The Saints’ defense is staring at one of those games that can either steady the ship or make things look even shakier, and the matchup with Pittsburgh puts all the pressure on that side of the ball. The Steelers don’t exactly come in lighting up the scoreboard, but they do bring enough structure on offense to make life difficult if New Orleans lets them settle in.
Aaron Rodgers is in his second season as Pittsburgh’s quarterback, and his top target will be DK Metcalf. That pairing alone creates a problem.
Metcalf is a physical freak and a matchup nightmare because of his combination of size and speed. He’s the kind of receiver who can tilt a game if a defense loses leverage even once.
Pittsburgh’s offense has been steady rather than explosive. The Steelers are averaging 320 yards per game, including 221 through the air and 99 on the ground.
They’re also putting up 22.8 points per game. Jaylen Warren is a physical runner who doesn’t go down easily, and New Orleans will have to be ready to hit and wrap up.
He runs through arm tackles and rarely gets stopped on first contact.
The most obvious problem for the Steelers has been pass protection. They’ve allowed 19 sacks in six games, which gives Chase Young plenty to work with. Young is tied for third in the NFL with 5.5 sacks, and this is the kind of matchup where he should be able to make noise.
Still, the Saints can’t assume this will be simple just because Pittsburgh hasn’t been overwhelming on offense. The Steelers rank 20th in rushing yards per game and 18th in passing yards per game, but New Orleans has its own issues on defense. The Saints are 30th in rushing yards allowed per game at 138 and 20th in passing yards allowed per game at 239.7.
That’s why this feels like a chance for the Saints’ defense to get itself right. The same weaknesses exist on both sides of the ball, only mirrored. If New Orleans lets Pittsburgh run the ball and keeps Rodgers out of obvious passing downs, the game can slip away fast.
The Saints’ offense has enough to worry about with the Steelers’ defense already waiting on the other side. What New Orleans cannot afford is to let Pittsburgh get comfortable and play complementary football in Paris.
So the answer is straightforward: the Saints need to attack. They need to get into Rodgers’ face, hit him early and often, and force the Steelers out of rhythm. For defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, it’s a major opportunity to turn this defense around.
In Other News...
Saints Paris Game Could Decide How Hot Kellen Moores Seat Gets
The Saints trip to Paris carries more than international flair for Kellen Moore and a team still searching for traction. Against the Steelers, the result will be judged not just in the standings but in the broader conversation around a first-year coach trying to steady the locker room and establish trust. Owner Gayle Benson is the one voice that matters most in that equation, and this game has quickly become a marker for how much patience remains as the season moves forward.
A win would at least give the Saints something tangible to build on, while a loss would only intensify the noise around Moores future. The range of possibilities is wide because the stakes are so awkwardly high: one game in a marquee setting, a team still feeling its way, and a coach whose standing could shift dramatically depending on how this one plays out. For New Orleans, Paris is about more than a novelty showcase. It is the kind of stage that can shape how the rest of the season feels. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Offense Faces A Real Test In Paris Against Pittsburgh
A trip to Paris brings an unusual stage for a Saints offense that is still trying to find its footing, and the matchup with Pittsburgh should tell plenty about where this group really stands. Tyler Shough and Chris Olave remain central to any hopes of getting the passing game moving, while the Steelers arrive with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers and a defense that has enough speed and structure to make life difficult for New Orleans.
There is also no shortage of firepower on the other side, with Jaylen Warren and Pat Freiermuth giving Pittsburgh multiple ways to stress a defense. The betting market has already framed this as a tight one, but the bigger question for New Orleans is whether its offense can answer a real test on an international stage and turn enough chances into touchdowns to keep the game within reach. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Paris Game Just Revived A Nightmare Fans Never Forgot
The NFLs assignment for the Saints game in Paris against the Steelers carries a familiar name for New Orleans fans, and not for a comforting reason. Bill Vinovich is set to work the matchup overseas, a notable call because the league had steered clear of putting him on Saints games in recent years, keeping an obvious distance from a memory that still lingers in the fan base.
For New Orleans supporters, the optics are hard to miss, even with the league trying to spread its product internationally. A Paris showcase is supposed to feel fresh and celebratory, but the referee assignment revives old frustration and puts an unwelcome spotlight back on a chapter the Saints would probably prefer stay buried. [Read more 🡒]