New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) scores against the Detroit Lions as New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) watches the play unfold during the second half at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. (Photo by Scott Threlkeld, The Times-Picayune)
STAFF PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD
The New Orleans Saints begin their 60th season with a tough road trip to face the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Here are our staff predictions:
**Jeff Duncan (Last season record: 8-9)**
**Lions 31, Saints 26:** The Saints saw their six-year winning streak in season openers snapped last season, and they’ll need a strong performance to avoid their second consecutive 0-1 season start. The Lions feature one of the most dynamic offenses in the league. And they are particularly tough at Ford Field, where the Lions have won 20 of their last 28 games under head coach Dan Campbell. I’m not sure the Saints offense will be able to keep pace in what looks like an offensive shootout.
**Zach Ewing (Last season: 9-8)**
**Lions 30, Saints 24:** There are Week 1 surprises every year in the NFL, and it’s tempting to pick one here. New Orleans has added weapons and confidence in the offseason, and Detroit enters with some key injuries, especially in the secondary. Ultimately, however, I think the Lions have too much firepower and will come up with a key score or two late in an entertaining shootout.
**Luke Johnson (Last season: 12-5)**
**Lions 27, Saints 17:** I really was going to pick the Saints in this spot because I have a lot of belief in what they’ve done this offseason. And then I watched the Patriots and the Rams, two teams who also did not play their starters in the preseason, look like the worst versions of themselves earlier this week. And then I thought to myself, why don’t you pick another week to be bold?
**Matthew Paras (Last season: 9-8)**
**Lions 27, Saints 24:** Part of me thinks this game has the potential to be a wild shootout — a 41-38 type of game — but that would require the offenses to be firing on all cylinders. And I’m not sure that can still happen in 2026, especially with how defenses have limited the passing game. I’ll go for a tier just below, with the Lions still coming out on top. I expect the Saints to hang tough, but the Lions are a very physical football team.
**Rod Walker (Last season: 12-5)**
**Lions 26, Saints 20:** There’s a part of me that wants to pick the upset here. If it was in the Dome, I would. But winning in Detroit against a team that has just as much to prove as the Saints after also finishing last in their division will be locked in for this one. Former Saints assistant Dan Campbell will have his Lions ready and receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown will be hard to slow down. Vegas has Saints as a 6½-point underdog, which seems wide. It’ll be closer than that, but the Saints drop their second straight opener.