The New Orleans Saints are heading into Paris looking for something bigger than another win: a clean reset.
After edging the New York Giants 34-27 on Sunday, New Orleans still carried plenty of baggage with it across the Atlantic. The result was in the books, but the way the Saints had to sweat through the finish left questions hanging in the air. As the source put it, the game got tougher than it should have, and even with the victory secured, some around the team were left wondering why it took so much to close it out.
ESPN NFL insider Katherine Terrell captured that postgame mood after the Saints escaped with the win. “The Saints got the job done (on Sunday), but it had taken a monumental effort for a game that seemed well in hand in the fourth quarter. The Saints had even started to pull a few starters when up 34-10 with 11:30 left to play, but a fumble by CJ Donaldson got the Giants back in the game. ...”
Now the Saints’ attention shifts to Sunday’s Week 7 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the setting comes with its own complications. The NFL said Sunday the game remains on schedule despite civil unrest and protests in France over the past month. Saints players received a security briefing before leaving and said they’ll be careful while sightseeing early in the week.
Even with those distractions, New Orleans is treating the trip as a chance to pull the group closer together. Head coach Kellen Moore called it a reset and said the time away can help the team bond. “This is obviously a continuation of an extended trip going from New York to here,” the coach said.
The Saints will face a Steelers team sitting at 4-2 after a second straight win Sunday, a 26-19 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Pittsburgh arrives with momentum, while New Orleans arrives with a bit of relief after picking up only its second win of the season.
That leaves the Saints in an unfamiliar place: trying to steady themselves overseas against a tough opponent, with the hope that a change of scenery can help settle a season that has been all over the map. They’ll also be doing it in a place where, at least on paper, they may have a homefield edge tied to the team’s name and its connection to France from hundreds of years ago.
And after Sunday’s narrow escape, that’s probably enough for New Orleans right now: a little relief, a little breathing room, and a chance to chase win No. 3 against Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers.
In Other News...
Saints Win Came With One Standout And One Brutal PFF Grade
A close win over the Giants gave the Saints another reminder that not every victory looks clean on the grades sheet, even when the result holds up. Pro Football Focus liked what it saw from right tackle Taliese Fuaga and cornerback Martin Emerson, Jr., two players who stood out in different ways as New Orleans navigated a game that demanded steady play on both sides of the ball.
Emersons work in coverage helped anchor the defensive side of the evaluation, while the offensive review told a far less flattering story for one familiar target. Juwan Johnson came away with the harshest mark among Saints offensive players, a rough reflection of how much the team still needs from him in both protection and the passing game if the offense is going to make these narrow wins feel more repeatable. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Paris Game Draws Security Backlash As NFL Pushes Ahead
Frances weekend of large protests and riots, which led to numerous arrests and injuries, has put an uneasy backdrop around the NFLs decision to go forward with the Saints-Steelers Week 7 game in Paris. Even with the unrest, the league has kept the trip on schedule, and New Orleans has continued preparing for the international stage as planned.
League officials and Saints executives have said security measures are already in place, and the team has not reported any disruption at its sites. Still, the choice to press ahead has drawn criticism from some fans and public figures, leaving the game framed by more than just the usual overseas buzz as the Saints try to keep their focus on football. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Still Waiting On Jordyn Tyson At Worst Possible Time
Jordyn Tysons first NFL chapter with the Saints remains on hold at a time when New Orleans could have used another explosive option on the field. General manager Mickey Loomis said the first-round pick will not practice or play in Week 7 because of a hamstring injury, and the team will have to keep moving ahead without him for Sundays game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Tyson did travel with the Saints to France, but his return to action is now tied to the week after the teams Week 8 bye. For a club still trying to settle in and find more consistency, the wait only adds to the intrigue around when the rookie receiver will finally make his debut and how quickly he can become part of the offense. [Read more 🡒]