The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading to Paris this weekend looking to extend their winning streak to three games when they face the New Orleans Saints at Stade de France.
At 4-2, Pittsburgh has an opportunity to build some momentum before returning home to face the Cleveland Browns. However, the Steelers are still searching for greater consistency, particularly on offense, where slow starts and missed opportunities have made several games more difficult than necessary.
New Orleans enters Sunday’s matchup with a 2-4 record, but the Saints have demonstrated enough offensive firepower to make things interesting. Their defense, on the other hand, has struggled throughout the first six games, potentially creating opportunities for Pittsburgh to establish a more balanced attack.
With that in mind, here are five Steelers worth keeping an eye on Sunday morning.
Warren has quietly become one of Pittsburgh’s most important offensive players, accumulating 718 yards from scrimmage through six games. He’s averaging nearly 5.5 yards per carry and has also been a valuable option in the passing game, giving Aaron Rodgers another weapon when opposing defenses take away opportunities downfield.
Sunday’s matchup could provide Warren with one of his best opportunities yet. New Orleans is allowing 138 rushing yards per game, ranking 30th in the NFL.
Pittsburgh has been experimenting with formations featuring Warren and Rico Dowdle together. The two were on the field together for 4-5 plays in Tampa, and we could see more variations of the same with a depleted wide receiver room.
The Steelers have also scored only one rushing touchdown this season, something they’ll undoubtedly want to improve. If Warren can establish an early rhythm, it could help Pittsburgh avoid another slow offensive start while creating more favorable situations for Rodgers on third down.
Bernard has become one of Pittsburgh’s most encouraging offensive developments over the last two weeks. The rookie caught 11 passes for 87 yards and his first NFL touchdown against Tampa Bay, earning the offensive game ball from head coach Mike McCarthy.
With Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson sidelined, Bernard has taken advantage of his opportunities, particularly on screens and quick passes designed to get him the football in space. His ability to create yards after the catch has given Pittsburgh another way to move the chains without relying exclusively on difficult throws downfield.
The question now is whether Bernard can maintain that production as opposing defenses begin paying more attention to him. Another productive performance against New Orleans would further establish him as a dependable option in Pittsburgh’s passing attack.
Herbig delivered one of his best performances of the season against Tampa Bay, recording two sacks and three tackles for loss. However, what’s particularly interesting is how defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has begun utilizing him in different ways.
The Steelers have experimented with moving Herbig around the defense, creating opportunities to disguise pressure and attack opposing quarterbacks from unexpected locations. That flexibility could be important against Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, who has thrown 12 touchdown passes but has also been intercepted five times.
Pittsburgh has generated 16 sacks through six games, and Herbig’s emergence gives Graham another legitimate pass-rushing threat alongside T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. If the Steelers can force New Orleans into obvious passing situations, Herbig could have another opportunity to make an impact.
While DK Metcalf and Germie Bernard have received much of the attention surrounding Pittsburgh’s passing game, Washington could become an important part of Sunday’s offensive approach.
The massive tight end has scored touchdowns in two of Pittsburgh’s last three games, including Sunday’s comeback victory against Tampa Bay.
His size creates obvious matchup problems for defenders, particularly near the goal line, where the Steelers have struggled to consistently finish drives.
With injuries affecting the receiving corps, Pittsburgh has additional reasons to utilize Washington and Pat Freiermuth in the passing game. New Orleans has struggled defensively, and Washington could provide Rodgers with another reliable target if the Saints focus their attention on Metcalf and Bernard.
Washington doesn’t need a huge number of receptions to make a difference. A few timely catches, particularly on third down or inside the red zone, could be enough to swing Sunday’s matchup in Pittsburgh’s favor.
Ramsey reminded everyone against Tampa Bay why the Steelers value his versatility, recording 10 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks. His game-clinching sack in overtime was one of the biggest plays of Pittsburgh’s season so far, earning him the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award.
Graham has utilized Ramsey in several different roles, taking advantage of his football intelligence and ability to operate closer to the line of scrimmage. That flexibility could become especially important against a Saints offense featuring Chris Olave, Alvin Kamara and tight end Juwan Johnson.
New Orleans has been productive on third downs and in the red zone, areas where Pittsburgh can’t afford to give up easy completions. Whether Ramsey is covering receivers, helping defend the run or creating pressure, his versatility could be a significant factor in slowing down the Saints.
Final thoughts
The Steelers have enough talent to leave Paris with their fifth victory of the season, but they’ll need more than another late comeback to make that happen comfortably.
Warren and Bernard could help Pittsburgh establish offensive consistency, while Washington offers another option for finishing drives. Defensively, Herbig and Ramsey provide Patrick Graham with different ways to disrupt a Saints offense that has been more productive than its record suggests.
Sunday’s game presents an opportunity for Pittsburgh to continue building momentum, but the performances of these five players could go a long way toward determining whether the Steelers return home with another victory.