What was the score early in the Steelers-Saints Paris game?

The Steelers led the Saints 3-0 after the first quarter on a Chris Boswell field goal, the first points ever scored by the NFL in Paris.

How did Jaylen Warren play in the Paris game?

Warren drove Pittsburgh's opening possession with three carries for 43 yards, including a 29-yard run, and also caught a short pass from Aaron Rodgers before the Steelers settled for a field goal.

Where did the Steelers vs. Saints Paris game air in the United States?

The game aired nationally on NFL Network, with streaming available through NFL+, and also on the Steelers' local Pittsburgh affiliate.

Was the Steelers-Saints game affected by unrest in Paris?

Civil unrest and protests in the days before the game forced the cancellation of fan events, but the NFL maintained heightened security and the game was played as scheduled at Stade de France.

Jaylen Warren Leads Steelers in Paris Opener

The Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints kicked off the NFL's first-ever regular-season game in France on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, and it was Steelers running back Jaylen Warren who immediately grabbed the spotlight. The league's growing international slate reached a new country for the first time, and Warren made sure the historic morning had a Pittsburgh flavor from the opening whistle.

A Historic Kickoff at Stade de France

The Steelers (4-2) are riding high after a 13-point fourth-quarter comeback win in overtime over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. New Orleans (2-4) got back into the win column with a victory against the New York Giants, snapping a three-game losing streak for the Saints heading into last week.

Both teams have taken part in international matchups before, with the Steelers' most recent of two a 2025 tilt in Ireland, while all three of the Saints' international games were in London, most recently in 2022. Sunday's game marked the first time the league had ever staged a regular-season contest on French soil.

Jaylen Warren Sets the Early Tone

The Opening Drive

The Steelers received the opening kickoff and marched down the field on the first possession with Warren carrying three times for 43 yards, including a 29-yard run, and he also caught the Steelers' only completed pass on the drive, a three-yarder from Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers tried to hit DK Metcalf in the end zone on third-and-goal, but it came up incomplete, and the Steelers settled for a Chris Boswell 28-yard field goal. Boswell's kick marked the first-ever NFL points scored in Paris, France. By the end of a blazing fast first quarter, the Steelers led the Saints 3-0, with Warren already over 50 yards rushing as Pittsburgh leaned heavily on its run game.

A Crowded Backfield

Running back Rico Dowdle was active and available for Pittsburgh in Week 7 after being limited in practice during the week with a knee issue. Warren was replaced by Dowdle as the Steelers neared the goal line on that opening drive, and that's when the offense stalled out before the field goal.

Warren came into the Paris trip in rare form. Entering Week 7, he ranked seventh in rushing yards (460) and first in receiving yards (258) among NFL tailbacks, extending plays as a reliable check-down option for Rodgers while also gaining tough yards between the tackles. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin's preference for a physical ground game has found a perfect outlet in his versatile back.

Protests and Heightened Security Overshadow the Game

The NFL had said it was confident with its security plans for the game amid ongoing unrest and violence throughout the French capital in the days leading up to kickoff. The unrest even reached the players. Asked about playing through the tension, quarterback Aaron Rodgers said, “This game means a lot to the NFL. If it was unsafe, then I'm sure we wouldn't be here.”

The unrest forced the shuttering of Saturday's three official fan events planned by the NFL, Steelers and Saints, though it didn't claim Sunday's game. Stade de France was still near capacity on Sunday despite the cancellations caused by the protests. The controversy around staging the matchup had already become its own story in the days before kickoff, as detailed in coverage of the pushback against the NFL's decision to play in Paris.

What Comes Next

Playoff and Divisional Stakes

A win in Paris would push Pittsburgh toward the top of the AFC North, while New Orleans is still searching for consistency after an up-and-down start to the season. Warren's workload figures to remain central to the Steelers' offensive identity as the season moves into its second half.

NFL's International Calendar Continues

The NFL's international series continues in Week 9 on Nov. 8, when the Bengals face the Falcons at Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, also at 9:30 a.m. ET on NFL Network.

For fans following the Steelers-Saints game stateside, the matchup aired nationally on NFL Network, with streaming available through NFL+. Local Pittsburgh viewers also had access through their market affiliate, continuing a season in which the Steelers' trips abroad have become appointment viewing even at an early-morning kickoff time back home.

Jaylen Warren Powers Steelers' Early Lead in Historic Paris Opener

Key points

Kick-off time and where to watch