Given how Sunday went, It’s safe to say that the NFL wouldn’t mind playing more games in Dublin. In what turned out to be a highly-entertaining game, the Steelers enjoyed a big lead for most of the way before having to hang on for a 24-21 win over the Vikings.
The Steelers led 24-6 before the Vikings began a valiant comeback led by Carson Wentz, who despite not having three offensive linemen produced two late scoring drives. Pittsburgh, however, was able to avoid a monumental collapse after turning the Vikings over on downs on their final drive.
Pittsburgh’s big lead was the byproduct of an opportunistic defense, Aaron Rodgers and Kenneth Gainwell, who started in place of Jaylen Warren. Rodgers went 18 of 22 for 200 yards which included an 80-yard touchdown to DK Metcalf that gave the Steelers a 14-3 lead early in the second quarter. Ahead 14-6 at halftime, Pittsburgh stretched its lead to 21-3 after T.J. Watt’s pick of Wentz set up Gainwell’s second touchdown of the game.
The lead swelled to 18 points before Wentz and the Vikings started to mount a comeback that included Jonathan Allen’s tackle of Gainwell on fourth-and-goal with 4:14 left. After the stop, the Vikings made it a three-point game after an 81-yard completion from Wentz to Jordan Addison set up his short touchdown pass to Jalen Nailor.
The Vikings got one last chance after forcing a Steelers punt, but Wentz and Co. were unable to complete would would have been an improbable comeback.
We’ll have a full breakdown shortly, but in the meantime, re-live today’s action in real time by checking out our live blog below.
