The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the New Orleans Saints 16-10 on Sunday, October 25, 2026, in the first NFL regular-season game ever played in France, at Stade de France in Saint-Denis just north of Paris. The win lifts Pittsburgh to 5-2, while New Orleans falls to 2-5.
Kickoff came at 9:30 a.m. ET, about 3:30 p.m. local time, and the stadium was near capacity despite a weekend of civil unrest across France. According to USA TODAYthe game survived calls to postpone after Saturday’s protests, which the French government estimated drew 110,000 people. The unrest forced the league to cancel three official fan events on Saturday, but kickoff went ahead as planned.
Key Facts
- Final score: Pittsburgh Steelers 16, New Orleans Saints 10, at Stade de France in Saint-Denis on October 25, 2026.
- It was the first NFL regular-season game ever played on French soil.
- Steelers running back Jaylen Warren finished with 18 carries for 101 yards and three catches for 36 yards, per NBC Sports.
- Saints running backs Alvin Kamara (six carries, five yards) and Kendre Miller (eight carries, six yards) were held almost completely in check.
- Pittsburgh improves to 5-2 and stays in the AFC North race; New Orleans drops to 2-5.
How did the Saints vs Steelers game unfold?
The Steelers controlled the game without ever pulling away. Jaylen Warren opened the scoring drive with 43 rushing yards, including a 30-yard burst, and Chris Boswell made it 3-0 late in the first quarter.
New Orleans answered in the second. Tyler Shough hit Barion Brown on a 49-yard pass to reach the Pittsburgh 17, but T.J. Watt sacked Shough on second down, and Daniel Carlson tied the game with a 38-yard field goal. Moments later, DK Metcalf atoned for an earlier pass interference penalty with a 51-yard catch on 3rd-and-14. Aaron Rodgers then found tight end Darnell Washington on a nine-yard touchdown pass, a score that moved Rodgers past Peyton Manning into third place on the NFL’s all-time touchdown list, according to USA TODAY.
The Saints tied it at 10-10 before halftime on a one-yard Shough pass to Devaughn Vele, set up by a long kickoff return. Boswell’s 47-yard field goal as time expired sent Pittsburgh into the break ahead 13-10.
The second half belonged to Pittsburgh’s defense. Linebacker Payton Wilson intercepted Shough at the Pittsburgh 10-yard line to end a red-zone drive, and Boswell added a 39-yard field goal for a 16-10 lead. Carlson missed a 52-yard attempt early in the fourth quarter. Queen later sacked Shough on 3rd-and-10 from the New Orleans 40 with about six minutes left, and the Steelers never gave the ball back.
The Steelers have put this one on ice.
USA TODAY, live game coverage
Scoring summary: Steelers Saints final score by quarter
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Steelers | Chris Boswell field goal | PIT 3-0 |
| Q2 | Saints | Daniel Carlson 38-yard field goal | 3-3 |
| Q2 | Steelers | Rodgers 9-yard TD pass to Darnell Washington | PIT 10-3 |
| Q2 | Saints | Shough 1-yard TD pass to Devaughn Vele | 10-10 |
| Q2 | Steelers | Boswell 47-yard field goal | PIT 13-10 |
| Q3 | Steelers | Boswell 39-yard field goal after Payton Wilson INT | PIT 16-10 |
| Final | PIT 16-10 |
Why did the Steelers win? Jaylen Warren and the ground game
The difference was simple. Pittsburgh ran the ball. New Orleans could not.
Warren made big plays both running the ball and catching passes out of the backfield as the Steelers won 16-10.
NBC Sports, game report
Warren finished with 101 rushing yards on 18 carries and added three catches for 36 yards. Rico Dowdle chipped in nine carries for 41 yards and six receptions for 45 yards. On the other side, Kamara managed five yards on six carries and Miller six yards on eight attempts. The Saints finished with 18 rushing yards as a team, per USA TODAY, and became one-dimensional against a Steelers defense coordinated by Patrick Graham.
Rodgers even helped on the ground, scrambling for eight yards on third-and-6 just before the two-minute warning to keep the game-clinching drive alive. Pittsburgh settled for a field goal try with about a minute left, but a New Orleans offsides penalty turned it into a first down, and the Steelers ran out the clock with kneel-downs.
What went wrong for Tyler Shough and the Saints?
Shough threw for close to 300 yards, but the turnovers decided the game. Payton Wilson’s interception inside the Pittsburgh 10 killed New Orleans’ first drive of the second half, and another pick near the goal line ended a fourth-quarter threat. The Saints also lost safety Justin Reid to a concussion and running back CJ Donaldson to a shoulder injury, according to NBC Sports.
Barion Brown was the bright spot in the loss. He led the Saints with 57 receiving yards and added a 42-yard kickoff return and a 20-yard punt return.
For context on how close this game was expected to be, our head-to-head numbers ahead of the October 25 Hibernian vs Celtic clash show how stats-based previews are framing this weekend’s biggest fixtures across sports.
What the result means for the AFC North and NFC South
Pittsburgh entered at 4-2 with Cleveland and Baltimore, and a loss would have dropped Mike McCarthy’s team behind three teams at once. Instead, the Steelers move to 5-2 with a Week 8 rematch against the Browns, who beat them in Week 4, waiting at Acrisure Stadium.
New Orleans, which had entered on a one-game winning streak after a 34-27 win over the New York Giants, drops to 2-5. The Saints remain within reach in a weak NFC South despite the losing record. The game was broadcast in Germany live on RTL from 1:30 p.m. local time as part of a four-game Sunday slate, according to DSLWEB
More weekend sports coverage is on the way, including our UFC 333 flyweight preview with Lone’er Kavanagh and the RB Leipzig vs SV Elversberg Bundesliga matchup
FAQ
What was the final score of Saints vs Steelers?
The Pittsburgh Steelers won 16-10 over the New Orleans Saints on October 25, 2026. Pittsburgh led 3-0 after the first quarter and 13-10 at halftime.
Where was the first NFL game in France played?
The game was played at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, roughly nine miles north of central Paris. It was the first NFL regular-season game ever played on French soil.
Who were the standout players in the Steelers vs Saints game?
Steelers running back Jaylen Warren had 18 carries for 101 yards plus three catches for 36 yards. Linebackers Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson made the decisive defensive plays, and Barion Brown led the Saints with 57 receiving yards.
Which players were injured in the NFL Paris game?
Saints safety Justin Reid left with a concussion and running back CJ Donaldson left with a shoulder injury, according to NBC Sports.
What is next for both teams?
The Steelers (5-2) host the Cleveland Browns in Week 8 at Acrisure Stadium. The Saints (2-5) continue their season in the NFC South, where they remain within reach despite the record.
Sources: USA TODAY – NBC Sports – DSLWEBUpdated: October 25, 2026.
