Minnesota Vikings vs Pittsburgh Steelers Match Player Stats: The Full Breakdown

The Minnesota Vikings vs Pittsburgh Steelers match player stats tell a story of grit, mistakes, and a wild finish in Dublin. The Vikings vs Steelers player stats show two teams that fought until the final whistle. The Minnesota Vikings vs the Pittsburgh Steelers stats reveal a Steelers team that controlled the trenches.

The Steelers vs Vikings box score ended 24‑21. The Vikings vs Steelers full game stats highlight six sacks by Pittsburgh’s defense. The Minnesota Vikings vs Pittsburgh Steelers recap stats show a valiant Vikings comeback that fell just short. Let’s crack open the numbers and see what really happened.

This was a game played in Ireland. A game that felt like a heavyweight fight. One team punched first. The other punched back. But only one landed the final blow.

Game Atmosphere: Dublin’s First Regular‑Season NFL Game

Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. That’s where this battle went down. 74,512 fans packed the stands. The weather was cool – 61 degrees with a light wind. But the energy was hot. The Vikings won the toss and deferred. That meant Pittsburgh got the ball first after halftime. A smart call. It almost worked.

This wasn’t just another Sunday. It was history. The NFL’s first regular‑season game in Ireland. And both teams showed up ready to brawl. You could feel the nerves early. Penalties. Sloppy plays. But also moments of pure brilliance. The kind that makes you jump off your couch.

Scoring Summary: How the Points Went Down

Let’s walk through the steelers vs vikings score summary, quarter by quarter. Numbers don’t lie. But they also don’t tell the whole story. Here’s how it unfolded.

1st Quarter

• 8:36 – Vikings: Will Reichard 41‑yard field goal. MIN 3‑0.
• 14:05 – Steelers: Kenneth Gainwell 1‑yard run. Chris Boswell kick. PIT 7‑3.

2nd Quarter

• 2:44 – Steelers: D.K. Metcalf 80‑yard pass from Aaron Rodgers. Boswell kicks. PIT 14‑3.
• 14:48 – Vikings: Reichard 28‑yard field goal. PIT 14‑6.

3rd Quarter

• 12:37 – Steelers: Kenneth Gainwell 4‑yard run. Boswell kicks. PIT 21‑6.

4th Quarter

• 3:42 – Steelers: Boswell 33‑yard field goal. PIT 24‑6.
• 7:10 – Vikings: Zavier Scott 16‑yard pass from Carson Wentz (Wentz to Jalen Nailor for two‑point conversion). PIT 24‑14.
• 12:52 – Vikings: Jalen Nailor 2‑yard pass from Wentz (Reichard kick). PIT 24‑21.

That’s the cold timeline. But the heat came in the fourth quarter. Down 24‑6 with under eight minutes left, the Vikings roared back. Two touchdowns. A two‑point conversion. Suddenly, it was a one‑possession game. The comeback kids nearly pulled it off. But Pittsburgh’s defense slammed the door.

Team Performance Comparison: NFL Game

Let’s look at the team performance comparison in the NFL game. The vikings vs steelers defense stats tell a clear story. One defense dominated. The other bent but didn’t always break.

Breaking it down: The Vikings outgained the Steelers 372 to 313. But they lost the turnover battle 2‑0. That’s the game right there. Pittsburgh ran the ball 29 times for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Minnesota only managed 70 rushing yards on 20 carries. That’s just 3.5 yards per attempt. Not good enough. The Steelers also won the sack battle 6 to 2. Pressure changes everything. And Pittsburgh brought it all day.

Steelers vs Vikings Quarterback Stats: Rodgers vs Wentz

steelers vs vikings quarterback stats show a tale of two very different days.

Aaron Rodgers (Pittsburgh): 18/22, 200 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 2 sacks, 119.7 rating. Rodgers was surgical. He completed his first ten passes. That’s not a typo. Ten straight completions to open the game. The 80‑yard bomb to Metcalf was a work of art. A perfect deep ball that split the defense.

