The Pittsburgh Steelers remain tied for first in the AFC North after a hard‑fought 16-10 win over the New Orleans Saints in Paris. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the four‑time MVP, praised the effort but cautioned that the team is still a work in progress.
Rodgers’ assessment
“We’re a 5-2 team, but we’re not playing as well as we can at this point,” Rodgers said after the victory, noting too many field goals, too few touchdowns, and a high penalty count. He added, “It was a gutsy effort, but we’ve got to go back, get healthy, play better.”
Key contributors
Running back Rico Dowdle posted a career‑best 86 yards of total offense, giving starter Jaylen Warren – the team’s MVP through seven weeks – some relief. Coach Mike McCarthy said, “Any time we can just line up and give you Jaylen and Rico all day, that’s a good day for us.”
Rodgers also showed his own athleticism, scrambling for a first down on a third‑and‑8 late in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Payton Wilson intercepted a Tyler Shough pass to end a Saints scoring threat, and the Steelers forced three fumbles, all of which the Saints recovered.
What’s working
The defense continues to generate turnovers, with three forced fumbles against the Saints and a key interception by Wilson. The unit’s ability to get hands on the ball has been a major factor in close games.
Areas for improvement
The offense still relies on long, methodical drives that can be vulnerable to penalties and sacks. Adding a genuine big‑play threat beyond the current receiving corps would help, especially while Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson recover from injuries on IR.
Injury updates
Safety DeShon Elliott returned for 19 snaps after a knee injury and is expected to see increased playing time. Linebacker Patrick Queen responded to criticism about a missed tackle by delivering a standout performance with 10 tackles and a sack.
Looking ahead
The Steelers host the Cleveland Browns next, aiming to turn narrow victories into dominant performances. All five wins this season have come in games decided by one score entering the fourth quarter, underscoring the need for a more complete showing.
Rodgers also voiced frustration with the late arrival for the Paris game, suggesting the NFL consider earlier travel for international matchups. Despite civil unrest in Paris, the game proceeded without incident.
Original reporting: WTAE (Hearst) – local — read the source article.
