Lions vs. Saints: What to Watch as Detroit Opens the 2026 Season at Ford Field

The wait is over.

After an offseason filled with roster changes, training-camp battles and plenty of questions about what the next version of Detroit Lions football will look like, the games finally count.

The Detroit Lions open the 2026 regular season today against the New Orleans Saints at Ford Field, and this matchup should give us our first real look at several changes Detroit spent the summer working through. 

From a depleted secondary to questions along the offensive line and a new-look offense, here are the biggest things MCSN will be watching in Week 1.

Detroit’s Secondary Gets an Immediate Test

This is the biggest storyline entering the opener.

Detroit will begin the season without safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, who are unavailable while continuing their recoveries. 

That changes the complexion of Detroit’s defense.

New Orleans quarterback Tyler Shough showed promise as a rookie last season, particularly when throwing over the middle, and now he gets an opportunity to attack a Detroit secondary missing two of its biggest playmakers. 

For defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, the challenge isn’t simply replacing two starters. Branch and Joseph provide versatility, instincts and playmaking ability that allow Detroit to do different things defensively.

How the Lions compensate could tell us plenty about this defense.

Can Detroit’s Pass Rush Make Life Difficult for Tyler Shough?

One way to help a short-handed secondary?

Don’t give the quarterback time.

That’s where Detroit’s defensive front becomes especially important.

Shough performed well during his nine starts last season, but one area where he struggled was handling pressure. That creates an opportunity for Detroit’s front to dictate the game before its secondary can be exposed. 

The Lions have also elevated defensive lineman Ben Stille from the practice squad for Week 1, adding another option to the defensive-line rotation. 

If Detroit can consistently collapse the pocket and force Shough into rushed decisions, it could dramatically reduce the pressure on the back end.

What Does Detroit’s Offensive Line Look Like?

This was one of our biggest questions throughout training camp, and it hasn’t completely disappeared.

The Lions have considered using both Christian Mahogany and Ben Bartch at left guard, with Dan Campbell indicating during the week that the position could feature a rotation. 

That’s something we’ll be watching closely.

Detroit’s offense has been built around being physical up front, and establishing continuity along the offensive line will be important as the season progresses.

Week 1 should give us our first indication of whether Detroit has settled on its preferred five—or whether the evaluation continues into the regular season.

The First Real Look at Detroit’s New Offense

Preseason football only tells you so much.

Today we finally get to see what Detroit’s offense looks like when Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta and the rest of the starters are playing an entire meaningful game.

It’s also our first true look at the offense under new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.

New Orleans isn’t necessarily an easy opening assignment. The Saints’ defense improved considerably during the second half of last season and presents Detroit with an interesting early test. 

One matchup we’re particularly interested in is Jahmyr Gibbs against the Saints’ defense. Gibbs enters 2026 with an opportunity to take on an even larger role in Detroit’s offense, and New Orleans will have to find a way to account for his ability both as a runner and receiver. 

Young Lions Get Their First Taste of Regular-Season Football

Training camp is about earning the opportunity.

Now comes the next step.

Several young Lions who fought their way onto this roster are entering their first regular-season environment, and we’ll be watching how much Detroit trusts them immediately.

That includes rookie defensive lineman Skyler Gill-Howard, who survived one of Detroit’s deepest training-camp competitions to make the 53-man roster.

The preseason showed us who could earn a roster spot.

The regular season begins showing us who can earn a role.

MCSN’s Biggest Question

For us, everything comes back to Detroit’s defense.

The Lions should have enough offensive firepower to put points on the board. But opening the year without Joseph and Branch means the defense is going to be tested immediately.

Can the defensive front generate enough pressure to protect the secondary?

Can Detroit prevent explosive plays?

And when New Orleans inevitably tests the middle and deep portions of the field, who steps up?

Those answers could determine how comfortable—or uncomfortable—this opener becomes.

It’s Finally Time for Detroit Lions Football

Everything we’ve covered since training camp opened has been building toward this.

The roster battles are finished. The preseason evaluations are finished. The initial 53 has been selected.

Now it counts.

Detroit gets its first opportunity to establish what kind of team it intends to be in 2026 when the Lions and Saints take the field at Ford Field.

And for the first time this season, we’re not evaluating whether somebody deserves a roster spot.

We’re evaluating whether Detroit can win football games.