The Pittsburgh Steelers finally touched down in Dublin, Ireland, for their long-awaited showdown against the Minnesota Vikings, and they left with a victory. Final score: Steelers 24, Vikings 21.
The defense put together one of its best performances all season. Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin dialed up relentless pressure, racking up six sacks and clogging lanes against Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Jefferson remains an elite threat and Addison a quietly dangerous weapon, so surrendering a few chunk plays was almost inevitable. What mattered most was the Steelers tightening the screws when it counted, and they closed strong.
Offensively, Pittsburgh showcased a renewed aggressive spirit. Aaron Rodgers visibly trusted DK Metcalf, fitting a perfect slant pass that Metcalf turned into a touchdown thanks to a textbook block by Calvin Austin. Kenneth Gainwell churned out 99 rushing yards, and rookie Kaleb Johnson injected instant energy with a couple of confident, downhill runs. The offensive line surrendered only two sacks, Broderick Jones and Dan Moore Jr. held firm, while Zach Frazier anchored the middle just as advertised.
Special teams and a late blown coverage in the fourth quarter remain minor blemishes, as does the puzzling 4th-and-goal run call. Still, Tomlin’s willingness to let Rodgers and the offense roam unleashed a more modern attack than we’ve seen under his tenure. A bolder playbook, more tight-end involvement, and a continuously improving front five could make this team genuinely dangerous.
At 3-1, the Steelers sit atop the AFC North entering their bye. The Browns are stumbling, the Bengals boast firepower but yield big plays, and the Ravens are reeling through injuries. This break arrives at just the right time to rest banged-up starters before the season resumes at Acrisure Stadium against Cleveland. For today’s win, there’s every reason to think Dan and Art Rooney, watching from above, had broad smiles on their faces.
(photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Steelers)