The Pittsburgh Steelers traveled across the Atlantic Ocean and walked out of Stade de France with a 16-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Head coach Mike McCarthy's team improved to 5-2, giving Pittsburgh another important win as the organization continues building momentum during the 2026 NFL season. However, veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers was far from satisfied with how the Steelers performed offensively. Despite the victory, Rodgers delivered an unusually direct assessment of where Pittsburgh currently stands.
Kim Klement Neitzel / Imagn Images
Oct 18, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) looks on before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
The Steelers managed to control several important aspects of Sunday's matchup, particularly with their rushing attack and defensive performance. Running back Jaylen Warren rushed for 101 yards, while Pittsburgh's defense held New Orleans to just 18 rushing yards. Those contributions helped the Steelers overcome an inconsistent offensive afternoon that featured missed opportunities and costly mistakes. For Rodgers, the final score was encouraging, but the execution left plenty to be desired.
Rodgers spoke with ESPN reporter Molly McGrath following the victory and offered an honest evaluation of Pittsburgh's performance. The veteran quarterback acknowledged the difficulty of winning in the NFL but refused to pretend the Steelers had played their best football. His comments suggested Pittsburgh's current record does not accurately reflect how much room the offense still has to improve.
"I mean, I don't think we played very good on offense today," Rodgers said. "Credit to their defense, but we got a lot to work on. They're a 2-5 team and we're a 5-2 team, but we are not playing as well as we can to this point."
That assessment is particularly interesting because Pittsburgh continues finding ways to win football games. The Steelers have positioned themselves favorably through seven contests, yet their quarterback believes the offense remains capable of considerably more. Rodgers clearly understands that winning against struggling opponents does not guarantee similar success against stronger competition.
There is also something encouraging about a veteran quarterback refusing to become comfortable with an imperfect victory. Pittsburgh could have celebrated its international win without focusing heavily on the mistakes. Instead, Rodgers immediately identified areas that could become serious problems if they remain uncorrected.
Kim Klement Neitzel / Imagn Images
Oct 18, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) gestures during the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
The Steelers moved the football effectively at different points throughout Sunday's contest, but finishing drives proved difficult. Pittsburgh repeatedly found itself settling for field goals rather than taking full advantage of scoring opportunities. Against New Orleans, the defense provided enough support to overcome those shortcomings.
That formula will not always produce victories. Opposing offenses capable of consistently scoring touchdowns can punish teams that fail to capitalize inside the red zone. Rodgers knows Pittsburgh cannot expect its defense to carry that responsibility every week.
"I thought our defense obviously played great," Rodgers said. "It was a disjointed game with the length of possessions, but we were really bad in the red zone. We have to clean that up. We had too many penalties, especially 15-yard penalties."
Those mistakes are particularly frustrating because they are often preventable. Penalties can erase positive plays, extend difficult situations, and turn promising possessions into missed opportunities. For an offense attempting to establish consistency, eliminating unnecessary setbacks must become a priority.
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Demands Important Improvements Before Browns Matchup
Rodgers also made it clear that Pittsburgh's difficult travel schedule contributed to the challenge. The Steelers arrived in France after traveling Thursday night into Friday, leaving players with limited time to adjust before Sunday's game. That is hardly an ideal situation for a team preparing to compete at the highest level.
"However, it's hard to win this league," Rodgers said. "We traveled over on Thursday night, Friday, guys were tired. It was a gutsy win for us, but we gotta go get healthy and play better. We got Cleveland next week."
That final message might be the most important part of Rodgers' assessment. Pittsburgh has another divisional matchup approaching, and the veteran quarterback understands that the Steelers cannot spend too much time celebrating an imperfect performance. The Cleveland Browns will present another opportunity to demonstrate progress.
Can Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers fix their offensive struggles before facing Cleveland? Let me know on X @anthonyghalkias.
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