The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the New Orleans Saints 16-10 in the NFL’s first game in Paris on Sunday. The Steelers looked in control from start to finish. Only three points were scored in the second half, and the Steelers improved to 5-2 as they prepare for a date with the 5-2 Cleveland Browns for sole possession of first place in the AFC North.
Let’s take a look around the internet and see how the rest of the NFL world views Pittsburgh after three straight wins in this week’s power rankings roundup.
FOX Sports: No. 13 (No. 15 Last Week)
“It’s probably time I stopped underestimating the Steelers, who have won three straight now and have only been out of one game this season in the final minutes. They win ugly and their 42-year-old QB is a shell of his old self, but give Mike McCarthy credit. Pittsburgh finds ways to win. And the emergence of RB Jaylen Warren as a legitimate two-way weapon has been huge for a team that needs to carry Rodgers more than he can carry them. It would be a big boost for the Steelers if they can beat the Browns at home next Sunday and stay atop the AFC North heading into their bye.” – Ralph Vacchiano
The Athletic: No.13 (Last Week No.16)
“After a horrendous start, the Steelers rank 10th in EPA per play since Week 3. Rodgers made some impressive throws in the win over the Saints, and the offense converted 10 of 16 third downs. Things are looking up in the Steel City.” – Chad Graff and Josh Kendall
CBS Sports: No.14 (Last Week No. 17)
“It hasn’t always been pretty, but they find ways to win games. They are tied for first place in the division.” – Pete Prisco
Pro Football Talk: No.10 (Last Week No. 13)
“Sunday’s home game against Cleveland is the closest thing to a “must” win that any 5-2 team will ever have.“
-Mike Florio
NFL.com: No.14 (Last Week No.17)
“Like with the Falcons, I’m having a difficult time discounting the Steelers. Yes, they defeated another NFC South team by a slim margin, but the promising developments seen on tape are becoming undeniable. The key difference: Aaron Rodgers’ willingness to accept Mike McCarthy’s in-game adjustments and execute them as intended. In the Week 6 win at Tampa Bay, they shifted to a shorter passing game. In Sunday’s Paris win over New Orleans, they decided it was best to ride with both Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth on the field at the same time, eliminating their early predictability. Rodgers even scrambled for a first down late, which made me feel like I had entered a time machine. Instead, it was just another victory for the 2026 Steelers, who have enough to continue winning in this fashion and don’t seem interested in going away.” – Nick Shook
Yahoo! Sports: No.14 (Last Week No. 16)
“Four of the Steelers’ wins have come against losing teams (combined record: 9-19). They have won only one game by more than seven points, but they also have a victory over the Bengals and at some point it doesn’t matter who the Steelers have beaten. They’re 5-2 and going to be in playoff contention all season. They’re making just enough plays, like they did to beat the 2-5 Saints on Sunday.”
“What might keep the Steelers going is the running back combination of Jaylen Warren, who has emerged as one of the best playmakers at the position this season, and Rico Dowdle, one of the best backups in the league. They had 223 of Pittsburgh’s 343 yards on Sunday.”
“Anytime we can just line up and give you Jaylen and Rico all day, that’s a good day for us,” “Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy said, according to the team’s site.”
– Frank Schwab
USA Today: No.16 (Last Week No.18)
“Sometimes you’ve got to suck it up and make a play for your guys,” “QB Aaron Rodgers said of his 8-yard run for a first down in the final minutes of Sunday’s game, a scramble that pretty much buried the Saints.” “I think because I am so much less athletic than I used to be, it actually fires up the guys even more.” “On that play, the 42-year-old four-time league MVP also outrushed every single New Orleans player Sunday.” – Nate Davis
ESPN: No.14 (Last Week No. 17)
“Both of the Steelers’ starting cornerbacks, Samuel and Jamel Dean, have made big plays this season. But Samuel has turned a modest one-year, $4 million deal into a solidified role. Part of the reason Pittsburgh was comfortable trading cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to Dallas was because of Samuel, who has parlayed a stellar offseason into seven pass deflections through seven games. He has successfully rebuilt his career after undergoing spinal fusion surgery in April 2025.” – Jeremy Fowler
Slowly but surely, the Steelers are climbing up the power rankings after three straight wins. Although Pittsburgh is 5-2, they have beaten the Colts, Buccaneers, and Saints, all of whom are among the bottom 10 in the majority of these rankings. It will be interesting to see how high the Steelers move up in the ranks if they are able to capture sole possession of first place of the AFC North this weekend with a win over Cleveland.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
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