Steelers’ 5th win comes over Saints in France

The Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints met at the Stade de France this afternoon for a historic Week 7 clash, marking the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in France. Pittsburgh arrived with a 4-2 record after an overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while New Orleans looked to build on its 34-27 win over the New York Giants and improve on a difficult 2-4 start to the season.

The Steelers made the brighter start in Paris, opening the scoring with a 28-yard field goal from Chris Boswell to finish off a 51-yard drive. New Orleans struggled to establish itself offensively during the opening quarter, with Pittsburgh’s defense limiting the Saints’ opportunities as the technical visitors took a 3-0 advantage into the second period.

Pittsburgh’s offense began to find greater success through the combination of Aaron Rodgers and running back Jaylen Warren. Warren proved particularly effective on the ground, as he has all season so far in his role as a true lead back, giving the Steelers a reliable option as they worked their way downfield.

Rodgers also connected with Germie Bernard, while a 51-yard completion to DK Metcalf provided a significant chunk of yardage despite some early inconsistencies in their connection.

The Saints eventually found a response through quarterback Tyler Shough, who connected with Barion Brown for a spectacular 49-yard gain to put New Orleans in scoring position. Daniel Carlson subsequently converted a 38-yard field goal to level the contest at 3 apiece, winning back some much-needed momentum after their slow start.

However, Pittsburgh responded emphatically. Rodgers found Washington for a 4-yard touchdown, capping off a swift offensive possession to restore the Steelers’ lead. The score also saw Rodgers move into sole possession of 3rd place on the NFL’s all-time passing touchdown list, adding another milestone to his remarkable career.

New Orleans refused to let the game slip away, with Shough leading an impressive response late in the first half. The Saints moved deep into Pittsburgh territory, with Chris Olave helping extend the drive before the hosts reached the goal line. Despite facing a 4th down situation, Shough found Devaughn Vele for a score from the 1-yard line, tying the game inside the first half’s 2-minute warning.

The Steelers nevertheless had the final say before the break. Rodgers guided Pittsburgh into field-goal range and Boswell converted from 47 yards as time expired. The kick gave the Steelers a 13-10 halftime lead after a competitive second quarter in which both offenses had found their rhythm.

Pittsburgh carried its narrow advantage into the second half and continued to find ways to put points on the board. Boswell added another field goal to extend the lead to 16-10, leaving the Saints needing a touchdown to take the advantage. The Steelers’ ability to make the most of their scoring opportunities was proving crucial, with their defense also working to prevent Shough from producing another scoring drive.

An interception inside the red zone for New Orleans by Shough to Peyton Wilson had emphasised how Pittsburgh defense were able to make the crucial plays at all the right times throughout the afternoon, and after a missed field goal from Carlson early in the final period, time became a factor for the Saints.

A massive 3rd down sack by Patrick Queen meant New Orleans had no choice but to punt and hand the ball back to Pittsburgh with just under 6 minutes remaining, but the canny Rodgers led the perfect drive to consistently move the chains and chew the clock, even using his own legs to pick up a 1st down.

An offside penalty against the Saints ended the game, as the Steelers were able to kneel out the remaining clock and escape France with a 6-point win. Whilst it wasn’t the most convincing performance, Pittsburgh fans have become well and truly accustomed to winning games on the back of their defense, and will be thrilled by improving to 5-2 and taking at least a temporary lead in the AFC North.

Touchdowns
Pittsburgh: Washington
New Orleans: Vele

Top Performers
Pittsburgh: Warren, Boswell, Wilson, Queen, Benton
New Orleans: Shough, Vele, Granderson, Young

Injuries
Pittsburgh: N/A
New Orleans: Donaldson (shoulder), Reid (concussion)

Crowd: TBC @ Stade de France