Key Takeaways The Saints Must Bring Into Paris Against Steelers

The New Orleans Saints finally gave their fans something they have been waiting for: a win that showed some fight, some balance and, most importantly, signs that this team might be figuring a few things out.

New Orleans walked out of MetLife Stadium with a 34-27 victory over the New York Giants, snapping a three-game losing streak and improving to 2-4. It wasn't perfect. The Saints built a commanding 34-10 lead before allowing New York to make things uncomfortable late. But when the final whistle blew, New Orleans had done enough to survive.

Now comes a completely different challenge.

The Saints head to Paris to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 25 in the NFL's first regular-season game in France.

If New Orleans wants to leave Paris with another victory, there are three major lessons from the Giants game that need to make the trip overseas.

This might be the biggest takeaway of them all.

The Saints rushed for a season-high 175 yards against New York, finally establishing the kind of ground attack that can take pressure off quarterback Tyler Shough. New Orleans ran the football 38 times and averaged 4.6 yards per carry.

That's the formula.

Shough shouldn't have to throw the football 40-plus times for New Orleans to win. A consistent running game keeps the offense out of obvious passing situations, gives the offensive line an opportunity to attack instead of constantly protecting and opens the door for play-action.

And against Pittsburgh, balance will be extremely important.

The Steelers have defensive playmakers capable of wrecking an offensive game plan, including T.J. Watt, Patrick Queen and Jalen Ramsey. If New Orleans becomes one-dimensional, Pittsburgh can turn up the pressure and make Shough uncomfortable.

The Saints need to make the Steelers respect the run from the opening drive.

Keep pounding the football. Stay patient with it. Then let Shough take his shots when Pittsburgh starts creeping defenders toward the line.

Shough didn't put up a massive yardage total against the Giants, but this was one of those games where the numbers don't completely explain his impact.

He threw three touchdown passes, added another touchdown on the ground and didn't throw an interception.

That's winning quarterback play.

Shough didn't need to be Superman. He needed to protect the football, finish drives and make the throws New Orleans needed him to make.

His 31-yard touchdown connection with Alvin Kamara helped give the Saints their first lead, and later he found Chris Olave for an 18-yard touchdown that pushed New Orleans ahead 34-10.

That same patience will be important in Paris.

Pittsburgh is exactly the type of opponent where trying to force the spectacular play can quickly become a turnover. Shough needs to continue taking what the defense gives him.

If the checkdown is there, take it.

If the running lane opens, use it.

If Olave gets the matchup you want downfield, then take your shot.

But don't give Pittsburgh free possessions.

This is where my excitement about the Giants victory gets tempered a little bit.

For nearly three quarters, the Saints defense was making life miserable for New York. New Orleans intercepted Giants quarterbacks three times, with Martin Emerson Jr. grabbing two of them, and the Saints registered five sacks.

That's the defense New Orleans needs in Paris.

But there's another side to the story.

New Orleans led 34-10 in the fourth quarter and still had to defend a potential game-tying drive in the final seconds after the Giants scored 17 unanswered points. New York eventually reached the Saints' 14-yard line before its final fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

You can't keep opening that door.

Against Pittsburgh, if the Saints get a two-score lead, they need to keep their foot on the gas defensively. Don't suddenly become passive. Don't give receivers huge cushions and surrender easy completions underneath.

Keep attacking.

The Giants game showed us that this Saints defense can create turnovers and pressure quarterbacks. It also showed us that the unit still has to learn how to slam the door shut when it gets an opponent in trouble.

The win over the Giants gave us a glimpse of what this team could look like when the pieces actually work together: run the football, protect Tyler Shough, create turnovers and let the defense attack.

That's a pretty simple formula.

The encouraging part is that New Orleans doesn't have to reinvent itself before Pittsburgh. Take the blueprint from New York, clean up the fourth-quarter mistakes and carry that same physical mentality across the Atlantic.

Paris represents more than another international showcase. For the Saints, it's an opportunity to turn one victory into actual momentum.

Beat Pittsburgh, head into the Week 8 bye at 3-4 and suddenly this season starts looking a little different. The Saints would still have work to do, but they'd have something they haven't had much of lately:

Momentum.

And sometimes one good win is all it takes to get a season moving in the right direction.