The New Orleans Saints are set to kick off the 2026 NFL season on the road against the Detroit Lions, marking their first season opener away from home since 2022. That year, they started strong with a victory over the Falcons in Atlanta. Now, with a fresh chapter ahead, fans are eager to see how the Saints measure up against an old rival.

Coming off a 6-11 record in 2025 under first-year head coach Kellen Moore, the Saints finished the season on a high note, winning four of their last five games behind quarterback Tyler Shough. Meanwhile, the Lions posted a 9-8 record last season but missed the playoffs for the first time since 2022. Both teams have something to prove as they meet again.

This matchup will be the 29th all-time meeting between the Saints and Lions. They last faced off in 2023, but it's been even longer since they played in Detroit—the last time was the 2020 season. As the series history shows, these two franchises have traded blows over the years, with plenty of memorable moments along the way.

Between 2008 and 2017, the Saints and Lions clashed eight times in a 10-year span. New Orleans won five of those games, including a decisive 45-28 victory in the 2011 Wild Card round at the Superdome—the only postseason meeting between the two teams. From 2018 to 2025, they faced just twice, with each squad winning on the other's home turf.

September has been a favorable month for the Saints historically. They hold a 4-3 edge over the Lions in games played during the month, though their only win in Detroit came way back in 1988, a 22-14 victory at the Silverdome. The Lions have proven tough to beat on their own soil early in the season.

This will be just the third time these teams have opened the regular season against each other. In 2000, the Lions visited the Superdome and left with a 14-10 win. But in 2009, the Saints hosted Detroit to start a season that would end with a Super Bowl XLIV championship, crushing the Lions 45-27. History suggests a strong start could set the tone for a special year.