Playing before a crowd of 78,488 at the Stade de France, the Steelers secured their third consecutive win to improve to a 5-2 record. Rodgers finished the contest completing 19 of 30 passes for 212 yards, while teammate Jaylen Warren provided a significant boost to the offense by rushing for 101 yards.
A milestone performance in Saint-Denis
The decisive touchdown pass came in the form of a 4-yard strike to tight end Darnell Washington, who used his 6-foot-7 frame to haul in the ball over cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. The play broke a tie with Peyton Manning, leaving Rodgers alone in third place on the career touchdown list. The scoring drive was highlighted by a 51-yard completion from Rodgers to DK Metcalf, which set up the Steelers at the New Orleans 4-yard line.
Pittsburgh’s special teams also played a vital role, with kicker Chris Boswell converting three field goals. His 47-yard effort just before halftime, executed after the offense scrambled to the sideline with only 15 seconds remaining, gave the Steelers a 13-10 lead heading into the break. Boswell later added a 39-yard field goal to extend the lead to 16-10 in the second half.
Defensive pressure stifles Saints
While the Steelers' offense found success, their defense proved equally effective in containing the Saints. New Orleans struggled to establish a ground game, finishing with just 18 rushing yards. Quarterback Tyler Shough, who completed 30 of 38 passes for 278 yards and one touchdown, faced consistent pressure throughout the afternoon.
A pivotal moment occurred in the third quarter when linebacker Payton Wilson intercepted a Shough pass intended for Chris Olave in the red zone, halting a promising Saints drive. Late in the fourth quarter, Patrick Queen recorded a crucial sack on third down to stall another New Orleans possession. Despite a brief tie at 10-10 following Shough’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Devaughn Vele, the Saints were unable to overcome the deficit, falling to a 2-5 record on the season.
