Sunday, September 13, 2026

Lions Links for Sunday Evening 9-13-26

Articles:


FOUR DOWNS: Gibbs leads the way in Lions' victory over Saints:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/four-downs-gibbs-leads-the-way-lions-saints-goff-hutchinson

RECAP: Lions vs. Saints:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/recap-lions-vs-saints-goff-stbrown-barnes







Key Takeaways From Lions' 31-30 Victory Against New Orleans Saints:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/key-takeaways-from-lions-31-30-victory-against-new-orleans-saints


5 winners, 3 losers from Detroit Lions’ win over the New Orleans Saints:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detroit-lions-analysis/172705/5-winners-3-losers-detroit-lions-win-new-orleans-saints




5 Winners and 4 Losers From the Detroit Lions’ Week 1 Win: One star took over, another had a day to forget:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/5-winners-and-3-losers-from-the-detroit-lions-week-1-win-one-star-took-over-another-had-a-day-to-forget/

Detroit Lions Week 1 takeaways: A wild win answered some questions and created a few more:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/detroit-lions-week-1-takeaways-a-wild-win-answered-some-questions-and-created-a-few-more/

Here’s who is not playing for the Lions vs the Saints, one very shocking name sitting out and one former second-round pick:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/heres-who-is-not-playing-for-the-lions-vs-the-saints-one-very-shocking-name-sitting-out-and-one-for-second-round-pic/

Gibbs not sweating 29-carry workload after Lions ride RB's big day:  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49934534/jahmyr-gibbs-happy-help-lions-not-worried-workload

Big questions off Sunday's NFL Week 1 games: Hot start by Trevor Lawrence? Concern over Zay Flowers? (Detroit 31, New Orleans 30 (OT) - Lions:  Should the Lions be worried about the defense, or this what we should expect from the D? Honestly, it might be somewhere in between as the Saints' offense likely won't be this stellar throughout the season. When Detroit's offense struggled in the first half, the defense held the Saints scoreless and created three turnovers. But then it gave up 24 points in the second half. Edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson finished with two sacks, while S Chuck Clark and LB Derrick Barnes both snagged interceptions, but the defense was still susceptible to explosive plays. That was the same issue last year. Perhaps the eventual return of safeties Kerby Joseph (knee) and Brian Branch (Achilles) from IR will help.  Stat to know: Jahmyr Gibbs' second TD marked his 51st career score in 50 career games, making him the sixth player in NFL history to reach at least 50 career touchdowns in 50 or fewer games, per ESPN Research. Chuck Foreman (44 games), Steve Van Buren (45), Jim Brown (46), Larry Johnson (48) and Marcus Allen (49) round out the list. -- Eric Woodyard):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49871987/week-1-sunday-games-takeaways-questions-2026

Lions escape with 31-30 win over Saints in OT after Kellen Moore chooses to go for 2 and the win:  https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/401872923

