# Saints vs Lions predictions, graded

Week 1, 2026: New Orleans Saints at Detroit Lions

Sep 13, 2026 · final: Saints 30, Lions 31 · 20 calls on record · updated Sep 17, 9:20 AM ET

Who do pundits pick in Saints vs Lions? Of 16 pundits with a call on record, all 16 take the Lions. 6 named a score; the median has the Lions by 10. The Lions won 31-30, so 16 of 16 had the winner. Their graded calls averaged 94 out of 100.

Picks by outlet. Each pundit counted once, at the outlet or show their latest call ran on. An outlet is listed when two or more of its pundits have picked.

- [Sports Illustrated](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated): all 8 Lions
- [CBS Sports](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/cbs-sports): all 2 Lions
- [Locked On Saints (podcast)](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/locked-on-saints-podcast): all 2 Lions

The other 4 pundits write or talk elsewhere: all 4 Lions.

Page: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-1-saints-at-lions

Picks:

- [Pete Prisco](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pete-prisco) took the Lions; said Sep 13, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2bb82ce8-249f-4f77-b543-f84d64882973
- [Ross Jackson](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/ross-jackson) took the Lions, Lions 27–Saints 20; said Sep 10, 2026; on Locked On Saints (podcast); scored 85.71 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 96.35) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6f1d3fc1-2622-4dcb-b63f-f487b45bd1e6
- [Matt Dery](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/matt-dery) took the Lions, Lions 24–Saints 20; said Sep 10, 2026; on Locked On Saints (podcast); scored 92.86 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 96.35) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fcf586b4-8b78-41d0-9f73-44a6023b8459
- [Mitchell Eisenstein](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mitchell-eisenstein) took the Lions, Lions 34–Saints 24; said Sep 9, 2026; on The Richard Sherman Podcast (podcast); scored 78.57 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 96.35) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/35222c39-16ed-4f7d-90ee-03fb1d1441bb
- [Mike Florio](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mike-florio) took the Lions, Lions 34–Saints 24; said Sep 9, 2026; on NBC Sports; scored 78.57 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 96.35) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4b20f46e-ebc0-462f-9e7a-2ab82f91a2ea
- [John Pluym](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-pluym) took the Lions; said Sep 9, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e7e5c159-21f2-4766-92de-857294ef51cf
- [Albert Breer](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/albert-breer) took the Lions; said Sep 9, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/81a0a660-de14-460e-a283-c357a6a1bcda
- [Mitch Goldich](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mitch-goldich) took the Lions; said Sep 9, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/643de3da-467f-48c2-a141-4656c392ab89
- [Matt Verderame](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/matt-verderame) took the Lions; said Sep 9, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e4f51f97-310d-4665-a47e-fdab93ff1fd1
- [Eva Geitheim](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/eva-geitheim) took the Lions; said Sep 9, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/599df4d8-af5a-4097-b802-1d21ce7b6ce1
- [Mike Kadlick](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mike-kadlick) took the Lions; said Sep 9, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/934613ff-97e3-4894-a383-faa755bdfc35
- [Gilberto Manzano](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/gilberto-manzano) took the Lions; said Sep 9, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f6e2bb80-47ba-4803-9002-1ab10e7ee54c
- [Conor Orr](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/conor-orr) took the Lions; said Sep 9, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/54ae8d21-7621-4c3d-816c-e879aed9b5c2
- [Pete Prisco](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pete-prisco) took the Lions, Lions 33–Saints 21; said Sep 9, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 73.81 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 96.35) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d6f9bde0-aad0-4013-967c-c197b2e9be19
- [John Breech](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-breech) took the Lions, Lions 30–Saints 20; said Sep 8, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 78.57 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 96.35) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b823d5ce-fc63-4d24-9f48-839f494b538a
- [Dave Dameshek](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/dave-dameshek) took the Lions; said Sep 2, 2026; on Around the NFL (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d100f663-aa56-421c-abd9-59110859dff2
- [Jason McIntyre](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jason-mcintyre) took the Lions; said Sep 1, 2026; on The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7b33b448-da81-4b34-9c3e-71da132c31b3
- [John Breech](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-breech) took the Lions; said Aug 19, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/50eb251e-cf6b-417d-a0d6-bccba95e06fc
- [Ross Jackson](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/ross-jackson) took the Lions; said May 15, 2026; on Locked On Saints (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/479e95ee-26de-4174-8e2c-1d918dc1fc5b

## How they came in

The Saints went 6-11 last season and the Lions went 9-8 last season. On win totals, 15 pundits put the Saints at 8.4 wins on average, and 13 pundits put the Lions at 10.4 wins on average.

