Aaron Rodgers steers Steelers to 16-10 win in Paris and raises Super Bowl question
Aaron Rodgers played a key role as the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the New Orleans Saints 16-10 in Paris on Sunday, a result that left the Steelers 5-2 and renewed talk about a possible Super Bowl swansong for the 42-year-old quarterback.
Rodgers, who remains a polarizing figure and is not part of this season’s MVP conversation, has shown intermittent flashes of his prime in his second season with Pittsburgh while also appearing, at times, physically limited by age. Through seven games this season he has thrown 13 touchdowns and five interceptions for 1,699 yards, a statistical start compared in the article to Sam Darnold’s first seven games in 2025 (12 TDs, four picks, 1,754 yards).
After the game Rodgers told reporter Molly McGrath, "I don't think we played very good on offense today," yet he delivered several decisive plays, including a 51-yard touchdown pass to DK Metcalf in the second quarter and a third-and-six scramble that converted a clinching first down. The Steelers converted only one touchdown in four red-zone trips and left France having scored 16 points against a two-win Saints side, but the win extended Pittsburgh’s record to 5-2.
Pittsburgh’s defense dominated the contest, smothering Saints quarterback Tyler Shough and suppressing the New Orleans run attack as Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen had forecast. The unit’s recent numbers underline that shift: the run defense allowed 4.5 yards per carry in Weeks 1-4 and 2.8 yards per carry over the last three weeks, and Pittsburgh had conceded just three touchdowns in the previous 15 quarters.
Saints linebacker Kaden Elliss praised Rodgers’ cerebral play, saying after Sunday’s game, "Even though he’s up there in age, I think that’s an advantage to him, his mind," and adding, "And I think he used that today." The article draws an offensive comparison, stating Rodgers is "no worse than Sam Darnold was last year" for the early-season output noted above.
The piece also noted off-field context for Rodgers, listing past controversies such as his commitment to his "own research" during Covid, antipathy toward Anthony Fauci and a history of publicly criticizing coaches and teammates, while observing his recent reticence. Over the weekend Rodgers discussed league scheduling proposals, saying owners had considered "a 16-game schedule with an entire international week, where teams play all over the world and two byes," that the league opted for a 17-game schedule to "rake in extra cash," and adding that the league "may be a little tight on money." The article also records a lighter moment in which Rodgers appeared to think Peaky Blinders was set in France rather than England.
The report included other Sunday results: the Cincinnati Bengals overturned a 13-0 half-time deficit with Joe Burrow throwing four second-half touchdowns on four drives for 243 yards and an 89% completion rate after the break, following a halftime team talk from Ja’Marr Chase (“I told our offense [that] we can’t look at our defense the whole time. We’ve got to step this shit up and make something work,”). Tampa Bay beat Carolina 43-13 despite Baker Mayfield throwing only 64 yards as the Bucs rushed for 258 yards and three touchdowns, including two from Bucky Irving. Bo Nix provided a 62-yard rushing touchdown and finished with 222 passing yards in Denver’s 30-16 win. Seattle beat Kansas City 20-3 with Jaxon Smith-Njigba recording 150 receiving yards (“One hell of a game from Sam Darnold,” said Smith-Njigba). Miami defeated the New York Jets 28-25 at MetLife; Garrett Wilson was targeted three times and said, "We were collaborating," "I don't even think I was talking to Geno." The Minnesota Vikings improved to 6-0 with a 16-10 win over Indianapolis, Spencer Shrader missed two field goals, and Houston fell to 2-5 after a 27-21 overtime loss to the New York Giants, where Cam Skattebo had 18 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown and JJ McCarthy completed 20-of-28 for 252 yards with no turnovers; Tank Dell caught his first pass in 673 days. Atlanta handed the San Francisco 49ers their first loss, 29-20, with Brock Purdy throwing two interceptions.
Realistically, the article concludes, Rodgers and the Steelers will need a considerable amount of luck to reach the Super Bowl this season, a requirement it notes is shared by many contenders; if Pittsburgh were to reach the title game, the report suggests, Rodgers finishing his career on Super Bowl Sunday would be a noteworthy finale.