PARIS (AP) — Alvin Kamara wants the New Orleans Saints to become “a part of history” Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
asserted
Saints → want → Steelers
“It’s the first NFL game being played in France.
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It → ’ → France
It’s an opportunity for all of us,” the running back said.
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back → ’ → us
“I want to win so we’ll always have that to brag about.”
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we → want → that
New Orleans has a lot riding on its showdown with Pittsburgh at Stade de France.
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Orleans → have → France
The Saints are the “home” team, have been here all week and have tried to enlist fans ahead of the historic game.
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Saints → try → game
Plus, they need a win.
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they → need → win
The Saints (2-4) responded to criticism from team owner Gayle Benson by beating the New York Giants 34-27 to halt a three-game skid, even though they nearly blew a late lead.
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they → respond → lead
They’d love to go into their bye week on back-to-back victories.
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They → love → victories
“We built a lot of momentum, a lot of confidence in what we’re able to do,” safety Justin Reid said of last week’s victory.
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Reid → build → victory
“The biggest thing for us is just making sure we can sustain that and make sure we can do it for four quarters,” he added.
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he → make → quarters
“When we start doing that, we’re going to be a tough team for anyone in the league to have to deal with.
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anyone → start → league
They’ll try to make it tough for Aaron Rodgers and a Steelers team looking for their third straight win.
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it → try → win
Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Baltimore were all at 4-2 in the AFC North entering Week 7.
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Pittsburgh → enter → Week
The 42-year-old Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP, was sacked five times but led a fourth-quarter comeback in Pittsburgh’s 26-19 overtime win over Tampa Bay last week.
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Rodgers → sack → Bay
“Even at his age now, he still moves around the pocket well, throws a beautiful ball,” Reid said.
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Reid → move → ball
“I feel like a lot of times it’s a chess match between the safety and the quarterback to try and disguise looks so he isn’t able to just undress a defense and pick you apart.”
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he → feel → you
Saints coach Kellen Moore served as Mike McCarthy’s offensive coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys from 2020-22.
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Moore → serve → 2020
The Steelers coach was asked about how that familiarity might factor into plans for Sunday.
uncertain
familiarity → ask → Sunday
“That’s all part of the game,” McCarthy said.
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McCarthy → ’ → game
“Frankly, I think it’s the fun part of the game.
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it → think → game
It’s part of the competition. ...
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It → ’ → competition
They’re young in their program.
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They → ’re → program
They’re off to a good start.
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They → ’re → start
Some of the players, in my opinion, I think they fit the way he wants to play on offense.
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he → think → offense
The Steelers were scheduled to arrive Friday in the French capital, which has been hit by recent street protests that turned violent.
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that → schedule → protests
Last week: Steelers beat Tampa Bay 26-19; Saints beat Giants 34-27.
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Saints → beat → Giants
Last meeting: Steelers won 20-10 on Nov. 11, 2022, in Pittsburgh.
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Steelers → win → Pittsburgh
Series record: Saints lead 9-8
Matchup to watch
The Saints rush defense faces a tough challenge in slowing Steelers running back Jaylen Warren.
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defense → lead → Warren
New Orleans is allowing 138 rushing yards per game — 30th in the NFL.
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Orleans → allow → NFL
The 5-foot-8 Warren has rushed for 460 yards, which is seventh most in the league.
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which → rush → league
He’s also an effective option for Rodgers out of the backfield, having caught 21 passes for 258 yards through six games.
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He → ’ → games
Stats and stuff
— The Steelers are 1-1 in regular-season international games. They beat the Minnesota Vikings last year in Dublin.
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They → beat → Dublin
They lost to the Vikings in London in 2022.
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They → lose → 2022
— Saints WR Chris Olave is second in the NFL with 580 receiving yards entering Week 7.
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Olave → enter → Week
— Aaron Rodgers and Tyler Shough have both thrown 12 touchdown passes this season — tied for fourth in the NFL entering Week 7.
— Rodgers is up to 255 career games with a touchdown pass, including the playoffs.
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Rodgers → throw → playoffs
With two TD passes last week, he moved ahead of Peyton Manning (254).
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he → move → Manning
— Pittsburgh’s victory over Tampa Bay last week marked the 18th time since the 2020 season that the Steelers won after trailing entering the fourth quarter, tops in the NFL.
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Steelers → mark → NFL
— The Steelers lead the NFL in yards after catch with 866, part of head coach Mike McCarthy’s “throw short/run long” West Coast offense approach.
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Steelers → lead → approach
Pittsburgh has had at least 120 yards after catch in each of its six games.
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Pittsburgh → have → games
…and 4 more, not listed.
The Aporia
