The New Orleans Saints open the 2026 season on the road, and the Detroit Lions are laying 7 points at Ford Field. That number has not moved since the market opened in May, which is unusual for a Week 1 game that has seen real roster news since. Detroit fielded one of the NFL’s most productive scoring offenses last season. However, the Lions begin this year without both starting safeties. Below is the breakdown of the spread, the total, the public split, and our best bet.
Last Updated: Sunday, September 13, 2026
New Orleans Saints vs. Detroit Lions — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Ford Field, Detroit MI |
| When | Sunday, September 13 – 1:00 PM ET |
| TV | FOX |
New Orleans Saints vs. Detroit Lions Betting Preview
Detroit finished 9-8 last season and missed the playoffs, placing fourth in the NFC North. Scoring was never the problem. The Lions put up 481 points, roughly 28.3 per game, while allowing 413. The collapse came late, with two wins across the final six games. Jared Goff returns under center, working with his third offensive coordinator in three years after the team named Drew Petzing to run the offense.
New Orleans went 6-11 and finished fourth in the NFC South. The offense was the bottleneck all year, averaging 18.0 points per game on 306 total. Still, the Saints closed strong, winning four of their final five. Kellen Moore enters his second season as head coach, and Tyler Shough his first full year as the announced starter.
The injury news tilts toward New Orleans in one area. Detroit safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph both sit on the reserve/PUP list and must miss the first four games. Christian Izien is questionable with a groin issue. The Saints ruled out edge rusher Cameron Jordan, tight end Oscar Delp, and running back Audric Estimé. Alvin Kamara is questionable with a knee problem, though he practiced fully on Friday.
The head-to-head series is dead even at 13-13-1. Detroit took the most recent meeting 33-28 on December 3, 2023.
New Orleans Saints vs. Detroit Lions Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saints | +7 (-110) | +265 | U 50 (-115) |
| Lions | -7 (-110) | -330 | O 50 (-105) |
Odds accurate as of Sunday, September 13, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NFL Odds – Futures – Props
New Orleans Saints vs. Detroit Lions — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Saints | 45% | 55% | Lions |
See the latest NFL Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Saints vs. Lions Prediction — Does a Thin Secondary Change This Number?
The most interesting thing about this market is what has not happened. The spread opened at Lions -7 in May and sits at Lions -7 today. Two starting safeties went on the PUP list in the interim, and the number never blinked. The public split is nearly even at 55 percent on Detroit, so no wave of square money is propping up the price. That usually means the market is comfortable. It can also mean it has not fully repriced one piece of news.
New Orleans has a reason to test that secondary. The Saints ranked fourth in the league in passing yards allowed last season at 179.2 per game, and the passing game now pairs Chris Olave with new running back Travis Etienne Jr. Shough gets a full offseason as the starter under Moore, which is a meaningfully different situation from the midseason handoff he inherited as a rookie. Detroit’s defense was middling by yardage in 2025, ranking 18th overall and 20th against the pass, even with the pass rush finishing tied for fourth in sacks.
The case against New Orleans is serious. This offense averaged 18.0 points per game last year. Kamara’s status is unsettled, Jordan is out, and a team that scored that little does not need much to go wrong to lose by double digits. Detroit at home, with a healthy Goff and weapons in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs, is a legitimate two-score favorite on talent. The counterargument is price, not outcome. Seven is a key number, and taking it with a road underdog whose defensive strength meets the opponent’s depleted spot is the more defensible side here.
The Pick: Saints +7 (-110)
Saints vs. Lions Prediction — Can New Orleans Score Enough to Reach the Number?
The total opened at 49.5 and has ticked up to 50, with the juice leaning toward the under at -115. The math behind that move is easy to see. Detroit’s games were high-scoring events last season, with 894 combined points across 17 games. New Orleans sat at the other end, with 689 combined points in its 17 games. Blend the two profiles and 50 is a fair landing spot on paper.
The reason to lean down is the Saints’ half of the equation plus the calendar. New Orleans scored 18.0 points per game last year, and a road opener against a top pass rush is not the obvious place for a leap. Detroit is also installing a new system under Petzing, and Week 1 rarely rewards fresh scheme installs with clean efficiency. The risk runs the other way too. If Detroit’s offense picks up where it left off and New Orleans has to chase, this number clears in a hurry.
The Pick: Under 50 (-115)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
The moneyline offers a smaller, correlated way to play the same read. New Orleans at +265 carries an implied probability near 27 percent. If the case for the spread holds, an outright win is not a remote outcome. The caveat matters, though. This is the same side as the ATS play, not a separate opinion, so it belongs at reduced stake. Bettors who prefer one clean exposure should skip it.
For how this line was priced earlier, see our Saints vs Lions Odds: Spread, Total and How to Watch September 13, 2026 preview, plus our Packers vs Vikings breakdown.
Bonus Pick: Saints Moneyline (+265), reduced stake
All picks for this game: Saints +7 (-110), Under 50 (-115), and Saints moneyline (+265) at reduced stake.
NFL Saints vs. Lions FAQ: Sunday September 13, 2026
What time does the Saints vs. Lions game start?
Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, September 13, 2026 at Ford Field in Detroit. It is the Week 1 opener for both teams, with New Orleans on the road and Detroit at home.
What channel is the Saints vs. Lions game on?
The game airs on FOX. Kenny Albert handles play-by-play with Jonathan Vilma as analyst and Megan Olivi reporting from the sideline. Coverage is carried on local FOX affiliates across the Detroit and New Orleans markets.
Where are the Saints and Lions playing?
The game is at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, the Lions’ home stadium. New Orleans travels for the opener. Ford Field is a domed stadium, so conditions are controlled.
Who won the last meeting between the Saints and Lions?
Detroit won the most recent meeting 33-28 on December 3, 2023. The all-time series between the two franchises is level at 13 wins apiece with one tie. Sunday marks only the third Week 1 matchup in the history of the series.
Who is starting at quarterback for the Saints and Lions?
Tyler Shough starts for New Orleans and Jared Goff starts for Detroit. Shough took over the Saints job in Week 9 of his rookie season and was confirmed as the 2026 starter. Goff opens his first season under new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.