2026 NFL season, Week 1: What We Learned from Sunday's games (Lions 31 Saints 30 - Kevin Patra's takeaways:  1.  Lions survive epic collapse with OT win. The Lions took a 21-0 lead midway through the third quarter, as Tyler Shough and the Saints offense bungled things. Detroit took its foot off the pedal, allowing New Orleans to control much of the rest of the contest and force overtime. Jahmyr Gibbs motored the Lions down the field, and Amon-Ra St. Brown capped off the opening drive of overtime with a score. The Saints matched the touchdown but fell short on the game-winning two-point attempt, which fell incomplete. It would have been a brutal loss for the Lions after they built a three-score lead. As expected, the offense ran through Gibbs, who took a career-high 29 carries for 156 rushing yards and two TDs. He also added five catches for 30 yards. The Lions leaned on the run, particularly early, and it paid off late as Gibbs gashed through holes, particularly in OT. Expect the Lions to lean on the RB until the passing attack catches up.  2.  Shough overcomes terrible start to give the Saints a shot. Tyler Shough looked like a second-year quarterback who didn’t take any preseason snaps early in the contest. The QB was scattershot, jittery in the pocket, missed reads, and threw some shockingly awful passes. His two second-half turnovers allowed the Lions to take a big lead. On the ensuing drive after a fumble turned the game into a 21-0 deficit, Shough hit Chris Olave on a deep strike after escaping the pocket. The pass settled down the passer. He picked apart the Lions secondary from there on. Shough led the Saints on scoring drives on five of their final six possessions. The early skittishness disappeared, and he made some beautiful up-and-down throws stretching the field. Shough finished with 410 yards on 35-of-56 passing with three touchdowns and two interceptions, took five sacks, and lost a fumble. If not for the wobbly early play from the QB, the Saints would have swiped a big-time road upset to open the season. Kellen Moore’s club will be a tough out in 2026.  3. Lions secondary struggled in second half. It was a given Detroit could have some issues in the defensive backs group, particularly early in the season. The unit played solidly early, but was taken advantage of as the game wore on. Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard threw a trove of blitzes, particularly from DBs, at Shough. The pressures sped up the young QB early and led to the issues. When the Lions didn’t have time to get home, with New Orleans throwing quick passes, the secondary was exposed. Five of the six Saints 20-plus-yard completions came in the second half or overtime. Aidan Hutchinson was his usual disruptive self, generating two sacks, four QB hits, two tackles for loss and 10 QB pressures. The Lions also got solid play from linebacker Derrick Barnes, who had a sack and an interception. Detroit got to 1-0 thanks to building its big lead, but against more experienced passers the Lions need to figure out how to protect the secondary to avoid bigger letdowns as the season progresses.  Next Gen Stats Insight for Lions-Saints (via NFL Pro): Jared Goff aligned under center on 47 snaps in Week 1 against the Saints, tied for the most of his Lions career. From shotgun, Goff completed 17 of 22 passes for 134 yards and both of his touchdowns. Lions rushers carried the ball 30 times for 145 yards and two scores with Goff under center.  NFL Research: Jahmyr Gibbs became the fifth player in NFL history with 50-plus touchdowns in their first 50 career games (Week 1 was Gibbs’ 50th career game). With two touchdowns in Week 1, Gibbs’ 51 career touchdowns only trail Chuck Foreman (55), Jim Brown (53), Marcus Allen (52), and Larry Johnson (52) on that list.:  https://www.nfl.com/news/2026-nfl-season-week-1-what-we-learned-from-sunday-s-games

NFL Week 1: 10 things we learned from the early games (9. Jahmyr Gibbs and Aidan Hutchinson powered Detroit on opposite sides of the ball
Detroit needed almost everything it could get to escape New Orleans with a one-point victory, and two of its biggest stars delivered on opposite sides of the ball.  Jahmyr Gibbs handled 29 designed carries for 156 yards and two touchdowns, forcing eight missed tackles along the way.  Aidan Hutchinson was just as disruptive on defense. The Lions edge defender generated nine total pressures and two sacks, adding three additional defensive stops.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-week-1-takeaways-grades

NFL Week 1 Recap: New Orleans Saints 30, Detroit Lions 31:  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-week-1-recap-new-orleans-saints-30-detroit-lions-31

NFL Week 1 Winners and Losers: Bears' offense looks every bit as good as Ben Johnson said it would be (Winners -  Detroit Lions, but barely: The Lions won, but they can't be too happy about how they played. Detroit didn't look great, but it held on to beat New Orleans, 31-30, in overtime. The Lions forced an incompletion on a 2-point conversion as the Saints went for the win.  The Lions had only a touchdown in the first half, though the defense was doing its part. An interception and a fumble recovery early in the second half turned a 7-0 game into a 21-0 lead for Detroit. But the Saints rallied as the Lions' defense started to get ripped apart. A touchdown from Tyler Shough to tight end Juwan Johnson in the final two minutes tied a game that the Lions once led by three touchdowns at home.  The Lions scored first in overtime but New Orleans answered with a Noah Fant touchdown. Shough ended up with 410 passing yards and three touchdowns. The Saints went for the 2-point conversion and the win, but the Lions got the stop they needed.  Even though the Lions' defense came up big with the one play it needed to win, it will have to be better going forward. In four days, they face Josh Allen and the Bills.):  https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/nfl-week-1-winners-and-losers-bears-offense-looks-every-bit-as-good-as-ben-johnson-said-it-would-be-203550128.html






