Saints’ Early Arrival in Paris Could Be the Edge They Need Against Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers

The New Orleans Saints didn't travel to Paris this week simply to make NFL history. At 2-4, they're arriving in France with a chance to do something considerably more important for their season: turn one victory into actual momentum.

New Orleans faces the 4-2 Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Oct. 25, at Stade de France in the NFL's first regular-season game in Paris. The Saints arrived early and are spending the week in France, while Pittsburgh plans to travel Thursday. That gives New Orleans additional time to adjust to the six-hour difference from Central Time before Sunday's

For a Saints team coming off a badly needed 34-27 victory over the Giants, I believe that preparation advantage matters.

The Saints' victory at MetLife Stadium wasn't perfect. It was important.

New Orleans erased an early 10-0 deficit by scoring 34 consecutive points. Quarterback Tyler Shough threw three touchdown passes, added another score on the ground and finished without an interception. More importantly, the Saints finally gave their quarterback a running game, producing a season-high 175 rushing yards. 

That combination is what New Orleans needs to bring across the Atlantic.

Shough cannot be asked to throw the football 40-plus times against Pittsburgh while everybody else watches.

The Saints need to run the football, use play-action and get Chris Olave involved early. And keep Pittsburgh from turning every third down into an opportunity to attack the quarterback.

The biggest reason New Orleans survived New York was its defense creating four turnovers, including three interceptions.

Martin Emerson Jr. picked off two passes, while Julian Blackmon added another.  That kind of production changes everything.

New York actually outgained New Orleans 461-319, but turnovers repeatedly gave the Saints opportunities to control the game.

Against Rodgers, those chances might not come as frequently.

He threw only one interception on 49 attempts against Tampa Bay, so the Saints cannot build Sunday's entire defensive plan around waiting for him to make a mistake.

Pressure has to create the mistake.

Carl Granderson, Chase Young and the Saints front need to make Rodgers uncomfortable without sacrificing coverage behind them.

New Orleans also needs to respect what Pittsburgh did defensively Sunday.

The Steelers sacked Tampa Bay quarterback Jalon Daniels five times and intercepted him twice. Defensive back Jalen Ramsey was especially disruptive, finishing with 10 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks. 

That's why New Orleans' 175-yard rushing performance against New York might be more important than Shough's three touchdown passes.

Balance can slow a pass rush.

If Kendre Miller, Alvin Kamara and the Saints offensive line can create productive first-down runs, Pittsburgh can't simply spend the afternoon hunting Shough.

And considering Shough is reportedly playing through multiple broken bones in his non-throwing left hand, an injury the Saints have listed more generally as a left-hand issue — protecting him becomes even more important. 

Sunday will be a historic moment regardless of the result.

The Saints-Steelers matchup will be the NFL's first regular-season game in France, played at Stade de France. The league said Tuesday that preparations remain on schedule despite recent civil unrest in Paris and that it continues working with local authorities on security. 

But once the ball is kicked off, history becomes background noise. When New Orleans lines up against the Steelers as Paris provides the stage, the ultimate result is to finish them and add another mark to the win column.