Rodgers didn’t force anything. He took what the defense gave him. And he protected the football. Zero interceptions. Zero fumbles lost. That’s veteran football.

Carson Wentz (Minnesota): 30/46, 350 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 6 sacks, 84.5 rating. Wentz threw for more yards. But he also threw two picks. And he got hammered. Six times he hit the turf. The pressure rattled him at key moments. Still, you have to respect his fight. Down 24‑6, he led two touchdown drives. He scrambled. He extended plays. He kept believing. But the two interceptions – one early, one late – killed momentum.

Vikings vs Steelers Rushing and Passing Stats

The vikings vs steelers rushing and passing stats highlight where the game was won.

Rushing Yards Comparison: Vikings Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers:

• Kenneth Gainwell: 19 carries, 99 yards, 2 TD. Gainwell was the workhorse. He ran hard between the tackles. His 15‑yard run in the fourth quarter sealed the win. He also caught 6 passes for 35 yards. A complete back.
• Kaleb Johnson: 6 carries, 22 yards. A nice change‑of‑pace back.
• Aaron Rodgers: 3 carries, 8 yards. Mostly kneel‑downs at the end.

Minnesota Vikings:

• Jordan Mason: 16 carries, 57 yards. Mason ran hard but found little room. The Steelers’ front seven was stacked.
• Carson Wentz: 2 carries, 12 yards. Both scrambles when the pocket collapsed.
• Zavier Scott: 2 carries, 1 yard. Used more as a receiver.

The difference: Pittsburgh ran the ball 29 times. Minnesota ran only 20 times. When you’re down big early, you have to pass. But the Vikings never established the run. That made Wentz’s job much harder.

Receiving Stats Vikings vs Steelers Game

The receiving stats vikings vs steelers game feature some huge plays.

Minnesota Vikings:

• Justin Jefferson: 10 catches, 126 yards on 11 targets. Jefferson was unstoppable. He caught passes underneath, over the middle, and on the sideline. But no touchdowns. Pittsburgh kept him out of the end zone.
• Jordan Addison: 4 catches, 114 yards. Addison’s 81‑yard catch in the fourth quarter set up a score. He was a serious threat all day.
• Zavier Scott: 6 catches, 43 yards, 1 TD. The rookie caught a 16‑yard touchdown late.
• T.J. Hockenson: 4 catches, 39 yards. Quiet day for the tight end.
• Jalen Nailor: 1 catch, 2 yards, 1 TD. The game‑tying touchdown grab with 2:13 left.

Pittsburgh Steelers:

• D.K. Metcalf: 5 catches, 126 yards, 1 TD. The 80‑yard touchdown was a backbreaker. Metcalf beat his man deep and ran under Rodgers’ perfect pass.
• Kenneth Gainwell: 6 catches, 35 yards. Gainwell was Rodgers’ safety valve.
• Darnell Washington: 3 catches, 20 yards. The big tight end moved the chains.
• Calvin Austin III: 2 catches, 13 yards.
• Jonnu Smith: 2 catches, 6 yards.

The key: Metcalf’s 80‑yard touchdown was the biggest play of the game. It put the Steelers up 14‑3. The Vikings never fully recovered.

Defensive Tackles and Sacks Stats

The defensive tackles and sacks stats show why Pittsburgh won.

Steelers defense:

• 6 sacks total. The pressure was relentless.
• DeShon Elliott: 1 interception (‑4 yards), 1 sack, 6 combined tackles (4 solo), 2 passes defended, 1 forced fumble.
• T.J. Watt: 1 interception (13 yards), 1 sack, 5 combined tackles (3 solo), 2 passes defended.
• Nick Herbig: 1 sack, 2 tackles.
• Patrick Queen: 8 combined tackles (4 solo), 1 TFL, 1 QB hit, 1 pass defended.
• Cameron Heyward: 1 QB hit.

