In what was the longest offseason since the end of the 2022 season, your Detroit Lions are back to playing meaningful football! Training camp and preseason are over, the rosters are finalized (for the most part), and the regular season has arrived.
The Lions kick off at home in Ford Field to play the New Orleans Saints on Sunday in Week 1. The Saints are aiming to snag the NFC South divisional crown for the first time since 2020 and have higher expectations than last season. While most don’t believe this team can win it all, some think they can compete in what is known as the NFL’s easiest division. They have a young roster, but also veterans who can help them improve on last year.
An up-and-coming team like the Saints could make a statement with a win on the road against the Lions. Detroit, on the other hand, could use a win to start the season after how 2025 went for them. Let’s dive in on the Saints and how much they’ve improved ahead of Week 1.
- 6-11 record (4th in NFC South)
- 28th in points for, 16th in point allowed
- Overall DVOA: 28 (27th on offense, 13th on defense)
2025 was a slight improvement for the Saints over their 2024 campaign, with one more win. Expectations were low heading into last year, with question marks at quarterback and a new head coach in Kellen Moore. With a young roster, it was going to be a difficult season, but in the end, they came away with clearer answers and a vision for the future.
At quarterback, former starter Derrick Carr retired in May 2025 for health reasons, leaving the Saints with 2024 fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler and 2025 second-round pick Tyler Shough to battle for the starting job. Rattler won the job, but not for the entire season. After going 1-7, he was benched and replaced by Shough, who finished the year with 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions—and a 5-4 record. Shough also found the end zone three times on the ground for 186 yards.
The biggest issue for the Saints offensively, despite the early quarterback play, was the rushing attack. Starting running back Alvin Kamara finished last year with 471 yards and one touchdown (career lows), missing six games due to an MCL sprain, and the depth behind him was nowhere to be found. Devin Neal had 206 yards and two touchdowns, with other running backs like Audric Estime and Kendre Miller getting a combined 391 yards and two touchdowns. The leading scorer on the ground was Shough, which says a lot about the running back room.
When it came to passing the ball, the Saints found a lot more success, especially with wide receiver Chris Olave, who had the best season of his career. Olave finished with 100 catches for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns. Another contributor was Rashid Shaheed, who had 499 yards and two touchdowns, but he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks midseason. Tight end Juwan Johnson had a career season as well, finishing with 889 yards and three touchdowns on 77 catches.
On defense, the defensive line shone brightest. EDGE Cameron Jordan led the team in sacks with 10.5 and forced two fumbles, but right behind him was EDGE Chase Young, who had 10 sacks and also forced two fumbles. The secondary was led by second-year cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, who paced the team with three interceptions and 17 pass deflections. The Saints’ run defense is what held them in a few games, allowing just 4.0 yards per carry, which ranked seventh in the NFL.
Key additions: G David Edwards, RB Travis Etienne, RB Ty Chandler, LB Kaden Elliss, TE Noah Fant, EDGE Tyree Wilson (trade), K Daniel Carlson
Key losses: CB Alontae Taylor, LB Demario Davis, TE Foster Moreau
Round 1: WR Jordyn Tyson
Round 2: DT Christen Miller
Round 3: TE Oscar Delp
Round 4: G Jeremiah Wright
Round 4: WR Bryce Lance
Round 5: S Lorenzo Styles Jr.
Round 6: WR Barion Brown
Round 7: CB TJ Hall
Overall, the Saints have more talent coming in than leaving, a good sign that this team is headed in the right direction. Their biggest free-agent move was keeping Jordan around after he tested free agency for his final season. When it comes to new incoming talent, though, the biggest add was guard David Edwards. This should help both the pass and the run, with a veteran guard strengthening the front. The team also made a trade for Las Vegas Raiders EDGE Tyree Wilson, giving up a 2026 fifth-round pick to acquire him and a 2026 seventh-round pick, giving them a potential suitor to replace Jordan after he retires.
Running back Travis Etienne should see ample playing time with Kamara currently dealing with an MCL sprain. Linebacker Kaden Elliss gives them a younger linebacker core as Demario Davis left. Another replacement is tight end Noah Fant, who takes the spot of Foster Moreau and gives the Saints another viable threat in the passing game. The addition of kicker Daniel Carlson gives the Saints a big upgrade at the position, as their previous kickers, Blake Grupe and Charlie Smith, combined for a 71 percent field goal percentage. The biggest loss, though, was cornerback Alonte Taylor, and the secondary could be tested early, with few moves to bolster it.
