JuicyTalk
Even though the Minnesota Vikings scored two touchdowns in the final eight minutes of the first international game of the season, the Pittsburgh Steelers managed to fend off a potential game-tying drive for a 24-21 win. With that victory, Pittsburgh moved into sole possession of first place in the AFC North.
Minnesota had a chance to tie this game with 1:01 left in the fourth quarter. However, quarterback Carson Wentz threw an incompletion on a 4th and 17 to give the Steelers the win.
The Vikings lost this game because of self-inflicted mistakes. Minnesota was flagged eight times for 82 yards. The Vikes also allowed seven sacks and turned the ball over twice.
After forcing a three-and-out on the first drive of the game, the Vikings’ offense avoided a crucial mistake. A fumble by Minnesota running back Jordan Mason was picked up and returned for a touchdown. However, Mason was seen touching the ball while on the ground and out of bounds, negating the fumble and giving the Vikes the football back. That kept the series alive, allowing Minnesota to kick a field goal for a 3-0 lead.
On their second drive of the day, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers looked like his old self. He completed six passes for 59 yards. That eventually led to a one-yard touchdown run by running back Kenneth Gainwell for a 7-3 advantage heading into the second quarter.
A promising series for the Vikes ended in disappointment. After getting the ball into Steelers territory, a false start and a Pittsburgh sack knocked Minnesota out of field goal range, leading to a punt.
The Steelers made the Vikings suffer on their very next offensive play. Wideout DK Metcalf took a slant pass 80 yards for a touchdown to extend Pittsburgh’s lead to 14-3. Metcalf finished the game with five catches for 126 yards and a touchdown, which were both season-highs for the former Seattle Seahawk.
The first incompletion of the day didn’t come until more than midway through the second quarter, but it was a costly one. Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz threw an interception that Steelers safety DeShon Elliott picked off. Prior to that, Wentz and Rodgers were 20/20 for 238 passing yards combined to start the game.
On a 3rd and 9, Aaron Rodgers scrambled for 11 yards, but was stripped of the football. Thankfully for him, that fumble was recovered by Steelers offensive lineman Broderick Jones at Minnesota’s 21 yard line and carried for another six yards to the 15. However, a sack in the red zone caused the drive to stall out, so Pittsburgh had to settle for a field goal that was blocked by Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, who scored two defensive touchdowns for Minnesota last weekend.
The Vikes got the ball back with 1:38 and made the Steelers pay. A 29-yard reception by Justin Jefferson got Minnesota into the red zone, where they connected on a 28-yard field goal to cut the lead to 14-6 at the break. Jefferson caught ten passes for 126 yards in the game. Coming into this one, he had 12 receptions on the season for 200 yards.
Following two straight three-and-outs to open the third quarter, a good-looking Vikings drive ended with a turnover. Carson Wentz threw his second interception of the day, which was grabbed by Steelers star defender T.J. Watt for a 12-yard return. That was Watt’s first INT since Week Seven of the 2023 season.
Pittsburgh took advantage of the good starting field position on Minnesota’s 35. Kenneth Gainwell ran for 27 total yards on four straight rushing plays. His fourth carry of the drive was a four-yard touchdown that put the Steelers ahead 21-6 late in the third quarter. This was Gainwell’s first career game with two rushing touchdowns.
The Vikings were unable to respond effectively. They allowed their sixth sack of the game, which resulted in another punt to basically take this one to the fourth quarter. Minnesota struggled on third down today with just four conversions on 14 attempts.
A 12-yard punt return allowed the Steelers to once again start a drive on Minnesota’s side of the field. They managed to pick up 31 yards and get into the red zone. However, the series came to a halt at the 15 yard line. Pittsburgh elected to kick a short field goal that put them ahead 24-6 with 11:18 to go in the game.
The Vikings fought back, though. An 18-yard completion to Justin Jefferson got the ball into Steelers territory. From there, Carson Wentz connected with tight end TJ Hockenson on two straight plays for 19 yards to get into the red zone. Two downs later, Minnesota scored its first touchdown of the day on a 16-yard toe-tapping catch by running back Zavier Scott, his first career TD. That score made it 24-14 with 7:50 left in the fourth quarter after a successful two-point conversion.
The Vikings’ defense made its biggest play of the game late in the fourth quarter. With 4:13 left on the clock, Minnesota held firm on a 4th and goal from the three yard line, which resulted in a turnover on downs and allowed the Vikes’ offense to take over in the shadow of their own end zone.
Minnesota made the most of the extra possession. After getting out of their red zone, Carson Wentz completed a deep pass to wideout Jordan Addison for 81 yards, who returned to the field after serving a three-game suspension to start the season. That led to a 4th and goal at the two yard line. Wentz answered the call with a TD pass to wideout Jalen Nailor, bringing the score to 24-21 with 2:08 left in the game. Wentz had 350 passing yards in this contest, his first 300-yard game since October 2022.
With time waning, the Vikings had to attempt an onside kick. That kick was recovered by the Steelers at Minnesota’s 49 yard line. Pittsburgh had a chance to put this game away on a 3rd and 1, but Minnesota stuffed the rushing attempt play to force a fourth down. The Steelers then elected to punt, giving the Vikings the ball with 1:01 left in the game and a chance to tie things up.
With the drive starting at their own 20, Minnesota made it to the 39 yard line before a critical mistake by Carson Wentz. He was penalized for intentional grounding, which moved the ball back to the 23 and led to a 2nd and 26. This set up a 4th and 17 two plays later with 14 ticks left on the clock. But Wentz threw an incompletion for a turnover on downs, securing the win for the Steelers.
With that loss, the Vikings fell to 2-2 on the season and third place in the NFC North.
*Author’s note: all information and statistics are tracked in real time and are provided by the game’s broadcaster, NFL.com, and ESPN.com*
