New Orleans has a victory to build on. Now comes the harder part: making the next performance look like progress.
That question drives Wednesday’s edition of The Sports Coma with Big Q’s Drive Time, “Saints vs Steelers Preview: Can New Orleans Win in Paris?” The Week 7 matchup gives Who Dat Nation another chance to measure whether the Saints can turn encouraging stretches into dependable football.
New Orleans enters at 2–4 after beating the Giants 34–27. Pittsburgh arrives at 4–2. The Saints are the designated home team at Stade de France on Sunday, October 25, with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Central.
Protection starts the conversation
The preview’s central football questions begin with Tyler Shough and the offense’s ability to stay on schedule. Productive early downs can give Kellen Moore more choices. Penalties, negative runs and protection breakdowns can leave the quarterback trying to rescue a possession on third-and-long.
Wednesday’s availability report adds weight to that discussion. Right guard Cesar Ruiz did not practice because of a knee injury. Alvin Kamara was limited with a back issue, while Shough participated fully despite a left-hand listing. Those are Wednesday practice designations; Sunday’s availability still depends on the rest of the week.
The practical priority is clear: give Shough defined answers against pressure and keep the offense from needing a difficult throw on every important down.
Finishing drives must become a habit
Moving the ball is only part of the job. New Orleans needs to turn promising possessions into touchdowns and avoid handing Pittsburgh short fields.
That means treating red-zone execution, ball security and situational awareness as connected responsibilities. A manageable third down loses its value if a penalty follows. A defensive stop matters less if the offense immediately gives the ball back.
For this matchup, the most useful measure of offensive progress will be how often the Saints finish the possessions they create.
Loomis’ confidence meets another test
Mickey Loomis expressed confidence in the team’s direction Wednesday while acknowledging the frustration surrounding its start. His assessment emphasized development and the process of learning to win.
That outlook gives the Paris game a broader significance. The Saints have an opportunity to support their general manager’s confidence with another result. A win would also make the Giants victory the beginning of a streak.
The analysis here is straightforward: consistency must become visible in protection, tackling, possession management and the closing minutes. Those details will provide a clearer picture than the setting or the week’s optimism.
Bring the football to Paris
The international trip creates an unusual preparation week and an early kickoff for fans back home. The game itself will still demand familiar answers: win early downs, limit explosive plays and execute when possessions become decisive.
Big Q’s Wednesday Drive Time puts those questions in front of Who Dat Nation. Which concern matters most against Pittsburgh—protection, defensive pressure, ball security or finishing drives?
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