The Lions game is here as the Detroit Lions open their 2026 NFL season against the New Orleans Saints at Ford Field on Sunday, Sept. 13. The matchup gives fans an early look at the Detroit Lions as they begin a new campaign following a 9-8 record in 2025.
The Lions vs Saints game is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET and will be televised nationally on FOX. Fans can also stream the matchup through NFL+.
Lions Game Today: Detroit Opens the Season at Home
The Detroit Lions are beginning their 2026 season in front of a home crowd at Ford Field, while the New Orleans Saints travel to Detroit for the Week 1 matchup.
For supporters searching for the lions game today, the key details are straightforward:
- Matchup: New Orleans Saints vs. Detroit Lions
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026
- Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET
- Venue: Ford Field, Detroit
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: NFL+
- Week: NFL Week 1
The saints game today is one of several early Sunday NFL contests, but the Saints and Lions matchup is particularly important because it marks the beginning of both teams’ regular seasons.
Lions vs Saints Brings Game-Day Energy to Detroit
While Ford Field is the center of attention for the lions football season opener, the game-day atmosphere began hours before kickoff throughout Detroit.
Eastern Market once again became a major gathering place for lions fans preparing for the home opener. According to the supplied MLive report, workers and security personnel were preparing the area overnight, with some parking lot and shed staff arriving as early as 5:30 a.m.
Fans began arriving early with televisions, DJ equipment and grills. The tailgate menus included favorites such as burgers, hot dogs, catfish, brats, brisket and ribs.
That tradition is a major part of the experience surrounding a Lions game Sunday in Detroit.
Why Fans Return for the Lions Game
For many longtime supporters, the attraction goes beyond simply watching the Detroit Lions play.
Robert Dinkins, a Pontiac resident, has attended Eastern Market tailgates for more than two decades. He described the atmosphere as a major reason he continues returning.
Other fans emphasized the community feeling surrounding the event. Khari Williams, a Detroit native now living in Grand Rapids, made an early-morning trip to continue his tailgate tradition and described Eastern Market as being at the heart of the city.
Jason Johnson, meanwhile, highlighted friends, family, Detroit pride and the shared love of football as reasons he continues attending.
That sense of community helps make the Lions game a full-day event rather than simply a three-hour football contest.
Saints vs Lions: What to Know
The Saints vs Lions matchup pits two NFC teams against each other in the opening week of the 2026 season.
The Saints finished the 2025 season with a 6-11 record, while the Lions went 9-8. Both teams enter Week 1 looking to establish momentum early.
For Detroit, starting the season at home gives the team an opportunity to use its crowd advantage immediately. For New Orleans, the goal is to spoil the Lions’ home opener and begin the season with a road victory.
What Time Do the Lions Play Today?
For fans asking what time do the Lions play today, the answer is 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026.
The New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions are part of the early afternoon slate, with the game airing on FOX.
Fans in other time zones should adjust accordingly. The 1 p.m. ET kickoff is 10 a.m. PT.
How to Watch the Lions Game Today
The Lions game today can be watched nationally on FOX.
The matchup is also available for streaming through NFL+. Fans looking for the saints game or Lions matchup online can use the NFL’s official streaming service where available.
With several NFL games taking place during the same window, local broadcast availability can vary depending on location.
Lions Schedule 2026: Week 1 Starts at Ford Field
The lions schedule 2026 begins with the Saints visiting Detroit for the season opener. The Detroit Lions schedule will become increasingly important as the team attempts to build on its 2025 campaign.
Meanwhile, the saints schedule 2026 also gets underway on the road against Detroit.
Both teams will have plenty of opportunities to improve as the season progresses, but Week 1 provides the first competitive test of the new campaign.
Saints Schedule and Lions Schedule Set the Stage for Week 1
The NFL’s 2026 schedule features the Lions in the NFC North alongside the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. The Saints are part of the NFC South with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The opening matchup gives fans an immediate opportunity to evaluate where the two teams stand.
For Detroit supporters, the focus is on whether the Detroit Lions can turn their home-field advantage into an opening-day win. For New Orleans fans, the objective is to start the Saints schedule with a statement victory.
Lions Game Sunday Is More Than Football
The buildup around Eastern Market demonstrates how deeply the Lions are connected to Detroit’s football culture.
Fans arrive early, prepare food, reconnect with friends and create traditions that have lasted for years. The atmosphere continues well beyond the final whistle, helping make a Lions game Sunday one of the city’s biggest sporting occasions.
As the Lions vs Saints opener gets underway, Ford Field will provide the main stage, but the celebration surrounding the game has already begun across Detroit.
For fans following the lions game, saints game, or the full lions schedule 2026, Week 1 officially marks the start of the journey.
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