Detroit has the cleaner offensive profile in Sunday’s opener, but the line asks bettors to decide whether that advantage is worth a full touchdown. New Orleans makes the question interesting after closing last season with a stronger defensive grade and a productive run against the spread.
The Saints visit the Lions at Ford Field on Sunday, Sept. 13, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. EDT. The latest DraftKings odds have Detroit favored by seven points at -108, with New Orleans +7 at -112. The total is 49.5, priced at -112 to the over and -108 to the under.
Detroit owns the clearer offensive advantage
Our grades put Detroit’s offense at A+, compared with C+ for New Orleans. The overall gap is also substantial, with the Lions receiving an A- and the Saints a C+.
Our projections show Detroit producing roughly 379 total yards, including about 256 through the air and 124 on the ground. New Orleans comes in around 318 total yards, with approximately 223 passing and 95 rushing.
That gives Jared Goff and the Lions a clear route to controlling the game: stay balanced and force New Orleans to keep pace. The Saints have a meaningful counterpoint on defense, where their B- grade sits above Detroit’s C+.
Tyler Shough sits atop the New Orleans quarterback depth chart, with Travis Etienne Jr., Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson among the primary offensive options. Detroit surrounds Goff with Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta. The available player markets also set sizable workload expectations for Gibbs, whose lines include 86.5 rushing yards and 121.5 rushing-plus-receiving yards. Prices weren’t supplied with those props.
Recent results pull the total in two directions
The teams finished 2025 with sharply different scoring patterns across their final 10 games. Eight of New Orleans’ 10 games stayed under the listed total, while seven of Detroit’s 10 went over.
The spread results add another wrinkle without serving as a forecast for a new season. The Saints covered six of the nine games in that sample with an available spread, including five consecutive covers in December and January. Detroit covered three of nine games with spread data.
That leaves legitimate tension in both markets. Detroit’s offensive grade and projected yardage support its position as a substantial favorite, while New Orleans’ late-season results offer a reason not to treat seven points casually. For the total, the Lions’ high-scoring finish runs directly into a Saints sample that repeatedly stayed under.
Fresh availability notes
The NFL’s Week 1 injury report lists several availability concerns for this matchup. New Orleans running back Audric Estime and tight end Oscar Delp have been ruled out, while Detroit safety Christian Izien is questionable with a groin injury.
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How the market sets up
The spread is the more compelling lens. Our assessment gives the side a three-star strength rating, compared with two stars for the total. That difference fits the matchup: the broader team-quality separation is clear, but the total has to reconcile Detroit’s offensive upside with New Orleans’ recent lower-scoring results.
Detroit’s case starts with advantages in overall grade and projected passing and rushing production. New Orleans’ path to keeping the seven-point spread competitive begins with its better defensive grade and the resistance it showed against the number late last season. The total is less tidy because the teams bring such contrasting recent profiles.
See the latest markets, player information and matchup details on the New Orleans Saints vs. Detroit Lions matchup page.
Odds and projections are snapshots and can change. Wagering involves risk.