Aaron Rodgers surpassed Peyton Manning for the third-most touchdown passes in NFL history as the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the New Orleans Saints 16-10 on October 25, 2026, in the league’s first regular-season game in France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
The milestone arrived during a hard-fought contest where offensive yards were difficult to secure. Rodgers delivered a first-half strike to tight end Darnell Washington, lifting his career touchdown total to 540 and moving past Manning’s previous mark of 539. The four-time MVP quarterback finished the afternoon completing 19 of 30 passes for 212 yards, helping Mike McCarthy’s squad improve to 5-2 on the season.
Jaylen Warren and the Ground Attack Dominate Time of Possession
While the passing game provided the historical milestone, the ground game served as the engine that preserved the victory. Running back Jaylen Warren carried the ball 18 times for 101 yards, averaging 5.6 yards per carry, and added three receptions for 36 yards. Warren’s performance gave him four games with at least 125 scrimmage yards this season, tying Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III for the most in the NFL. Backup Rico Dowdle also contributed effectively on the ground, picking up 4.6 yards per carry.
Jaylen Warren's impact as the Steelers' best weapon: He has four games of at least 125 scrimmage yards, tying Kansas City's Kenneth Walker III for most in the NFL.
The visitors relied heavily on that rushing dominance down the stretch. Clinging to a six-point lead with under six minutes remaining, Pittsburgh took over possession and bled out the clock with a drive featuring four first downs. On third-and-6 from the Saints’ 34-yard line, Rodgers scrambled for an 8-yard gain just before the two-minute warning to secure the game-sealing set of downs.
Sometimes you’ve got to suck it up and make a play for your guys. I think because I am so much less athletic than I used to be, it actually fires up the guys even more.
Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Tyler Shough and the New Orleans Offense Fall Short
For New Orleans, quarterback Tyler Shough put together an efficient passing line, completing 30 of 38 passes for 278 yards, a touchdown, and a costly interception (Sky Sports, Behind the Steel Curtain). Shough also led the team in rushing with three carries for 7 yards, while running back Alvin Kamara hauled in seven catches for 57 yards. However, Kellen Moore’s squad struggled mightily to establish a traditional ground game, rushing for just 18 total yards as their record dropped to 2-5.
Aaron Rodgers Surpasses Peyton Manning for Major NFL Record https://t.co/gRof1w51ew
The turning point for the Saints’ offense arrived in the third quarter when linebacker Payton Wilson stepped in front of a short pass intended for Chris Olave to secure a red-zone interception. Although New Orleans later responded with a one-yard touchdown pass from Shough to Devaughn Vele inside the two-minute warning following a goal-line stand, missed opportunities earlier in the game proved decisive.
That was a frustrating drive, especially because you felt like you had an opportunity that you could have gotten the stop.
Kaden Elliss, New Orleans Saints linebacker
Security and Atmosphere at the Stade de France
The historic matchup unfolded before 78,488 fans at the national stadium in Saint-Denis amid heightened international attention. The week leading up to the game had seen widespread anti-government protests and civil unrest across France over education funding and living costs, with the country’s Interior Ministry reporting 410,000 demonstrators nationwide on Saturday. League officials maintained regular coordination with the United States State Department and Parisian authorities, declaring that relocating the contest had never been seriously considered.
Outside the venue on Sunday, conditions remained calm and festive
. Traveling fans reported feeling safe and welcomed by local residents, while players praised the unique international showcase. Following the conclusion in France, the Steelers return home to host the Cleveland Browns before entering their Week 9 bye, while the Saints head into their bye week.
While the focus remained on the sporting spectacle, both franchises have dealt with significant roster adjustments over the course of the season. New Orleans adjusted its offensive line alignment prior to kickoff, with rookie Jeremiah Wright stepping in to make his start at right guard in place of the injured Cesar Ruiz, who was sidelined with a knee issue.
Go inside the Steelers win over the SaintsThe run game was one of the big differenceshttps://t.co/Nq8n1Frja0 pic.twitter.com/oKuQJ2dLXJ
NFL executives emphasized that safety remained paramount throughout the international trip. The New Orleans organization maintained daily communication with security partners in France and concurred fully with the league’s assessment that travel and game-day preparations could proceed securely.
For longtime supporters who made the journey across the Atlantic, the event proved to be an unforgettable experience despite early media reports regarding local demonstrations. Sean Warner, who has followed the Pittsburgh franchise since 1974, made the trip from Washington, D.C., with his wife, Saroja, and noted that the city of Paris worked diligently to ensure visitors felt comfortable and secure. Similarly, lifelong Saints fans Sindhu Pandit, Shruti Menon, and Pramod Menon expressed absolute confidence that the fixture would proceed as planned, praising the hospitality of local concierges and residents who helped them find their way around the weekend.
Aaron Rodgers threw one touchdown pass and Chris Boswell kicked three field goals in Pittsburgh’s 16-10 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday in the NFL’s first regular-season game in France. https://t.co/mRx1pi0gOe
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Aaron Rodgers has passed Peyton Manning for the THIRD-most pass TDs in NFL history with 580 👏 pic.twitter.com/b2QIvcnPtG
Aaron Rodgers (540) passed Peyton Manning (539) with the third-most regular season passing touchdowns in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/8li419RtBU