The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to get to 3-1 in Dublin on Sunday, and the Minnesota Vikings present quite the challenge in this battle of 2-1 teams. Our staff gives their thoughts on Week 4, and if
the Steelers will enter the bye two games over .500:
Alex Hanczar: Coming off another hard-fought win, the Steelers will have to earn it once again on the most unique stage this season. As Ireland awaits, Pittsburgh must be prepared for a Minnesota team that dismantled Cincinnati a week ago. Although Joe Burrow did not play, neither did Vikings’ first-year QB, J.J. McCarthy.
Instead, one-time Super Bowl champion Carson Wentz filled in and looked the part. If the Steelers hope to go 3-1 they will need another big defensive performance. Getting several injured players back in the lineup should help their cause. Offensively, consistency will be key. In all three games thus far, the offense has shown flashes of excellence, but not often enough. A stout performance from the offensive line earns Pittsburgh a victory overseas, in my opinion. A hard-fought battle on foreign soil finishes with a 31-23 Steelers win.
Ryland Bickley: The Vikings’ quarterback situation and the overseas location mean this game could go in a number of ways, but on paper, Minnesota matches up very well against Pittsburgh.
Kevin O’Connell is one of the better minds in the NFL and should be able to coax some sort of production out of his offense. I’d be most worried about how the Steelers will handle Brian Flores’ complex defense. His constant disguises and simulated pressures could wreak havoc on a Steelers offense that’s struggled with communication and assignments. I have the Vikings winning 28-20.
Joey Bray: The Vikings match up with the Steelers very well. Minnesota’s offensive unit will even get a bump this week with wide receiver Jordan Addison set to play his first game this season after serving a three-game suspension. If the Steelers’ defense isn’t able to force five turnovers like they did against New England, it could be quite the challenge to keep the Vikings in check.
The Vikings are also a very well-coached team, with Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores both being among the league’s best play-callers on their respective sides of the ball. The Steelers have yet to find their stride this season, and still find themselves banged up entering this game. Carson Wentz is competent enough to run the Vikings offense effectively. Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers’ offense could be in for a long day playing against a formidable defense that scored multiple times last week. I have the Vikings beating the Steelers comfortably in Dublin. Vikings 28 Steelers 17.
Mike Nicastro: I haven’t been inspired by the Steelers on either side of the ball the past two weeks. They’ll now face arguably the best team so far this season, even when considering the Vikings are starting journeyman Carson Wentz at quarterback, who might be an improvement over JJ McCarthy anyway.
Their defense is tremendous, and stymied Aaron Rodgers in their matchup last year, intercepting him twice, including a pick-six by Andrew Van Ginkel. Fortunately for Pittsburgh, Van Ginkel will miss the contest with a neck injury.
That will allow their struggling offensive line to have a chance to protect Rodgers, but in a low-scoring affair, the Vikings make one more play down the stretch to beat the black and gold. Don’t discount the return of WR Jordan Addison, who will return from suspension. Vikings 20 Steelers 16
Jarrett Bailey: This game will come down to coaching, and I trust Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores far more than I trust Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin. Even with a backup quarterback in Carson Wentz, the Vikings have weapons for days, and they get Jordan Addison back from suspension.
It won’t be a blowout, but it will be a game the Steelers lose in large part because Minnesota’s coaching staff is full of smart, modern-thinking minds on both sides of the ball. Vikings 23, Steelers 17
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