Venue: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

- New Orleans Saints: 0-0
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 23rd, defense 24th of 32
  - Last season: 6-11
  - Win-total calls: 15 pundits, average 8.4, 2 to 11 wins
- Detroit Lions: 0-0
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 5th, defense 11th of 32
  - Last season: 9-8
  - Win-total calls: 13 pundits, average 10.4, 3 to 12 wins

## Players to watch

Each club's starting quarterback, leading rusher, receiver and tight end, and its sack and tackle leaders, with their 2026 regular season so far, with the latest call on each from a pundit ranked on the leaderboard whose record beats the naive pick, made since the 2026 schedule came out ("No." is that rank). Leaderboard: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/leaderboard

- [Tyler Shough](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tyler-shough) (Starting QB, QB): 1,986 passing yards · 14 TD, 6 INT · 66.2% completions · 162 rushing yards · 8 games; 13th in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Sep 3, 2026: Tyler Shough to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 26, 2026: I've got him at QB. I kind of go back and forth somewhere in the QB 10 to 12 range (rest of season) (not settled yet)
- [Alvin Kamara](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/alvin-kamara) (RB1, RB): 157 rushing yards on 47 carries · 3 TD · 25 catches for 150 · 7 games; 65th in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 20 Jake Ciely, Jul 20, 2026: Alvin Kamara to outplay his draft cost (round thirteen) (not settled yet)
  - No. 21 Ross Jackson, Aug 28, 2026: Alvin Kamara to make the roster (scored 100 out of 100)
- [Chris Olave](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/chris-olave) (WR1, WR): 56 catches for 734 yards · 2 TD · 8 games; 6th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 1, 2026: Chris Olave to outplay his draft cost (wide receiver 12 price tag) (not settled yet)
  - No. 21 Ross Jackson, Aug 28, 2026: Chris Olave to make the roster (scored 100 out of 100)
- [Juwan Johnson](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/juwan-johnson) (TE1, TE): 28 catches for 289 yards · 4 TD · 8 games; 73rd in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 21 Ross Jackson, Aug 28, 2026: Juwan Johnson to make the roster (scored 100 out of 100)
  - No. 30 Andrew Erickson, Aug 29, 2026: Juwan Johnson to outplay his draft cost (Late-round only) (not settled yet)
- [Chase Young](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/chase-young) (Sack leader, DE): 8 sacks · 9 solo tackles · 8 games; 2nd in the NFL in sacks
  - No. 21 Ross Jackson, Aug 28, 2026: Chase Young to make the roster (scored 100 out of 100)
- [Jonas Sanker](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jonas-sanker) (Tackle leader, S): 31 solo tackles · 8 games; 45th in the NFL in solo tackles
  - No. 21 Ross Jackson, Aug 28, 2026: Jonas Sanker to make the roster (scored 100 out of 100)
  - No. 24 Rich Hribar, Sep 8, 2026: Jonas Sanker to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Jared Goff](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jared-goff) (Starting QB, QB): 2,134 passing yards · 15 TD, 2 INT · 67.8% completions · 8 games; 9th in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Nov 3, 2026: Jared Goff to stay with Detroit Lions (not settled yet)
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Sep 6, 2026: Jared Goff to outplay his draft cost (An 11th round pick in real time ADP) (not settled yet)
- [Jahmyr Gibbs](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jahmyr-gibbs) (RB1, RB): 847 rushing yards on 177 carries · 11 TD · 34 catches for 285 · 8 games; 3rd in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 7, 2026: Jahmyr Gibbs to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points (not settled yet)
  - No. 16 Mike Kadlick, Nov 12, 2026: Jahmyr Gibbs to win Offensive Player of the Year (not settled yet)
- [Amon-Ra St. Brown](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/amon-ra-st-brown) (WR1, WR): 61 catches for 657 yards · 5 TD · 8 games; 11th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 26 Bucky Brooks, Aug 17, 2026: Amon-Ra St. Brown to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 30 Andrew Erickson, Sep 16, 2026: Amon-Ra St. Brown to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Sam LaPorta](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/sam-laporta) (TE1, TE): 35 catches for 399 yards · 3 TD · 8 games; 36th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Oct 21, 2026: Sam LaPorta to sign a new deal (not settled yet)
  - No. 18 Carter Bahns, Sep 12, 2026: Sam LaPorta to move to Detroit Lions (not settled yet)
- [Alim McNeill](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/alim-mcneill) (Sack leader, DT): 5.5 sacks · 8 solo tackles · 8 games; 12th in the NFL in sacks
- [Jack Campbell](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jack-campbell) (Tackle leader, LB): 30 solo tackles · 7 games; 48th in the NFL in solo tackles

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The room is counted in pundits, each one's latest call standing. Accuracy is out of 100; the naive pick is the home team.
The week: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-1
Method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology