Steelers-Vikings: Pittsburgh holds off Minnesota’s comeback attempt, plus 5 takeaways

The Pittsburgh Steelers were clicking on all cylinders early on Sunday but needed their defense to stave off a fourth-quarter comeback attempt by the Minnesota Vikings to hang on for a 24-21 win at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland.

Pittsburgh’s offense seized momentum late in the first quarter and into the second. Running back Kenneth Gainwell, who tallied two rushing touchdowns on the day, gave the Steelers an early 7-3 lead before quarterback Aaron Rodgers found DK Metcalf for an 80-yard connection to put Pittsburgh up by double digits at the half.

Then the defense kicked in. Deshon Elliot picked off Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz in the second quarter, then TJ Watt intercepted a Wentz pass early in the third quarter, setting up Gainwell’s second TD of the day to give the Steelers a comfortable 15-point lead that soon ballooned to 24-6.

The Vikings, however, didn’t go away. Minnesota cut Pittsburgh’s lead to three with two fourth-quarter touchdowns, including one that followed a 7-play, 99-yard drive to make it a one-score game.

The Steelers elected to take a delay-of-game penalty and punt the ball to the Vikings with 1:02 left. Then, Pittsburgh’s defense forced Minnesota into a turnover on downs to seal their first win overseas.

Steelers defense plays up to its potential

Elliott sprinted downfield in celebration, with the football in his hands, and slid into the end zone. The Steelers’ safety jumped to his feet and put an exclamation point on his turnover with an Irish jig.

Entering Sunday, the Steelers’ defense produced turnovers but played inconsistently. During Sunday’s game, they looked like a group full of Pro Bowlers and future Hall of Famers. The defense intercepted Wentz twice and sacked him six times. On many occasions, the Steelers dialed up blitzes to speed up the veteran backup and took advantage of a beat-up Vikings’ offensive line that lost its starting right tackle and center during the game.

A three-play sequence in the third quarter sums it up best. Elliott sacked Wentz and jarred the ball loose. The Vikings recovered the fumble, but Wentz was sacked again on the next play — this time by defensive tackle Keeanu Benton. On the next down, Watt deflected a pass at the line of scrimmage and intercepted it himself. He punted the football into the stands in celebration for good measure.

The Vikings managed just 6 points through the first 3 1/2 quarters. When they finally found the end zone, the Steelers still had a 10-point lead.

The defense still has plenty of room for improvement. A unit plagued by miscommunications lost Jordan Addison in coverage late in the fourth quarter, leading to an 81-yard completion. It set up a touchdown with 2:08 remaining that pulled the Vikings within 24-21. It took a last-minute defensive stand for the Steelers to secure the victory. Still, for a hyped, full-of-talent defense, this was a significant step in the right direction for most of the day. — Mike DeFabo, Steelers beat writer

Vikings’ malfunction begins with offensive line struggles

The Vikings’ offensive malfunction was the result of a tattered offensive line for most of the game. Minnesota entered the game without starting left guard Donovan Jackson. In the first half, right tackle Brian O’Neill injured his knee and did not return. And at halftime, starting center Ryan Kelly exited with a concussion. The ramifications were massive. For most of the second half, Wentz looked like he was dropping back to pass against a menacing tidal wave. The Steelers sacked him six times and hit him 11 times. He was frequently rolling on the turf, banging his hand on the ground out of frustration. Could he have distributed the ball more quickly? Certainly. But would another quarterback have had success in the face of the pressure he was playing against? It’s unlikely.

He finished with 327 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions on 28-of-40 passing. Running back Jordan Mason tallied 57 yards on 16 carries. It was a lackluster production in what amounts to the third offensive dud of the season. The Vikings found life last week against the Cincinnati Bengals, but now they’ll be searching once again with a looming game against an active Cleveland Browns defense. And they’ll have to do it with major uncertainty up front. Kelly had a concussion two weeks ago against the Falcons. It’s his fifth documented concussion, raising questions about his short- and long-term availability. O’Neill returned to the sideline but not in uniform. Lose him, and, without Jackson, the Vikings could be without three of their expected starters. — Alec Lewis, Vikings beat writer

DK Metcalf = YAC Monster

Rodgers’ declining mobility and the inexperience of a young offensive line have forced the Steelers to largely lean on a short, quick passing game. At times, this approach can make it a challenge for quarterbacks to orchestrate long, methodical drives. The answer? Yards after the catch.

While the Steelers entered Sunday averaging the fewest air yards per attempt (5.0), they led the league in yards after the catch. They should be one of the league leaders in at least one of those categories thanks to Metcalf. Early in the second quarter, Rodgers hit Metcalf on a 15-20-yard slant. The 6-foot-4 receiver did the rest with his 4.3 speed. He outran everyone and then trucked one final defender for an electrifying, 80-yard touchdown. — DeFabo

Rodgers, Steelers offense shreds Vikings defense

Rodgers was one of the storylines entering this game. The Vikings considered signing him this spring. Instead, they stuck with their plan, wanting to pair an unproven J.J. McCarthy with additions on the offensive and defensive lines with more available cap space. On Sunday, Rodgers displayed why the conversation around adding him was more sensible than some previously thought. He released the ball quickly. He was accurate. He identified the Vikings’ disguises and did not seem to give Minnesota the upper hand from an on-field check standpoint. Rodgers punished man coverage and zone coverage. He finished a sublime 17-of-20 passing for 192 yards and a touchdown.

Would Rodgers excel behind the current Vikings’ offensive line? Not at all. But was he more crisp than Wentz? Definitely. As for the Vikings defense, Sunday proved the value of edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel. It also raised questions about the Vikings’ run-stopping group and cornerbacks. Minnesota was not able to stop Gainwell, who tallied 94 yards on 17 carries. — Lewis

A Steelers home vibe

It may have been a neutral-site contest, but the first NFL game in Ireland felt like a Steelers home game. The Vikings were greeted by an overwhelming of boos as they were introduced. Steelers greats Jerome Bettis and Ben Roethlisberger led a pre-game Terrible Towel twirl that turned Croke Park into a sea of yellow. In the fourth quarter, the scoreboard went black as the Steelers played their defensive anthem “Renegade,” sending the 74,000-plus fans into a frenzy. The game was a sell-out success, and Commissioner Roger Goodell has already said he expects the NFL to be back in Ireland. — DeFabo

(Photo: Seb Daly / Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Click here to read article