The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to take on the New Orleans Saints on Sunday morning in Paris, and the team arrived in France on Thursday evening. The Saints have been in Paris since Monday which some view as an advantage for New Orleans, but the time change isn't too drastic as it is essentially the same as flying to play a game on the west coast. The Steelers are favorites heading into the game, but it should be a close matchup as the Saints' offense can be pretty potent behind the arm of Tyler Shough, and Pittsburgh has struggled against good quarterback play.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike McCarthy looks on during the third quarter in a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
This Saints team the Steelers are preparing to take on are coming out of a rebuild, and there is no doubt that the group is looking to be a bit more competitive than it has been in recent years. The team is coming off of a win over the New York Giants, and if there is a weakness for New Orleans it would be the defense. That means the offense for Pittsburgh has to take advantage and find a way to be consistent and productive. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has played well over the last month or so, but the offense has to find a way to avoid the slow start that it was plagued with in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Saints rely on a lot of younger players, but one veteran in the secondary is Justin Reid. He won multiple Super Bowls during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs, and is now a captain in New Orleans. He spoke to the media this week, and he seemed very confident about the individual matchups the Saints have with the Steelers.
"They play a very physical brand of football, and we play a very physical brand of football," Reid explained. "They want to run downhill, and we're designed to stop everything downhill. So it'll be a physical match. We have good matchups across the board. DK [Metcalf], [Jaylen] Warren, they have some firepower, and we have some too, and it's just gonna be about who's able to line up and execute."
Reid seemed to acknowledge the physical brand of football that comes with the Steelers, and he also name dropped Jaylen Warren and DK Metcalf. He stated that there are good matchups across the board, but he seemed confident that his defense has what it takes to slow down the best players on the offense for Pittsburgh.
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New York Jets wide receiver Tyler Johnson (16) is tackled by New Orleans Saints safety Justin Reid (21) during the second half of a game at Caesars Superdome.
Reid seems oddly confident considering his defense is near the bottom of the league when it comes to yards and points allowed. New Orleans ranks 31st in points allowed and 29th in yards, so the group hasn't looked too good through the first six games of the year, and that is evident from its 2-4 record.
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Due to how poorly the defense for the Saints has played in 2026, it is fair for fans in Pittsburgh to expect a great offensive performance. That would involve Warren having another great game to continue the great stretch that he has been on, and for Metcalf and Germie Bernard to each be heavily involved through the air. The offense for the Steelers has certainly looked sluggish at times, but the group has seemed to find something in recent weeks, and that has to continue against a bad defense.
A step back against New Orleans would be extremely disappointing, especially since the team is gunning for its third win in a row. The Saints can put up points, so Rodgers and the offense are going to have to keep pace in a potential shootout.
What do you think about Justin Reid's comments ahead of the Paris game against the Steelers? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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