- Matchup: New Orleans Saints vs Detroit Lions
- Game Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
- Venue: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
- Broadcast: FOX
- Point Spread: Lions -7.0
- Total Over/Under: 49.5
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In an exciting clash, the New Orleans Saints (6-11 last season) visit Ford Field to face off against the Detroit Lions (9-8 from last year). Vegas bookmakers list the Lions as 7-point favorites, while the over/under is pegged at 49.5.
Last season, the New Orleans Saints capped off with a 6-11 record. Their most recent appearance ended in a narrow defeat to the Atlanta Falcons, concluding the game at 19-17. Quarterback Tyler Shough completed 23 of 35 passes for 259 yards and recorded 1 touchdown, registering a QB rating of 85.3, but also threw 1 interception. On the ground, Audric Estime led the Saints with 21 attempts for 63 yards (3.0 yards per carry), while Juwan Johnson averaged 20.3 yards per reception with 3 catches totaling 61 yards. Overall, the Saints managed 26 rushing attempts for a total of 108 yards, averaging 4.2 yards per attempt, and ran 61 plays for 340 yards. Defensively, they allowed 18 completions on 32 attempts for 159 yards, giving a completion percentage of 56.3%. Against the run, they permitted 49 yards over 25 carries, averaging only 2.0 yards per run.
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In terms of total offense, the Saints recorded 5,331 yards throughout the season. They achieved 183 first downs and incurred 118 penalties amounting to 920 yards lost. The team scored 19 touchdowns through the air and 9 on the ground. However, they turned the ball over 24 times (12 interceptions and 12 fumbles). The Saints ranked 28th in the NFL for rushing yardage, averaging 94.3 yards per game, and finished with an average score of 18.0 points per game.
On the defensive side, the Saints allowed 3,046 passing yards, ranking them 4th in the NFL, permitting an average of 179.2 yards per game with a completion rate of 63.5%. They allowed a total of 2,050 rushing yards across 17 games, yielding 25 touchdowns through the air and 12 on the ground. Overall, they ranked 9th with an average of 299.8 yards conceded per game, giving up 4.0 yards per rush and 120.6 rushing yards on average. The Saints stood 16th in the league for points allowed, averaging 22.5 points against.
For the Detroit Lions, they finished the prior season with a respectable 9-8 record. Their last game resulted in a 19-16 victory over the Chicago Bears. Quarterback Jared Goff threw for 331 yards, completing 27 of 42 passes for 1 touchdown and an 86.5 QB rating, though he did record 1 interception as well. Jahmyr Gibbs led the rushing attack with 80 yards on 19 carries, averaging 4.2 yards per attempt. Amon-Ra St. Brown shined as the top receiver, catching 11 passes for 139 yards (12.6 yards per catch). Collectively, the Lions rushed for 122 yards on 27 carries, logging an average of 4.5 yards per attempt. They finished the game with 433 total yards after executing 69 plays (6.3 yards per play). Defensively, Detroit allowed a completion rate of 60.6%, giving up 205 yards on 20 completions out of 33 attempts. In the run game, they conceded 65 yards on 18 carries (an average of 3.6 yards per rush).
From an offensive perspective, the Lions were impressive, ranking 5th in the league with an average of 28.3 points per game. In the previous season, Detroit amassed a total of 4,303 passing yards, averaging 253.1 yards per game, good for 3rd in the league. The team averaged 120.1 rushing yards per game, totaling 2,041 yards. Their offense ranked 5th overall, averaging 373.2 total yards per game. However, they were flagged for 104 penalties, ranking 19th in the league for mistakes, and they turned the ball over 15 times, with 8 interceptions and 7 lost fumbles. They achieved 224 first downs as a team.
On defense, the Lions allowed 31 touchdown passes, averaging 217.4 passing yards against them per game, ranking 20th in the NFL. They permitted 1,947 rushing yards (114.5 yards per game) and relinquished 16 rushing touchdowns last season. The Lions forced 19 turnovers, including 6 fumbles and 13 interceptions, and ultimately allowed 413 total points. The defense participated in 1,050 plays, ranking 17th in the league, resulting in an average of 24.3 points allowed per game, placing them 22nd overall in the league.
Will the Saints prevail against the spread in this matchup with the Lions?
Prediction: Bet on the Lions -7.0 and over 49.5
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