The Detroit Lions will open the season in the confines of Ford Field, according to the latest NFL schedule leak.
This is the second time in three years the Lions have opened the season at home. But they won’t stay home for long. It’s already been reported that Detroit will have a short week following the Saints game, traveling to the Buffalo Bills for a Thursday Night Football matchup with the Buffalo Bills for the grand opening of their new stadium.
The Lions and Saints don’t exactly have a long and illustrious history. They’ve played just twice since 2018, with the Lions winning the most recent matchup, 33-28, and the Saints winning 35-29 back in 2020.
New Orleans has struggled as of late, but they showed some promise late in the 2025 season under first-year head coach—and former Lions quarterback—Kellen Moore. The Saints won four of their last five games, including a big upset win over the Buccaneers and Panthers. Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough looked particularly impressive down the stretch, throwing for five touchdowns, two interceptions, a passer rating of 99.1 and an average of 263.2 yards per game in the final five games of his season.
