The Detroit Lions will kick off the season at home with a team that's much tougher than they get credit for. Kellen Moore's New Orleans Saints can put up points on the scoreboard, and they don't have anything to lose in Week 1.
On paper, the Lions should win this one. Unfortunately, they also know a thing or two about being the strongest team on paper and still falling short. This time, after missing the playoffs in 2025, there's no margin for error.
The Lions are stacked, but they also have some questions and concerns, especially on the defensive side of the field. Considering that, let's take a look at the three main storylines that could define the season opener.
3 questions that will define the Lions' Week 1 game vs. Saints
Who'll step up next to Aidan Hutchinson?
For years, the Lions have tried to find someone to line up opposite Aidan Hutchinson. The Michigan star often has to deal with double teams and chip blocks, yet the other starting defensive end has rarely made the most of all the attention Hutchinson draws.
This time, the Lions will roll with DJ Wonnum on the other side of the defensive line. He's looked sharp in training camp, but with no joint practices, it's hard to know where he's truly at right now. Other than that, they don't have much.
The Lions seem high on rookie Derrick Moore. He has impressive athletic traits, but he's raw and is currently questionable with a hamstring injury, so even if he plays, it may be a while before he makes an impact.
Can Keith Abney II hold his own?
The Lions entered the offseason with major concerns at cornerback, and those haven't gone away. If anything, things got worse when they were forced to release Terrion Arnold after his well-documented legal turmoil.
As such, they'll have no choice but to throw rookie cornerback Keith Abney II into the fire right out of the gate. Tyler Shough is a gunslinger, and Kellen Moore is a savvy offensive play-caller, so they'll likely attack the rookie early and often.
Even if D.J. Reed often gets the toughest assignment and will try to stay close to Chris Olave, Abney will also have his hands full in his first real taste of NFL action. Can he keep penalties to a minimum and play bigger than his size?
How will the offensive line hold up?
With Taylor Decker gone and Graham Glasgow retiring, the Lions had to reshape the offensive line. Cade Mays will miss the start of the season with an injury, and Penei Sewell is back at left tackle, his college position.
Rookie Blake Miller looked a bit behind schedule at first, but he still managed to win the right tackle competition. Tate Ratledge showed promise but is still an unproven commodity, leaving Sewell and Christian Mahogany as the only reliable guys in the trenches.
The Saints don't have the most proficient pass rush by any means, but new-look offensive lines often need time to mesh and get on the same page. As such, there might be some sloppy execution early on here.
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