Steelers beat Saints 16-10 in NFL's first regular-season game in France, a day after mass protests

The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the New Orleans Saints 16-10 on Sunday at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, in the NFL's first regular-season game in France. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw one touchdown pass, moving him alone into third place on the career list for touchdown passes. The game came a day after demonstrations across France on Saturday, when more than 400,000 people protested over educational funding and the high cost of living. At least 110,000 of them were in Paris, the French Interior Ministry said. The protests were largely peaceful, but clashes led security forces to use tear gas and water cannons in several cities. Paris prosecutors said 64 people were arrested in the capital, mostly for suspected weapons offenses or taking part in a group preparing violence or property damage. American fans said they were welcomed and never expected the game to be called off. Rodgers also criticized NFL owners as cheap, saying he would have had the Steelers arrive earlier in the week.

The right-leaning Fox News and New York Post treat the game weekend as a lifestyle story. Fox leads with Rodgers and teammates arriving in suits and caps that fans likened to "Peaky Blinders," noting a Steelers post on X, and does not mention the protests in the excerpt. The Post headlines "riot-torn" Paris and lists Instagram stories from players' partners: EuroDisney, champagne, Gucci, a restaurant with entrees up to $200, and safety Jaquan Brisker's McDonald's meal. It concedes it is unclear whether the images predate the protests. Left-leaning NBC News leads with fans in high spirits and gives the Interior Ministry count, prosecutors' arrest figures and tear gas use. It quotes Saints fan Sindhu Pandit on staying informed. Both sides cover the first NFL game in Paris, but they differ on tone: the Post stresses ongoing unrest, while NBC calls the protests largely peaceful. Alternative outlets ESPN and Yahoo Sports focus on Rodgers' milestone and his complaint about owners.