NFL in Paris: Steelers vs. Saints Is On Despite the Protests
Paris police moved a soccer match to make room, but the NFL is staying put. Here is everything to know about Sunday's game.
The NFL's push to grow the game worldwide is facing its toughest test yet. Despite a wave of civil unrest in the French capital, the league says the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints will play as planned in Paris on Sunday.
Paris Makes Room for Football
The city is preparing for another weekend of protests, and some of the recent demonstrations have turned into riots. Rather than move the NFL game, Paris police asked for a different event to shift: Paris Saint-Germain's Ligue 1 match against Lyon at the Parc des Princes was pushed from Sunday to Monday evening.
That leaves police resources free for Sunday's game, and the NFL has continued to insist the matchup will go ahead.
Rodgers Backs the League
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he trusts the NFL to make the right security calls. He did sound less pleased about the team's travel plans, but he is not pushing to stay home.
The trip also puts Rodgers in the record books. He is set to become the first quarterback in NFL history to play international games in three straight seasons, in three different countries.
How the Game Is Shaping Up
Most of the attention this week has been off the field, but there is a real game to be played. CBS Sports analyst Pete Prisco picked the Steelers to win, while other betting previews like the Saints to cover the spread.
Every international game counts in the standings, so the result matters for the postseason race. Here is a refresher on how the NFL playoff format works, and what happens if Sunday ends tied in our guide to NFL overtime rules.
Next Stop: Tokyo?
Paris is far from the end of the NFL's global plans. Commissioner Roger Goodell said a game in Tokyo is "clearly on our list," with 2027 or 2028 in mind. It would be another new market for the league's International Series.
Around the League This Week
- Jaguars: Left tackle Anton Harrison is out for the season after surgery revealed a torn ACL.
- Colts: Quarterback Anthony Richardson was charged with possession of marijuana.
- Bears: Chicago paid tribute to the legendary Mike Ditka.
Keep up with every game this season in our NFL coverage.
Background from Wikipedia
NFL International Series
The NFL International Series is a series of American football games during the National Football League (NFL) regular season that are played outside the United States. The series has held games in the United Kingdom (in place since 2007), Australia, Brazil, Germany, Ireland, and Spain, as well as an upcoming game in France. Between 2016 and 2022, the series also intermittently included games played in Mexico, though the league will return in 2026.
Wembley Stadium in London was the exclusive home stadium for International Series games from 2007 to 2015 and continued to host NFL games through 2019 and again since 2022.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NFL Paris game still happening?
Yes. The NFL says Steelers vs. Saints will go ahead on Sunday in Paris despite recent civil unrest in the city.
Why was PSG vs. Lyon moved?
Paris police asked for Paris Saint-Germain's Ligue 1 match against Lyon to move from Sunday to Monday evening, as the city prepared for more protests and the NFL game.
Will the NFL play a game in Tokyo?
Commissioner Roger Goodell said Tokyo is clearly on the league's list, with 2027 or 2028 in mind.
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