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Derrick Barnes Had a One-Word Reaction to Saints' Overtime Two-Point Call
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- Derrick Barnes Had a One-Word Reaction to Saints' Overtime Two-Point Call
The Detroit Lions picked up an overtime victory over the New Orleans Saints in Week 1 of the 2026 season, and linebacker Derrick Barnes was among the stars of the day.
Barnes, a sixth-year defender out of Purdue, was all over the field on Sunday. He posted six total tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, two passes defended, and an interception.
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Though the Lions blew a 21-0 second-half lead and the defense has some issues to resolve, Barnes was one of the major catalysts of Sunday's win, and he dropped an awesome quote in his postgame press conference about the Saints' decision to go for two points in overtime.
Derrick Barnes Had Full Trust in Lions' Defense With Game On The Line
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) celebrates 31-30 overtime win over New Orleans Saints at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026.
In overtime, the Lions struck first with an Amon-Ra St. Brown touchdown. The Saints responded with a score by tight end Noah Fant from quarterback Tyler Shough , but instead of tying the game, New Orleans head coach Kellen Moore decided to go for two points and the win.
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Detroit came away with the clutch defensive stop to seal the win, and Barnes said after the contest that he wanted New Orleans to try a two-point conversion instead of tying the game with under two minutes remaining. The veteran linebacker described the decision as "perfect" for the Lions.
"Lions LB Derrick Barnes said he thought, "Perfect," when the Saints lined up for the two-point conversion," Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News said on X.
"I honestly wanted them to, because I know what type of defense we are and what we do in crunch time," Barnes said about the Saints going for two points in overtime.
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Though Detroit's defense struggled in the second half , especially against the pass, and nearly cost the team a winnable game, it's still nice to see that one of the unit's leaders, Barnes, is playing with real conviction that should be spreading through the group.
Moving forward, the Lions need the defense to step up and finish the job with a sizable lead. However, Detroit still tallied a victory, and Barnes is making sure the defense doesn't lack any confidence.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
