The 42-year-old remains a polarizing figure. But the Steelers have a formidable defense and a quarterback who has seen it all before

Aaron Rodgers is nowhere near this NFL season’s MVP conversation. At times in his second season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the almost-43-year-old has shown glimpses of the player he was in his prime, slinging the ball with zest and precision, able to suss out any coverage. Other times he has looked like, well, a guy in his 40s playing a young man’s game.

Rodgers looked more like prime Rodgers in the Steelers’ gritty 16-10 win over the New Orleans Saints in Paris. He wasn’t satisfied with his side of the ball, telling reporter Molly McGrath, “I don’t think we played very good on offense today.” But Rodgers did enough to secure the win, including a 51-yard strike to DK Metcalf in the second quarter. He later scrambled for a first down on third-and-six to secure the win.

• Steelers, Saints still on for NFL’s Paris debut on Sunday

• Violent protests prompt US security warning for fans

• PSG cancel Sunday match amid escalating Paris unrest

The NFL would have cancelled its first regular-season game in Paris, scheduled for Sunday, if the situation were unsafe, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said on Friday, referring to the recent protests in the French capital.

France experienced some of its worst urban unrest in years last weekend, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to tighten restrictions on protests on Thursday amid fears that demonstrations planned for Saturday could turn violent.