Lions avoid franchise-worst collapse as defense stops Saints two-point conversion in OT

The Detroit Lions needed overtime and a moment of stellar defense to avoid a franchise-worst collapse against the New Orleans Saints to begin their 2026 NFL season.

What appeared to be a comfortable path to a Week 1 win became a contested, back-and-forth affair, with the Saints pushing the game to overtime after Juwan Johnson hauled in a touchdown with 1:07 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Saints almost completed the 21-point comeback when kicker Daniel Carlson tried to knock through a 62-yard field goal at the buzzer...