The Detroit Tigers opened their season on Thursday with a banger. The San Diego Padres never stood a chance, as the Tigers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning thanks to a phenomenal debut from 21-year-old slugger Kevin McGonigle. Detroit would walk away with a decisive 8-2 win, kicking off their 2026 campaign right.
The Detroit Lions would sure like a start to the season like that. Last year, they dropped their opener to the Green Bay Packers, and the vibes for the rest of the season never fully regained, despite the team winning the next four games. The start to the season doesn’t mean everything, but it certainly can be a tone-setter.
So today’s Question of the Day is:
Which team do you want to see the Lions play in Week 1 of the 2026 season?
My answer: If you need a reminder, you can find all 17 of the Detroit Lions’ 2026 opponents here.
For one, I’d like the Lions to open the season at home. Every home opener is special, but it’s just a little more magical when it’s the first week of the season. There’s an undeniable buzz for Week 1, and if that can happen at Ford Field, then all the better.
So of the Lions’ nine home opponents, I’d love to take on the New Orleans Saints.
Sorry. I know some of you want to open with a big, exciting matchup. Some may want to play the Green Bay Packers early, with Micah Parsons likely to miss the first few weeks. But I just want a win. And while the Titans or Jets may be the easier-looking opponent than the Saints right now, those teams have gone through significant changes this offseason and could be tough to predict in Week 1. The Saints didn’t go through a big coaching change, they didn’t make any huge blockbuster offseason moves, and while Tyler Shough had a promising rookie season, he doesn’t exactly scare me.
So I think it would be an ideal start to the year to pick up a win—a conference win—and build some positivity for a fan base that is currently going through it.
Which team would you like to see the Lions open up against in Week 1? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
See More:
