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Taliese Fuaga and Asim Richards Have Allowed 41 Pressures, and T.J. Watt Is Waiting in Paris
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- Taliese Fuaga and Asim Richards Have Allowed 41 Pressures, and T.J. Watt Is Waiting in Paris
Tyler Shough has been carrying the New Orleans Saints for six weeks, and his tackles haven't made it easy. Taliese Fuaga and Asim Richards have combined to allow 41 pressures, and Sunday in Paris they get T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith from a Steelers defense that has forced 10 turnovers.
Not everything about this matchup tilts toward Pittsburgh. The Saints have two real edges and three problems heading into the NFL's first game in France, and how those shake out decides whether New Orleans flies home at 3-4 or 2-5.
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Where the Saints have the edge in Paris
Oct 18, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) celebrates with head coach Kellen Moore and tight end Oscar Delp (4) after scoring a touchdown against the New York Giants while wearing gold Adidas Freak Ultra Primeknit PE cleats during the third quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Payton Wilson can be picked on in coverage
Wilson is a problem against the run, but he has a 53.1 coverage grade that ranks 50th among 75 linebackers, and quarterbacks have a 102.9 passer rating throwing at him, according to PFF . That's an opening for the Saints' backs and tight ends.
Alvin Kamara showed what he can do with space against the Giants, turning a swing pass into a 31-yard touchdown that put him in elite company . "It was just Alvin being Alvin, man, he catches a flat route and houses it," Shough said after the win . Kamara was limited all week with a back issue but carries no game designation, and Juwan Johnson has 25 catches for 248 yards and three touchdowns.
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Pittsburgh's run game runs through one player
Jaylen Warren has 460 of the Steelers' 595 rushing yards. Rico Dowdle, signed after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, has 77 yards on 22 carries and is questionable with a knee injury. Pittsburgh also has just one rushing touchdown and rarely runs near the goal line .
That gives the Saints one runner to focus on, and they get Kaden Elliss and Anfernee Jennings back after both missed three games. If New Orleans can make Warren work for every yard, Aaron Rodgers has to carry the offense against a pass rush led by Chase Young .
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Where the Steelers have the edge
Pittsburgh Steelers T.J. Watt (90) reacts after tackling New Orleans Saints running back Jordan Howard (28) in the backfield during the second half at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA on November 13, 2022.Pittsburgh Steelers Vs New Orleans Saints Week 10
Taliese Fuaga and Asim Richards against T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith
Fuaga has allowed 22 pressures and four sacks, and his 49.6 pass-blocking grade ranks 69th among 73 tackles on PFF . Richards, filling in at left tackle since Kelvin Banks Jr. went on injured reserve, has allowed 19 pressures and owns a 51.0 overall grade, 72nd of 73, per PFF . He's also playing through a left thumb injury.
Watt has 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a pick-six, and Highsmith has three sacks. Kellen Moore said in Paris that Pittsburgh's edge rushers can take over a game , and Shough's turnovers have already cost the Saints this season .
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Davon Godchaux and the middle of the run defense
Godchaux lines up at nose tackle for the Saints, and his 35.9 run-defense grade ranks 118th among 130 interior defensive linemen, according to PFF . Nathan Shepherd is questionable after an illness kept him out of the past two games.
New Orleans allows 4.8 yards per carry and has given up 11 rushing touchdowns, the most in the league. Pittsburgh ranks fifth in rushing EPA, per SI , and Warren will test the middle early.
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Daniel Carlson's week
Carlson has missed three of his 10 field goal tries, and he spent Wednesday and Thursday in the United States while his wife awaited the birth of their fourth child. He arrived in Paris on Friday and practiced fully. "It's great to be able to come out here and prepare," Carlson told WWL's Jeff Nowak .
Kicks could matter more than usual. Opponents have reached the Steelers' red zone just 10 times, the fewest in the NFL, so the Saints may have to settle for field goals in a game Pittsburgh is favored by 3.5 points .
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If Fuaga and Richards hold up long enough for Shough to find Kamara and Johnson underneath, New Orleans can win this one. If they don't, the Saints will head into the bye testing Mickey Loomis' patience even further.
More on the New Orleans Saints
This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
