run at Goff. Goff was hit and fumbled, though replay review ruled it a forward pass despite the ball bouncing backward. The Utah product was involved in the most controversial play of Week 1. As the game wore on, Vaki's snaps diminished.
WR Jameson Williams
Like most starters, Williams sat out the preseason, and the rust was evident. The 1,000-yard receiver had a strong catch in the first half but offset it with two inexplicable drops. The first was a perfectly thrown deep ball from Goff over two defenders; Williams looked to run before securing the catch and dropped a momentum-shifting play. The second was a routine trick-play reverse where he failed to haul in a pitch and had to recover his own fumble, turning a potential five-yard gain into a six-yard loss. In the third quarter, after the Saints gained momentum with their first score, Williams dropped a slightly high but catchable ball. He added a third drop in contested coverage on fourth down during a potential go-ahead drive, forcing the Lions to punt. In overtime, he rebounded with a first-down catch that set up St. Brown's second touchdown two plays later.
CB Rock Ya-Sin
With Rakestraw out, Ya-Sin saw extended action but struggled. He was flagged for two penalties—defensive holding and defensive pass interference. The DPI came after he was beaten on a third-and-long, setting the Saints up at the Lions' goal line. On the very next play, he was targeted again and allowed a touchdown catch without making a play on the ball. Worse, he suffered an injury in overtime but returned. He did make his best play of the game on the final snap, breaking up a pass to Bryce Lance to secure the win.
CB D.J. Reed
It was a rough day for the Lions' secondary, as Shough threw for over 400 yards after a slow start. Chris Olave consistently beat the Lions, finishing with 182 yards. The biggest play came against Reed, who was beaten for a 47-yard gain to set up New Orleans' game-tying touchdown on the next play. Reed was also flagged for pass interference on the play, but Olave caught the ball anyway—a double negative.
Emmett Matasovsky has been a sports writer since 2022 and began covering the Detroit Lions in 2025. He has extensive experience covering Michigan State Spartans athletics, including football and basketball. Follow him on Twitter @E_Matasovsky57.