The Detroit Lions narrowly avoided a historic collapse, defeating the New Orleans Saints 27-26 in overtime on Sept. 13, 2026, to open their season. A critical defensive stop on a two-point conversion in the extra period sealed the victory after the Lions had squandered a 21-point lead.
The Saints had forced overtime with a touchdown catch by Juwan Johnson with 1:07 remaining in the fourth quarter. A subsequent 62-yard field goal attempt by Daniel Carlson at the buzzer sailed wide right, sending the game into the first overtime of the new NFL campaign.
After both teams traded touchdowns in the overtime period, with Amon-Ra St. Brown scoring for Detroit and Noah Fant responding for New Orleans, the Saints opted to go for the win on a two-point conversion. The Lions' defense ultimately thwarted the attempt when quarterback Tyler Shough's pass to rookie Bryce Lance was broken up, preserving the win for Detroit.
A loss would have marked the biggest blown lead in franchise history for the Lions. The team, which has aspirations for the NFC North title, expressed relief at avoiding such a distinction.
The game's complexion shifted dramatically in the second half. The Saints, after struggling for much of the game, began their comeback in the third quarter with a touchdown run by Kendre Miller. New Orleans added another touchdown and a field goal to close the deficit.
Jahmyr Gibbs was a standout performer for the Lions, carrying the offensive load in the absence of David Montgomery. Gibbs rushed for 156 yards and two touchdowns on 34 touches, accumulating 186 scrimmage yards. Quarterback Jared Goff completed 35 of 56 passes for 410 yards, but was intercepted twice. His primary target, Chris Olave, recorded 10 catches for 182 yards.
While the Lions celebrate the win, they will aim to address defensive lapses that allowed the Saints' significant comeback. The offensive performance, particularly from Gibbs, offers a strong foundation for the season.