The Detroit Lions opened the 2026 season with a statement so loud it rattled the rafters, burying the New Orleans Saints 66-7 at Ford Field. Week 1 is supposed to be about shaking off rust; Detroit instead delivered a demolition that never felt competitive after the opening quarter. The Saints leave Michigan with a 59-point deficit and a long flight full of questions. For the Lions, it's the kind of start that sets a tone for an entire season. Jared Goff was surgical, throwing for 544 yards and eight touchdowns in a performance that belongs in a video game highlight reel. Jameson Williams was his favorite target, torching the New Orleans secondary for 180 receiving yards and turning short throws into long sprints. Jahmyr Gibbs added 153 yards on the ground, giving Detroit a balance that made an already overwhelmed defense guess wrong all afternoon. Every drive seemed to end in the end zone, and the Lions showed no interest in taking their foot off the gas. Detroit's defense made sure the blowout stayed a blowout, holding the Saints to a single touchdown all game. Brian Branch led the way with six total tackles, flying to the football and cleaning up anything that reached the second level. Aidan Hutchinson recorded the game's lone sack, while Kerby Joseph's interception effectively ended any hope of a New Orleans push. The turning point came early, when Joseph's takeaway handed the ball back to Goff and the rout was on.