Week 1 Staff Predictions – Saints at Lions
The 2026 season kicks off with the New Orleans Saints visiting the Detroit Lions in Ford Field. Like last year, we will be doing a season-long predictions, with Dan looking to defend his title from last year. Unlike last season, we have a new Grey Mane contributor joining the team in staff writer Mickey Bauchan!
While 2025 final stats aren't a good indicator of where the team will be this year, the Lions offense and defense did improve in the offseason, while an analysis of the Saints indicates that they will likely improve on Offense (although Jordyn Tyson is out on IR) while their Defense is probably going to be worse off with an aging core and losing several starters. End result is likely a Lions comfortable win in the friendly confines of Ford Field.
Before we get to the Week 1 2026 predictions, here is where we ended up last season, with Dan and Brent having the same 9-8 record as the Lions, but Dan taking the crown on a tie-breakler. Both Chris (8-9) and Mike (7-10) were in better shape on their predicted total points scored (tie breaker) but missed too many games each week.
So, for 2026, we will have five of us going head-to-head, and for Week 1 we went with straight picks (no write up), but we will start that up again with Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills. Based on the predictions, The Grey Manes staff thinks it will be the Lions in comfortable fashion, although a few of us are more bullish than others on how many points the Lions will score.
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