The Pittsburgh Steelers opened a new chapter for the NFL with a 16-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints at Stade de France. The October 25, 2026, contest was the league’s first regular-season game played in France, and the result lifted Pittsburgh to 5-2 while New Orleans fell to 2-5.
The game was shaped by field position, defensive pressure and missed opportunities. Pittsburgh scored only one offensive touchdown, but its defence held firm, while Chris Boswell supplied three field goals to keep the Steelers ahead.
Three Moments That Decided the Game
- Payton Wilson’s interception: The Pittsburgh linebacker picked off Tyler Shough near the goal line in the third quarter, ending a long Saints drive and preventing New Orleans from taking control.
- New Orleans struggled on the ground: The Saints produced only 18 rushing yards, forcing Shough to rely heavily on the passing game.
- Chris Boswell delivered: Boswell’s 39-yard field goal extended Pittsburgh’s advantage to 16-10 during the third quarter.
New Orleans moved the ball effectively through the air, but its inability to finish drives proved costly. Shough completed 30 of 38 passes for 278 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while Alvin Kamara added seven receptions for 57 yards.
The Saints’ lone touchdown came on a one-yard pass to Devaughn Vele late in the second quarter. That score levelled the contest at 10-10, but Pittsburgh regained the lead before the end of the third period and kept New Orleans off the scoreboard thereafter.
Paris Scoreboard and Key Numbers
| Category | Pittsburgh Steelers | New Orleans Saints |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 16 | 10 |
| Record after Week 7 | 5-2 | 2-5 |
| Game location | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | |
| Game date | October 25, 2026 | |
| Saints rushing yards | 18 | |
| Attendance | 78,488 | |
Stade de France attracted a sellout crowd just outside Paris. The venue, built for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, can accommodate more than 80,000 spectators and has hosted major sporting events, including the 2024 Olympics and three UEFA Champions League finals.
For the NFL, the setting represented more than a neutral-site game. The league has identified France as a promising market, and the Saints hold the NFL’s assigned marketing rights there. The club has also developed French-language social media channels and other outreach efforts aimed at building local support.
Why the French Market Matters
American football remains well behind established French sports in popularity, with American football reportedly ranking 11th nationally. The NFL is therefore using several strategies to introduce the sport to new audiences rather than relying only on professional games.
Flag football is central to that plan. The non-contact version of the sport will debut at the 2028 Olympics, and league officials view its accessibility as a way to attract new players and supporters. The Saints also help support a French tournament whose champions receive a trip to New Orleans.
The league increased security around the event after protests began across France in September. NFL executive vice-president Peter O’Reilly said moving or cancelling the game was never seriously considered, and the contest proceeded as scheduled.
Saints Return Home With Work to Do
New Orleans now enters its bye week facing questions about the offence. The passing numbers were encouraging, but the running game never gave the Saints enough balance, and the red-zone interception prevented a promising drive from producing points.
Kellen Moore said the team would examine every area during the scheduled break, including the kicking operation. Daniel Carlson missed a 52-yard attempt wide right in the fourth quarter, although Moore said the kicker’s late arrival in France was unrelated to the miss.
The loss extended a difficult stretch for a franchise that has not reached the playoffs since the 2020 season. The Saints showed enough passing production to remain competitive, but the Paris defeat underlined how narrow the margin for error has become.
Pittsburgh, meanwhile, leaves France with a third consecutive win and another strong defensive performance. The Steelers did not dominate offensively, yet their efficiency on third down, timely takeaways and reliable kicking proved sufficient to secure a historic international victory.
