Detroit opened the 2026 regular season with an overtime win at Ford Field.
The Lions built a 21–0 lead, watched New Orleans come all the way back, and then had to finish the job in overtime. Detroit scored first in the extra period and held on when the Saints went for two after answering with a touchdown.
Detroit Lions vs. New Orleans Saints
Sunday, September 13, 2026
Ford Field · Detroit, Michigan
Detroit Lions 31 · New Orleans Saints 30
Detroit win · Overtime
Detroit jumped ahead 21–0 before New Orleans rallied to tie the game late in the fourth quarter. In overtime, Jared Goff finished Detroit's opening possession with a touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown. The Saints answered with a touchdown of their own, went for the two-point conversion and the win, and Detroit stopped it to finish off the 31–30 victory.
Gibbs carried 29 times for 156 yards and two touchdowns and added 30 receiving yards.
St. Brown caught 10 passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns, including Detroit's touchdown in overtime.
The Lions held New Orleans scoreless for more than 40 minutes and built a 21–0 lead before the Saints made their comeback.
New Orleans scored after Detroit's overtime touchdown but chose to go for two instead of tying the game. The conversion attempt was incomplete, ending the game.
If this game brought you here because you're thinking about seeing the Lions in Detroit, Ford Field is one of the easier NFL stadiums to build a full city weekend around.
Ford Field
2000 Brush Street · Downtown Detroit
2002
Approximately 65,000 seats for football.
Fixed indoor roof.
Ford Field sits right in Detroit's downtown sports and entertainment district, with restaurants, hotels and other venues nearby.
Part of the historic Hudson's warehouse was incorporated into the stadium's design, giving Ford Field a connection to the city's industrial and architectural history.
A Lions game can be the reason for the trip without having to be the entire trip. If you're coming from out of town, give yourself enough time to actually see some of Detroit.
For many visiting fans, a downtown hotel makes the weekend easier because Ford Field, restaurants and entertainment are concentrated in the same general area.
Arriving Saturday instead of rushing in Sunday morning gives you time to settle in, eat somewhere in the city and enjoy downtown before game-day crowds take over.
A hotel can look close to Ford Field on a map and still create more driving, parking or transportation decisions than you expected.
Hotel location, game time, transportation and whatever else you want to do in Detroit should work together instead of being planned as separate pieces.
Spend some time along the riverfront and get a different view of downtown, the Detroit River and Windsor across the water.
If music history interests you, Hitsville U.S.A. is one of Detroit's signature attractions and worth considering when you build the weekend.
A downtown area with restaurants, nightlife and easy access to the stadium district.
Leave yourself time to walk around the stadium district, Campus Martius and some of the surrounding downtown neighborhoods instead of seeing only Ford Field.
If you've never been to a Lions game at Ford Field, I wouldn't make the trip just about getting into the stadium and getting back out. Stay downtown if it makes sense for your group, give yourself some time in the city and turn the game into a Detroit weekend. That's when the trip gets a lot more interesting.
Tell me which game you're considering, who's going and what kind of trip you want around it. I can help look at the hotel, transportation and the rest of the weekend instead of treating the game as the only part that matters.
Start Planning My Lions Road Trip →This is an independent fan-focused travel guide from Rob Sturdy Travels. It is not an official Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, NFL or Ford Field page.