The rookie class did add some much-needed depth. Getting three wide receivers, led by first-round pick Jordyn Tyson out of Arizona State. Tyson will miss at least the first four games of the season after being placed on IR with a hamstring injury. The Saints also got help on the interior defensive line with defensive tackle Christen Miller, and more depth at tight end with Oscar Delp. The offensive line has a potential future starter in guard Jeremiah Wright, and the secondary got a few late-round picks in safety Lorenzo Styles Jr. and cornerback TJ Hall.
New Orleans has a bit higher expectations in 2026. They are still an underdog to win the NFC South (second in odds behind the Buccaneers), but this could be a year for them to finally be on top again. They have their quarterback in Shough, and he’s been given some upgraded weapons—though his biggest one is on the sidelines for the moment in Tyson. The team must improve its running game, and it made moves to address that, but with Kamara already dealing with an injury, the depth might be tested sooner than expected.
On defense, it should be a slight improvement as the team got younger on that side of the ball, but lost key starters in Taylor and Davis. If the young guys can show out and fill the roles of the vets who came before them, there should be ample improvement. Moore will now be in his second year as a head coach, and that should give him a leg up on the year before, when everything was new and different.
The NFC South is anybody’s game this season. The Carolina Panthers won the title last year at 8-9, and they aren’t the favorites to win the division again. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are currently the favorites, but they still have questions at wide receiver and on defense. The Atlanta Falcons could be uncertain at quarterback and just signed their star running back, Bijan Robinson, to a new contract. No team in the division is standing out as a clear-cut favorite, which could be the perfect time for the Saints to swoop in and get back in the playoffs.
Key players ruled out: DT Bryan Bresee (IR), RB Ty Chandler (IR), WR Jordyn Tyson (IR)
Key players to monitor: RB Alvin Kamara (MCL), EDGE Cameron Jordan (hamstring), LB Pete Werner (groin), CB Quincy Riley (groin)
Injuries have struck the Saints early this season at key spots. First, losing defensive tackle Bryan Bresee to a torn ACL back in July hurt the interior defensive line. Then losing Tyson for at least four games hurts the offense’s ability to move the ball through the air. Kamara isn’t likely to play Week 1, so expect Etienne to start at running back, and without Ty Chandler, the depth is questionable. Jordan could miss the game, but I expect him, along with Werner and Riley, to play.
Like last season, the edge defenders are this Saints team’s strength. If Jordan can play Week 1, he and Young will have some chances to get to Goff against Detroit’s retooled offensive line. While Lions left tackle Penei Sewell will hold up his end, rookie right tackle Blake Miller will likely go through some expected ups and downs. The Saints have some depth at the position in Carl Granderson and Wilson. Granderson got six sacks last season and was a part of the rotation to help the Saints edge position stay strong.
The trade for Wilson gives the Saints a chance to mold him and resurrect his career. Being a former first-round pick, Wilson has a ton of raw talent. However, he only has 12.0 sacks in 50 game appearances and seven starts. That said, he’s a depth player on this roster, which goes to show how deep they are.
Biggest weakness: Wide receiver/running back depth
Much like the Lions, the Saints have four wide receivers on their 53-man roster, but the difference is who they have there. While the Lions have Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Isaac TeSlaa as their top three, the Saints have two Day 3 rookies amongst their four (Lance, Brown). Chances are they’ll have to rely heavily on Olave and the tight ends to help provide more depth in the passing game until Tyson returns from his injury.
At running back, the team may be without Kamara and Chandler, leaving Etienne as the starter and Miller and Estime as the backups. The Lions are in a similar spot, so both teams face the same issue this week.
When a team lacks firepower at key positions on offense, it usually leads to lackluster performances. The Saints can still win the division if they play their cards right, but early on in the season, it’s going to be an uphill battle for the offense.
Key matchup: Lions offensive line vs. Saints defensive line
Detroit’s offensive line was one of the biggest factors in their 2025 failures. The opening game against the Green Bay Packers saw a lot of struggles, and the Saints defensive line could repeat that opening-week PTSD. With a backup center in Juice Scruggs starting, the entire five haven’t had as much time as they’d like to gel and build chemistry.
The Saints defensive line is a good first test for the Lions’ revamped offensive line. The EDGE rushers in Young and Cameron will be a tough battle for Lions rookie right tackle Blake Miller. The interior, while not as talented, should still give left guard Christian Mahogany (or Ben Bartch) and Scruggs enough work to handle. If the Lions can hold back this Saints defensive line, it could be a blowout. If the Saints defensive line can slow down Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs or get pressure on quarterback Jared Goff, there’s a chance for an upset at Ford Field come Sunday.
Vegas line for Sunday: Lions favored by 6.5
