The wait is over -- it's time for the New Orleans Saints to take the field in Paris. Will the crowd be on their side?
Only time will tell. Both fanbases travel well, but the Saints have the French connection and they've been investing in the territory for the better part of two years. They've also got the rest advantage, spending the week out in France while the Steelers didn't arrive until Friday morning. The Saints are looking to keep building momentum heading into their bye week after a bounceback victory over the Giants to begin the road trip.
THE GAME: Steelers (4-2) vs Saints (2-4)
- When: 8:30 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 25
- Where: Stade de France, Paris
- Series history: Saints lead 9-8
- Last meeting: 2022, Steelers 20, Saints 10
- Betting: Saints +3; o/u 44.5
- TV: WDSU/NFL Network
- Listen: WWL AM-870; FM-105.3 & the Audacy app
- Pregame: First Take with Steve Geller & Charlie Long, 4-6 a.m.; Countdown to Kickoff with Steve Geller & Bobby Hebert, 6-8 a.m.
With all that in mind, here are the three things I'm looking for (and some lagniappe) heading into Week 6.
1. ARE YOU AWAKE?
The New Orleans Saints got to Paris on Monday. The Steelers didn't arrive until Thursday.
You had Aaron Rodgers vocally frustrated with never getting to go internationally early in the week. He's done it three times, and traveled on Thursday every time. I think the comment was intended to be humorous, but it sure didn't sound like that. Maybe he was just tired.
And that's the biggest question: Will that different approach to travel manifest on the field? It didn't the last time the Saints played internationally, a loss to the Vikings, who arrived late in the week. Saints punter Ryan Wright was on that Minnesota roster, and this will be his 5th international game. I asked him to explain the difference.
"I think on a shorter week, you just kind of have to deal with it. You just have to kind of man up and play the game, because that's what we're here to do," Wright said, "whereas like, when we're here for an entire week you kind of get a couple days to get acclimated, have a true normal week. Either way you've still got to play the game and the end goal is to win."
It's clear in talking to Saints players that they've enjoyed the experience. There's been a level of bonding that can help teams immensely when it comes to morale and team chemistry. But that only lasts as long as the wins keep coming.
What the Saints hope is that they'll be able to solve their slow starts with the rest advantage. The Saints have only scored once in the first quarter this season (a touchdown vs the Raiders). They've only led at halftime once (7-6 vs the Vikings). It's such a theme that even Kellen Moore joked that perhaps the new time zone will help.
If the rest advantage can't help that narrative change, I'm not sure it ever will.
2. CAN YOU KEEP RUNNING?
We've heard the Saints say it often: We need to commit to running the ball.
The problem is their actions don't always match that idea. Game script has played a role. The Saints have trailed at halftime in five of their six games and they've faced double-digit deficits in five of them.
Well, in Week 5, there was no abandoning the run. Saints running backs accounted for just 34 yards on their 10 first half carries, but the body blows were throw. The biggest impact came from Tyler Shough, who was more aggressive with his legs and found a 25-yard scramble to set up a touchdown late in the first half.
In the second half the RBs carried the ball 23 times for 109 yards. The goal line carries could've been more productive, with the only rushing TD going to Tyler Shough. But in the end, 38 rushing attempts for 175 yards. That opens everything up and makes life easier in the passing game.
I also thought the role of Kendre Miller as the workhorse back (20 carries), is one this team should lean into. CJ Donaldson will have his pass pro and short-yardage role. Alvin Kamara fills in the gaps. A three-back tandem is always tough to manage, but the Saints did it right in Week 6.
The Steelers present a stiffer challenge than the Giants. Pittsburgh is middle of the pack with 103 yards per game allowed and 4.0 yards per carry. They ran in the top 10 in terms of fewest yards allowed before contact, but they have shown a tendency to fall off tackles.
This season when the Steelers have allowed more than 110 rushing yards they're 1-2 ... below 110, 3-0.
3. CAN YOU TACKLE?
The Saints defense has tackled well this season, or at least they had been. They ranked among the best in the NFL at missed tackle rate, but that fell off a cliff in Weeks 4 and 5 in losses to the Falcons and Vikings.
Things got back on track in New York, and Kaden Elliss is expected to be back in the action this week, shoring up the second level of the defense.
Well, this week they'll have a difficult challenge. Jaylen Warren ranks in the top 10 of NFL running backs in terms of missed tackles and missed tackle rate. All you have to do is look at DK Metcalf to understand why he's a tough guy to tackle. The Steelers lead the NFL in yards after catch (923), and Warren leads the entire NFL (314). Broken tackles have a lot to do with that. The Saints need to tackle well in this game.
LAGNIAPPE
- Saints CB Martin Emerson Jr. was the NFC's Defensive Player of the Week after his performance against the Giants, and my guess is that leads to more playing time against the Steelers. I still expect Quincy Riley to see the field, but don't be surprised to see their roles flipped with Emerson on the starting line. The physicality he can play with feels extra important in a game where the Saints will be trying to handle DK Metcalf.
- Believe it or not, the Saints have the 10th-fewest penalties against in the NFL this season (40). But one the other side of the line is Aaron Rodgers, who might be the best in NFL history at not only getting defenses to commit penalties, but also taking advantage of free plays in those situations. The Saints have been talking about that fact all week. They know they have to be disciplined. We'll see what happens.
- The crowd atmosphere at Stade de France will be interesting to track. There will be a LOT of Steelers fans, based on what I've seen throughout the week in Paris. There will also be a lot of Saints fans. The bigger question will be just how much does the Saints' investment in becoming France's team pay off? If the noise gets tilted one way or the other, that becomes an advantage, particularly if it can force the Steelers into a silent count and negate Rodgers' ability to use cadence.
- It's supposed to be chilly, windy and maybe even rainy on Sunday in Stade de France. The Saints have been practicing in those conditions all week, and they -- for whatever reason -- have been at their best on the road in open-air environments. Of the eight wins for the Saints during the Kellen Moore era, five have come outdoors.
- Aaron Rodgers was once one of the better scramblers in the NFL. That's not true of this version of Aaron Rodgers. He's been sacked the third most of any QB this season (19) and he leads the NFL in sack yardage lost. He's scrambled just three times this season for 23 yards. He's not breaking the pocket. If the Saints can get pressure, they can shut him down, particularly if that pressure collapses the interior of the pocket.
- The Saints didn't rule out a single player on their final injury report for the first time this season. That doesn't mean injuries won't play a factor. Cesar Ruiz was listed as questionable with a knee injury, and Easton Kilty has been elevated from the practice squad.
- The Steelers have the third-worst kickoff return average (23.2) and the 5th-worst punt return average (6.9). The Saints should be able to win the field position battle.
- The Saints have never lost a game under Kellen Moore when they win the turnover battle (6-0) and they've never won when they've lost it (0-11). They're 2-4 when the teams finish tied in that category.
- The Steelers run play action on only 17.3% of their players, the second-lowest rate in the league, and they are dead last in rushing touchdowns (1).
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