The Duel in Dublin
The Vikings were always adept at crossing the Atlantic. With that in mind, our beloved football team will travel to Dublin, Ireland, on Sunday to face the always dangerous Pittsburgh Steelers.
I’ll admit it: I say “always dangerous” because of a healthy dose of jealousy. Despite some recent setbacks, the Steelers have been one of the most consistent and well-managed franchises in all professional sports for decades. Since 1990, they’ve made the playoffs 22 times, played in seven
AFC Championship Games, participated in four Super Bowls, and won two championships. They’ve had only two (!) head coaches since 1992. How long ago was that? Nirvana’s Nevermind topped the album chart just 10 days before Bill Cowher was hired in January that year. Man, I’m feeling old.
Of course, much of that success can be attributed to current head coach Mike Tomlin, who has famously never had a losing season in his 18 years as the Steelers’ head coach. That’s just incredible. Things have been shaky at the QB position since Ben Roethlisberger retired, but now they’ve allegedly steadied the ship with our old nemesis, Aaron Rodgers. While he’s definitely better than Mitchell Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Justin Fields, and Russell Wilson, how much better remains uncertain.
The Vikings are a perfect 4-0 in international games since 2013, coincidentally, when they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unfortunately, that proved to be arguably the only highlight in an abysmal 5-10-1 season.
So what’s in store this time around?
Scouting the Steelers
The Steelers enter this one 2-1, but with some questions. Their wins came in the form of a two-point victory against a feisty (but bad) 0-3 Jets team, and a seven-point win against what appears to be an underwhelming 1-2 Patriots squad. The latter seems particularly unimpressive considering the Pats turned the ball over five times. In between, our old pal Sam Darnold and the Seahawks took it to them in Pittsburgh, 31-17. Yeah, I lost some coin on that one.
The numbers don’t instill fear. In this young season, the Steelers rank 30th in offensive yards per game (247) and 12th in points per game (24). On defense, they rank 28th in yards allowed per game (386) and 22nd in points allowed per game (25.7). They’re likely not 1-2 (or worse) at this point due to being tied for first in turnover differential (+5).
I’m sure some Steelers bloggers are hoping on the narrative that (overall) the Vikings haven’t been impressive either. They’d be correct. Those first two games – particularly on offense – were ugly. We got smacked around at home by a Falcons team that promptly went out and got pummeled by the freakin’ Panthers (!) 30-0. We won impressively against a Bengals team sans Burrow with a defense that, well, exists. Carson Wentz played well – efficient with some nice throws, but nothing to elicit memories of Dan Marino circa-1984.
I noted in an earlier article how it’s often pure folly to forecast a season’s success or failure from the initial few weeks. Trends don’t usually emerge until October, and what you see can sometimes be misleading. Either the Chiefs or the Ravens are starting 1-3. Would you bet that team misses the playoffs? I sure wouldn’t. Are the 3-0 Colts for real with Daniel Jones? Again, I wouldn’t put money on it. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Insert other stupid clichés.
That needs to be said. Still, I do believe the inconsistent Steelers of the first three weeks are more of who they really are than the equally erratic Vikings. Maybe it’s the dreaded purple neurons activating the extraordinary bias in my brain, but I don’t think so.
Aaron Rodgers hasn’t been elite since 2021. Most notably, he doesn’t get the ball down the field like he used to. Both his yards gained per pass attempt and adjusted yards per pass attempt fell below 7.0 beginning in 2022 and have never recovered. Those numbers averaged 7.7 and 8.33, respectively, over his career in Green Bay.
During his time with the Jets, his completion percentage dropped from 65.3% to 62.9%, and his QB rating fell from a remarkable 103.6 to a modest 90.4. For reference, the average was 92.3 across the NFL in 2024 (StatMuse). If you’re a fan of QBR, the picture is even more bleak. After logging back-to-back years of 79.8 (2020) and 74.1 (2021), it’s fallen off a cliff. His best season since? Last year with the Jets at 44.7.
Around Rodgers, the Steelers are undoubtedly talented. Heyward, Metcalf, Queen, Ramsey, Slay, and Watt are familiar names to even casual NFL followers. Some younger, talented players like Joey Porter. Jr. are scattered throughout the roster.
But they are…old. After the 53-man cutdown in late August, the Steelers had the second-oldest roster in the league, with an average age of 27.28. They have 17 players 29 and over. Only the Commanders are older (28.09)
Listen, no one is going to accuse the Vikings of diving headfirst into a youth movement. They rank 25th (26.40), with 12 players 29 and over. In free agency, we’ve targeted similar experienced veterans (e.g., Hargrave, Allen, Kelly, etc.). But the situation isn’t quite as pronounced. The main difference, of course, is Rodgers. He is the oldest player in the NFL, and he also happens to play the most critical position on the field.
Like the Vikings, the Steelers are built to win now. However, things may not be all sunshine and Terrible Towels in the Steel City. In prep for this article, I came across this doozy here. Apparently, Terry Bradshaw is not thrilled with how things are going. Yikes.
Prediction
In forecasting the 2025 season back in May, I had this to say regarding Week 4:
Week 4: @Pittsburgh Steelers (Dublin): Even if You Know Who is the Steelers’ QB for this one, I see it playing out like the Jets game last year in London, given the circumstances – i.e., a slogging, slow-paced affair. The Vikings manage some big plays on offense in the 2nd half, and the D starts to settle in after an inconsistent start. Oh please (!!!) give me another European Van Ginkel pick 6 against Rodgers.
Minnesota Vikings: 24
Pittsburgh Steelers: 20 (No Rodgers: 10)
Well, You Know Who is in fact the Steelers’ QB for this one, and I do see it unfolding (somewhat) like this on Sunday morning.
The Steelers’ offensive line has been inconsistent, but they’re coming off a strong showing against the Patriots in Week 3. No matter which version shows up, I believe even Steelers fans would agree that our front-seven is a challenge. And it is here where I think the game will be decided.
I’d be surprised if Brian Flores doesn’t make every effort to take away the run and make Rodgers as uncomfortable as possible in pass-reliant situations, forcing him to get the ball out quickly on dink and dunk passes amid heavy third-and-long pressure. He’ll pull some plays out of his backside because he’s still Aaron Rodgers, and old habits die hard against the Vikings, but I’d be surprised if it were enough.
On offense, I expect a big day from Jordan Mason and Zavier Scott. The Steelers are 28th in rush yards per game allowed (139.3), and I’d think KOC would want to establish the run to set up desired play action for Wentz. Justin Jefferson and a returning Jordan Addison against a defense overcompensating to stop huge chunks on the ground is an ideal scenario.
Carson Wentz should build on a solid first outing. The Steelers are also not defending the pass well (so far) this year (26th, 246.7 per game), so there should be opportunities. The Steelers’ pass rush can be extremely dangerous; therefore, another poor offensive line performance, similar to the Week 2 debacle against the Falcons, could cost us this game. I’m cautiously optimistic this will not occur, but I’m not in denial either. This is yet another reason why I think KOC will rely on the running game early and often in this one.
The Steelers will bring their “A-game.” They’re too well-coached and talented not to. They’re also not the Bengals. I think the travel, combined with the feeling-out process, could make for a sluggish start for both teams. I think the Vikings will figure it out in the second half and pull ahead late, thanks to a strong running game and some timely plays by Wentz.
The dream scenario is for the Vikings to seal it on a late Aaron Rodgers interception to Isaiah Rodgers. I feel like dreaming. Why not? As Blondie wisely noted, it’s free.
Our Rodgers wins the day.
Vikings: 27
Steelers: 23
