Spotlight Focuses on Saints Before Game vs. Pittsburgh Steelers in Paris

The New Orleans Saints defeated the New York Giants 34-27 on Sunday. As has been the case virtually all season for the team, New Orleans made the game harder than it had to be.

The game netted a win, which is really all that matters. Still, it left doubts in the mind of some who are around the team. New Orleans won, but why was it so hard to finish the game?

ESPN NFL insider Katherine Terrell broke down the vibe in the Saints locker room after the team snuck out a win. Here's some of what Terrell wrote on the aftermath of the win.

"The Saints got the job done (on Sunday), but it had taken a monumental effort for a game that seemed well in hand in the fourth quarter. The Saints had even started to pull a few starters when up 34-10 with 11:30 left to play, but a fumble by CJ Donaldson got the Giants back in the game. ...

This week in France and Sunday's Week 7 game won't be without its own distractions. The NFL announced Sunday that the game is still scheduled as planned despite civil unrests and protests that have been happening over the past month in France.

Saints players said they had a security briefing before they left for Paris and will take precautions when sightseeing in the early part of the week.

Despite the outside disruptions, the Saints hope this week can be used as a 'reset.' (Saints head coach Kellen Moore) sees the trip as an opportunity for the players to spend more time together. 'This is obviously a continuation of an extended trip going from New York to here,' the coach said."

The Saints will now take on a Pittsburgh Steelers team that is 4-2 on the heels of a second consecutive win on Sunday. Pittsburgh defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-19.

Given how up and down the season has been for New Orleans, it's hard to predict how the Saints will play overseas. Presumably they will have homefield advantage given their name and connection to France from hundreds of years ago.

Regardless of how they got there, the Saints were able to take a sigh of relief after Sunday gave the team its second win of the year. They will look to secure a third against future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers and a tough Steelers team.