New Orleans
Saints
0-0
28
FINAL
49
Detroit
Lions
0-0
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a thrilling season opener, the Detroit Lions topped the New Orleans Saints with a commanding 49-28 victory. Both teams entered the game looking to set the tone for the 2026 season, but it was the Lions who emerged victorious, showcasing their offensive firepower and solidifying their status as a contender.
Jared Goff led the Lions' offensive charge with a stellar performance, throwing for four touchdowns while passing for 265 yards. Jahmyr Gibbs was a standout on the ground, racking up an impressive 195 rushing yards, consistently finding gaps in the Saints' defense. Sam LaPorta also made an impact, contributing 89 receiving yards to keep the chains moving and the scoreboard ticking.
Defensively, the Lions made key plays to stifle the Saints' momentum. Jack Campbell’s interception proved pivotal, shifting the game in Detroit's favor and halting a potential scoring drive. With Jimmy Rolder contributing a sack to the mix, the Lions' defense effectively pressured the Saints’ quarterback, allowing Detroit to control the tempo and secure a dominant win in Week 1.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Shough | QB | 30 | 13 | 43% | 265 | 3 | 2 | 80.5 |
| Jared Goff | QB | 24 | 15 | 63% | 186 | 4 | 2 | 91.3 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | YAC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jahmyr Gibbs | HB | 18 | 195 | 10.8 | 16 | 3 | 39 | 0 |
| Travis Etienne Jr | HB | 3 | 13 | 4.3 | — | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Tyreek Hill | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Najee Harris | HB | 1 | -2 | -2.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyler Shough | QB | 1 | -3 | -3.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | YAC | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam LaPorta | TE | 5 | 89 | 17.8 | 15 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| Tyreek Hill | WR | 4 | 63 | 15.8 | 47 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| Chris Olave | WR | 2 | 62 | 31.0 | 3 | 0 | 47 | 0 |
| Jameson Williams | WR | 4 | 51 | 12.8 | — | 1 | 26 | 1 |
| Barion Brown | WR | 1 | 48 | 48.0 | — | 1 | 48 | 0 |
| Travis Etienne Jr | HB | 2 | 37 | 18.5 | 36 | 1 | 25 | 1 |
| Juwan Johnson | TE | 3 | 30 | 10.0 | 31 | 1 | 13 | 0 |
| Jordyn Tyson | WR | 1 | 25 | 25.0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 2 |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | WR | 4 | 24 | 6.0 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 1 |
| Isaac TeSlaa | WR | 1 | 15 | 15.0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | HB | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonas Sanker | SS | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Christian Izien | SS | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Campbell | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Pete Werner | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Reid | FS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jimmy Rolder | MIKE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyleik Williams | DT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kerby Joseph | FS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Isaiah Stalbird | WILL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Derrick Moore | LEDG | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matt Milano | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Chase Young | LEDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Danny Stutsman | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Christen Miller | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Martin Emerson Jr | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Branch | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ennis Rakestraw Jr | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Roger McCreary | CB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kool-Aid McKinstry | CB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Carlson | K | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Jake Bates | K | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Jack Fox | P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