‘This Is Rigged,’ ‘Utterly Ridiculous’ -- Saints Fans Rip NFL Refs After Controversial Call In Favor of Lions in Week 1:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/saints-lions-refs-controversial-call-blasted-fans/

Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs joins NFL elite in Week 1:  https://www.thebiglead.com/lions-jahmyr-gibbs-joins-nfl-elite-in-week-1/

Grades:

CBS Grades (Detroit 31-30 over New Orleans in OT - Lions Grade:  B.  This might win the award for ugliest win of Week 1. The Lions defense choked away a 21-0 lead, but then rebounded to make a huge stop in overtime on what would have been a game-winning two-point conversion for New Orleans. The defense got gashed for 469 yards, but the unit also forced three turnovers, which led to 14 important points for Detroit. The Lions will be an interesting team to watch this year because every week could turn into a shootout. With Jahmyr Gibbs (156 rushing yards, two touchdowns) and Amon Ra St. Brown (67 receiving yards, two touchdowns), the Lions have the firepower to beat anyone, but they're going to need the defense to play better.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-1-grades-for-all-32-teams-ravens-roll-bills-earn-high-mark/

Saints Media:

Halftime Studs & Duds: Saints vs. Lions, Officiating? Hard Hitting!:  https://www.si.com/nfl/saints/onsi/halftime-studs-duds-saints-vs-lions-officiating-hard-hitting-01m2dvdgdtk2

Video:











Jahmyr Gibbs' best plays from 186-total yard, 2-TD game vs. Saints Week 1:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/jahmyr-gibbs-best-plays-from-186-total-yard-2-td-game-vs-saints-week-1


Lions survive Saints' attempt to win in OT:  https://www.nfl.com/videos/lions-survive-saints-attempt-to-win-in-ot

HIGHLIGHT: Goff hits St. Brown for a 4-yard TD in OT:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/highlight-goff-hits-st-brown-for-a-4-yard-td-in-ot


HIGHLIGHT: Gibbs' second TD of the day boosts Lions' lead:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/highlight-gibbs-second-td-of-the-day-boosts-lions-lead

Jahmyr Gibbs' TD comes by way of impressive blocking by Lions OL:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/highlight-gibbs-rushes-for-1-yard-td-x6835

Jahmyr Gibbs breaks into Saints' secondary on 21-yard run in Week 1:  https://www.nfl.com/videos/jahmyr-gibbs-breaks-into-saints-secondary-on-21-yard-run-in-week-1

Jared Goff dances in the backfield before connecting with Sam LaPorta for 19 yards:  https://www.nfl.com/videos/jared-goff-dances-in-the-backfield-before-connecting-with-sam-laporta-for-19-yards

HIGHLIGHT: Hutchinson sacks Shough for a 10-yard loss:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/highlight-hutchinson-sacks-shough-for-a-10-yard-loss


HIGHLIGHT: Barnes jumps the route to pick off Shough's pass attempt:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/highlight-barnes-jumps-the-route-to-pick-off-shough-s-pass-attempt

Chuck Clark's INT prevents the Saints from marching on:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/highlight-clark-intercepts-shough

Are Lions still a threat to compete in NFC? | 'NFL GameDay Preview':  https://www.nfl.com/videos/are-lions-still-a-threat-to-compete-in-nfc-nfl-gameday-preview

The Biggest Winners from a Detroit Lions win over the New Orleans Saints:  https://sports.yahoo.com/videos/biggest-winners-detroit-lions-win-231657088.html

Instant Reaction to Detroit Lions 31-30 Victory Against Saints:  https://sports.yahoo.com/videos/instant-reaction-detroit-lions-31-210525096.html

MLive A tale of two halves: Lions barely escape with OT week 1 win:  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbFHLvycQNU


Posted by LionsFan at 8:50 PM

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