The trip so many have anticipated is here. It’s week seven and that means the Pittsburgh Steelers are off to Paris to take on the New Orleans Saints. Here’s everything you need to know about this interconference battle.
What: Pittsburgh Steelers 4-2 vs New Orleans Saints 2-4
Where: Stade De France. Paris France
When: Sunday October 25th 2026 930amET
Weather: Sunny and 58 degrees with winds to 18mph
Surface: Natural Grass
Wagering Information: Steelers -3.5 O/U 44.5
Last Week: The Saints traveled to New York and hung a 34-27 win on the Giants while the Steelers came back in Tampa to beat the Bucs in overtime 26-19.
TV: NFL Network Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Kurt Warner (analysis), Jason Kelce (analysis), Molly McGrath (field reporter)
TV Coverage in Your Area (courtesy 506sports.com): National Audience
Radio: Steelers Audio Network Rob King (play-by-play), Max Starks (analysis), Missi Matthews (field reporter)
Westwood One Radio: Oliver Wilson (play-by-play), Christian Scotland-Williamson (analysis)
Head Official: Bill Vinovich. He is now in his 18th season as head official. His last Steelers’ game was in November of 2025 against the Bengals. There were eight penalties called against each team during the 34-12 Pittsburgh win.
Game Status (courtesy steelers.com) PIT: No. 13 RB Rico Dowdle (Knee) – Questionable, No. 15 WR Ben Skowronek (Calf) – Out
*No. 25 S DeShon Elliott (Knee) – Questionable, No. 26 CB Brandin Echols (Hamstring) – Out NO: No. 51 G Cesar Ruiz (Knee) – Questionable, No. 93 DT Nathan Shepherd (Illness/NIR/Rest) – Questionable
Injury Notes: *In the 21-day return window from IR. It’s widely expected that Ellliott with be activated fro Sunday.
2026 NFL Ranks:
Total Offense: PIT 21st, NO 20th
Passing Offense: PIT 18th, NO 17th
Rushing Offense: PIT 20th, NO 21st
Total Defense: PIT 9th, NO 29th
Passing Defense: PIT 7th, NO 26th
Rushing Defense: PIT 14th, NO 30th
AFC North Standings:
Baltimore 4-2
Cleveland 4-2
Pittsburgh 4-2
Cincinnati 3-2
This Week in the AFC North: Cleveland at Tennessee 1pmET, Cincinnati at Baltimore 1pmET
What You Need to Know: The Steelers are 4-1 on natural grass this season… Pittsburgh is 3-1 this year when they lose they lose the coin toss… The Steelers are 1-1 in international regular season games… Chris Boswell is now the all-time leader in made field goals in Steelers’ history… Steelers’ Assistant OL Coach Jahri Evans played with the Saints winning a Super Bowl with them in 2010…
McCarthy Minute: Coach McCarthy is 3-5 all-time against New Orleans… He is 6-7-2 all-time in overtime games… His teams are 104-12 when surrendering 19 points or less…
New Orleans Saints Names to Know: QB Tyler Shough, RB Alvin Kamara, WR Chris Olave, CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, DE Cam Jordan, LB Pete Werner, TE Juwan Johnson, K Daniel Carlson
What’s at Stake: Both teams are in highly competitive yet different kinds of divisions. All four teams in the North are above .500 while in the NFC South, only the Panthers are above .500.
All-Time Series: Saints lead 9-8 and lead all-time at home 6-4. This is their first meeting at a “neutral site.”
Last Meeting: November 2022 in Pittsburgh. Steelers 20 Saints 10
Postseason History: N/A
Steelers Regular Season Game Highs vs NO:
PASSING: 435 yards Ben Roethlisberger 11/30/2014
RUSHING: 213 yards Willie Parker 11/12/2006
RECEIVING: 185 Antonio Brown 12/23/2018
SACKS: 3.0 Mike Merriweather 11/19/1984
INTERCEPTIONS: 2 Mel Blount 10/04/1981, Dwayne Woodruff 11/19/1984, Rod Woodson 10/17/1993
Check out the latest SCB Steelers Podcast presented by DEK Roofing Inc for more on the Steelers.
Three Things We Need to See for a Steelers’ Victory:
–Back At It. Mike McCarthy decided heading into the Tampa Bay game that he wasn’t sticking with what had been working. Get Aaron Rodgers under center and get the ball to Jaylen Warren. His offensive gameplan was a disaster. This week his offense faces a Saints’ defense that ranks near the bottom especially against the run. I see zero reason for McCarthy to go away from the run for a second straight week. Rico Dowdle ran as well as we’ve seen him since becoming a Steeler and combined with Warren, the running game should be there and so too should the play-action. Don’t overthink it Mike.
–Get Home. The Steelers sacked Jalon Daniels five times last week but two of those came from Jalen Ramsey off the edge and two came from Nick Herbig hustle plays. Patrick Graham’s defense is facing a less-than-stellar offensive line. His pass rushers have to get home in more traditional ways this week. I don’t see Graham blitzing much for fear of giving up a big play so that means T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and company need to make inroads on their own and they should!
–TE Bonanza. Because the NFL is largely a reactionary league, the Saints will no doubt pay special attention to D.K. Metcalf and Germie Bernard who both had double-digit exceptions last week. this should absolutely open things up for Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington. Aaron Rodgers is more than capable of seeing where the opportunities will be and Ned’s to take advantage of them. With my expectation that the running game should work, this will help play-action and get Muth and DWash involved quickly.
The ‘X’ Factor: Each week I will select a player from each team who I believe will need to play above and beyond in order for his team to win.
X-Factor Steelers: T.J. Watt. Oh sure pick someone obvious… Here’s why I’m picking the future Hall of Fame player. Since coming out of the gate with 4.5 sacks, Watt has largely been a shell of that guy. He’s not getting to the quarterback and his ability to pursue isn’t what it once was either. The bottom line for is that against a below average offensive line in New Orleans, he has to take advantage. If he doesn’t questions about moving on from him will only grow more consistent.
X-Factor Saints: WR Chris Olave. He’s got 15 more receptions and 20 more targets than anyone else on his team so if he isn’t producing is there someone who can step up? That’s what the Steelers will aim to do. In order for New Orleans to win Olave must be a big part of the offense. If he’s not, then I just don’t have faith in the guys around him.
Prediction: It sure seems like International games always find a way to bring in the bizarre. Maybe it’s just the fact these games are played at odd times and in odd places… Regardless, I think this is one of those games where on paper it feels like a high-scoring affair. Saints’ games this season have gone over 40 points in four of the six. The Steelers are averaging almost 23 points per game which isn’t great but feels better than it is. Whenever games feel like they will go one way they often go in the other direction. Therefore, give me a fairly low-scoring affair with a Chris Boswell field goal being the difference.
Steelers 20 Saints 17
Season Prediction Record: 4-2
