The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently preparing for the team's Week 7 matchup with the New Orleans Saints which will take place in Paris, France. There is some concern about the game as there are a bunch of riots and protests going on in this area of France at the moment, but the league is adding more security to the venue and to the detail of each team. That has been a major story surrounding this game as some fans wanted the game to be moved to a different location, but that will not be happening. That major story has taken attention away from some other things that will affect this contest.
Kim Klement Neitzel / Imagn Images
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike McCarthy looks on during the third quarter of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in 2026.
Whenever there is a game overseas, which seems to be every week now, there is always a focus on the travel plans from each team. Getting acclimated to a new environment and to a new time zone is important before a big game, and there are different philosophies around the league when it comes to this. A perfect example of this was when the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams played each other in Week 1 in Australia, and the 49ers got there over a week in advance to get acclimated while the Rams flew there right before the game. The Rams got blown out in the contest.
The Steelers have seemingly always been a team that has flown closer to the day of the game. The franchise has only played two international games during the regular season, with one being in Dublin, Ireland during the 2025 season. This time around, the Steelers plan to leave after practice on Thursday, while the Saints left for Paris on Sunday night. Beat writer Gerry Dulac made it clear that he sees this as a disadvantage during a recent mailbag for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
"I certainly can see where it's a big advantage for the Saints, no question," Dulac wrote. "But they did it last year and played one of their best games of the season in Dublin."
On paper, it does seem like the Steelers are at a disadvantage as the Saints would have been in Paris for nearly a week, while the Steelers are only going to be there for the two days prior to the game. This is a similar strategy to what the team took when traveling to Dublin in 2025, and the team performed just fine against the Minnesota Vikings.
Kim Klement Neitzel / Imagn Images
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike McCarthy with his play sheet on the road during a 2026 regular season game in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
If the Steelers lose against the Saints, the fan base is going to blame the decision-makers that decided to travel on Thursday rather than earlier in the week. Team President and Owner Art Rooney II will be under fire and he will be called cheap for not wanting to pay for the team to stay in France for a few extra days, but if the team wins, none of that will likely occur. The travel plan probably doesn't matter all that much in this situation as the team is still getting two days to acclimate itself. Optically, it might not look great, but the difference shouldn't be too drastic.
Steelers Have A Tough Test With The Saints
The Steelers offense might have to carry the team in this game. The Saints' defense is near the bottom of the NFL through six weeks, so Pittsburgh is going to have to be able to move the ball consistently. However, New Orleans can be pretty scary on offense as well. They are a top 10 scoring offense, and quarterback Tyler Shough can make any throw while also being dangerous with his legs. The defense will be tested a bit in this game, and it is going to be important to keep Shough in check.
What do you think about the Steelers deciding to go to Paris later in the week? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
#SteelerNation