Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers Win NFL Paris Debut at Stade de France
Playing just a day after widespread civil unrest and security sweeps gripped the French capital, Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the New Orleans Saints 16–10 in the first-ever NFL regular-season game played in France.
Pittsburgh Beats New Orleans in Paris
A crowd of 78,488 spectators filled the Stade de France for Sunday’s historic NFL-regular season game in Paris. Operating under heavy security following protests that prompted authorities to mobilize roughly 70,000 security personnel across France on Saturday, the venue hosted a defensive battle that saw Pittsburgh improve its record to 5–2 while New Orleans slipped to 2–5.
Rodgers completed 19 of his 30 pass attempts for 212 yards and recorded one touchdown pass. The 42-year-old quarterback’s most notable connection came in the second quarter when he targeted DK Metcalf on a 51-yard completion that advanced the Steelers to the Saints’ four-yard line. On the subsequent play, Rodgers found tight end Darnell Washington for a four-yard touchdown strike, giving Pittsburgh a 10–3 lead.
Boswell Field Goals Secure Steelers Victory
The Saints responded before halftime when quarterback Tyler Shough connected with Devaughn Vele on a fourth-down, one-yard touchdown pass to knot the score at 10–10. With just 15 seconds remaining in the second quarter and no timeouts remaining, Rodgers was sacked, prompting the Steelers’ offense to rush off the field as kicker Chris Boswell sprinted on to convert a 47-Yard field goal, handing Pittsburgh a 13–10 edge at the break.
Boswell ultimately supplied three field goals to secure the victory. After halftime, Pittsburgh’s defense cemented the outcome when linebacker Payton Wilson intercepted a pass from Shough inside the red zone. The turnover paved the way for Boswell’s final field goal, stretching the lead to 16–10.
Jaylen Warren Leads Rushing Attack
New Orleans struggled significantly to establish any momentum on the ground, finishing the contest with a meager 18 rushing yards. Conversely, Steelers running back Jaylen Warren shouldered the load with 101 rushing yards. Rodgers also contributed with his legs late in the fourth quarter, scrambling for a crucial first down to help drain the clock and seal Pittsburgh’s third victory.
Protests Prompt Heavy Security in France
The fixture took place under an intense security apparatus. Saturday’s demonstrations across France led to the deployment of approximately 70,000 law enforcement and security personnel nationwide. Authorities closed the NFL House in Paris and forced the postponement of a football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon. A visible police presence remained stationed around the Stade de France throughout Sunday’s kickoff.
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