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Steelers top Saints in NFL's first regular-season game in Paris / Photo: © AFP
Steelers top Saints in NFL's first regular-season game in Paris
Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for 212 yards and a milestone touchdown to lead the Steelers to a 16-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints in the NFL's first regular-season game in Paris on Sunday.
Rodgers hit Darnell Washington with a four-yard TD pass to give the Steelers a 10-3 lead late in the second quarter, his 540th regular-season touchdown pass moving him into solo third place on the all-time list ahead of Peyton Manning (539).
The 42-year-old future Hall-of-Famer also scrambled eight yards on a key third down just before the two-minute warning to keep Pittsburgh's game-sealing drive alive.
"There were some important plays and that was one of them," said Rodgers, who became the first NFL quarterback to play regular-season games in four countries.
He played in London with the Green Bay Packers and the New York Jets and last year led the Steelers in the NFL's first game in Ireland.
Pittsburgh running back Jaylen Warren rushed for 101 yards on 18 carries and added three catches, and Chris Boswell booted three field goals for the Steelers, who improved to 5-2.
But Rodgers said Pittsburgh's defense was the key to victory.
The Steelers held the Saints to 18 rushing yards and Pittsburgh linebacker Payton Wilson came up with an interception of New Orleans quarterback Tyler Shough in the red zone in the third quarter to snuff out a Saints surge.
"I thought our defense obviously played great," Rogers said. "It was a disjointed game with the length of the possessions, but we were really bad in the red zone.
"We've got to clean that up. We had too many penalties, especially 15-yard penalties.
"However," Rodgers added, "it's hard to win in this league. We traveled over on Thursday night, Friday. Guys were tired, so it was a gutsy win for us."
The contest in the French capital was one of a record nine regular-season games to be played outside the United States this year, with Paris joining Melbourne and Rio de Janeiro as new host cities.
It went ahead despite concerns over ongoing protests, some violent, that have seen more than 1,300 people arrested.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told AFP on Friday that the Paris contest was not "a one-off".
"This is part of our efforts long-term to be successful," he said. "We're going to be here and be part of the culture. This is just the beginning."
T. Jones--BTZ
