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One of the best games of the early slate in Week 1 was between the Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints, who needed overtime to decide a winner.
After a slow offensive start, the Lions took a 21-0 lead as they appeared to be set on an easy victory to open the season. However, the Saints found their footing late, erasing the three-touchdown deficit to end regulation tied with the Lions 24-24, giving New Orleans a chance to win the game in overtime.
Instead, the Lions were able to squeak out a 31-30 win as the Saints' bold decision to go for the two-point conversion fell just short. Here's how the Saints' chances of winning on Sunday came down to one play.
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Saints failed two-point conversion
The Saints almost pulled off an impressive comeback over the Lions, but a failed two-point conversion kept them from earning a win. New Orleans allowed the Lions to score a touchdown to open overtime, but the offense then marched down the field to respond with a score of its own.
Tyler Shough made several nice throws on the drive, including one to Juwan Johnson to get the Saints on the verge of the end zone. Then, Shough completed a pass to Noah Fant in the end zone for a score, putting the Saints within one of the Lions.
— NFL (@NFL) September 13, 2026However, with just about 90 seconds left on the clock, the Saints' best chance at winning the game was executing a two-point conversion. Therefore, New Orleans risked a loss outright by going for two, instead of settling for a potential tie.
In that play, Shough's pass to Bryce Lance sailed out of bounds, ending the game in the process.
TWO-POINT CONVERSION IS INCOMPLETE AND THE LIONS WIN pic.twitter.com/RRBb32Zrtm
— NFL (@NFL) September 13, 2026Moore said after the game that the plan was always to go for the two-point conversion instead of possibly settling for a tie.
Saints coach Kellen Moore said his approach was to go for 2 to win at the end even if there was no time left on the clock.
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) September 13, 2026Inside Saints comeback vs. Lions
The Saints were at one point down 21 points in Detroit, but fought back to tie the game and force it into overtime. New Orleans scored three touchdowns in the final 20 minutes of action, beginning with a Kendre Miller touchdown in the red zone.
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 13, 2026Then, after the Saints defense forced a quick punt, Tyler Shough capped off a 54-yard drive with a short touchdown pass to Devaughn Vele, cutting the deficit to one possession.
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 13, 2026The two sides traded field goals to make the score 24-17, but the Saints then scored a game-tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter. The big play before that score was a deep Shough pass to Chris Olave, setting up a Shough touchdown to Juwan Johnson.
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 13, 2026— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 13, 2026The Saints did have a chance to win the game after getting the ball back before the end of regulation, but Daniel Carlson's field goal missed. Had the Saints completed the comeback, it would've tied the biggest comeback win in franchise history.
Biggest Saints comebacks in history
Three times have the Saints come back from down 21 points to win a game, marking the biggest comeback wins in New Orleans history. Here are those victories:
- October 25, 2009: 46-34 win vs. Dolphins
- December 20, 1987: 41-24 win vs. Bengals
- November 23, 1969: 43-38 win vs. 49ers
Had the Saints finished the comeback win over Detroit, it would've been the lowest-scoring of the four 21-point comebacks.
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