Vikings defense:

• Jalen Redmond: 2 sacks, 3 tackles (2 solo), 1 TFL.
• Jonathan Allen: 1 tackle, 1 QB hit.
• Jonathan Greenard: 2 tackles (1 solo), 1 QB hit.
• Bo Richter: 2 tackles (1 solo).

Turnovers and Interceptions Vikings Steelers

The turnovers and interceptions Vikings-Steelers category is the biggest difference. Pittsburgh had zero turnovers. Minnesota had two. Both interceptions came at terrible times. Elliott’s pick came in the red zone. Watt’s pick came on a deep ball. You can’t win on the road when you give the ball away twice and get zero takeaways.

NFL Player Efficiency Ratings

Let’s look at NFL player efficiency ratings for the key guys.

• Aaron Rodgers: 119.7 passer rating. That’s elite. He completed 81.8% of his passes. He didn’t turn the ball over. He led his team to a win.
• Carson Wentz: 84.5 passer rating. Average at best. The two interceptions hurt. But his fourth‑quarter comeback attempt shows heart.
• Justin Jefferson: 10 catches on 11 targets. A 90.9% catch rate. That’s absurd. He was the best player on the field. But his team lost.
• Kenneth Gainwell: 99 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns, 6 catches. That’s a monster game. He was the offensive MVP.

Vikings vs Steelers Game Highlights and Stats

The vikings vs steelers game highlights and stats are packed with memorable moments.

• The 80‑yard bomb: Rodgers to Metcalf. A 14‑point swing. The crowd in Dublin erupted. You could hear the roar across the stadium.
• The fourth‑quarter rally: Down 24‑6, the Vikings scored 15 unanswered points. Scott’s 16‑yard touchdown. The successful two‑point conversion. Nailor’s 2‑yard grab with 2:13 left. The Vikings had all the momentum.
• The onside kick attempt: After Nailor’s touchdown, Reichard tried an onside kick. Roman Wilson recovered for Pittsburgh at the MIN 49. Game over.
• The defensive stand: On fourth‑and‑goal from the 2‑yard line, Wentz threw incomplete. The Vikings turned it over on downs. That was the final nail.

Vikings vs Steelers Key Players Stats

Here are the vikings vs steelers key players’ stats you need to know.

Steelers offensive stars:

• Aaron Rodgers: 18/22, 200 yards, 1 TD, 119.7 rating
• Kenneth Gainwell: 19 carries, 99 yards, 2 TD; 6 catches, 35 yards
• D.K. Metcalf: 5 catches, 126 yards, 1 TD

Steelers defensive stars:

• DeShon Elliott: 1 INT, 1 sack, 6 tackles, 1 FF
• T.J. Watt: 1 INT, 1 sack, 5 tackles
• Nick Herbig: 1 sack

Vikings offensive stars:

• Carson Wentz: 30/46, 350 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 84.5 rating
• Justin Jefferson: 10 catches, 126 yards
• Jordan Addison: 4 catches, 114 yards

Vikings defensive star:

• Jalen Redmond: 2 sacks

Game Box Score Analysis NFL

The game box score analysis in the NFL tells you everything. The Steelers won the turnover battle 2‑0. They ran the ball effectively. They protected their quarterback. And they got home with pressure. The Vikings threw for 350 yards. They had more first downs. They held the ball longer. But none of that matters when you lose the turnover battle and can’t run the ball.

Match-Winning Player Stats NFL

The match‑winning player stats in the NFL belong to Kenneth Gainwell and the Steelers’ defense. Gainwell ran for two touchdowns and caught six passes. He was the engine of the offense. And the defense – with six sacks and two interceptions – made life miserable for Carson Wentz. Rodgers managed the game perfectly. He didn’t need to be a hero. He just needed to be smart.

NFL Match Player Statistics Breakdown

This NFL match player statistics breakdown shows that football is a game of inches and mistakes. The Vikings made two big mistakes. The Steelers made none. That’s the difference between 3‑1 and 2‑2. Pittsburgh heads into its bye week feeling good. Minnesota heads home wondering what if.

The Gritty Details You Didn’t See on the Box Score

Here’s what the numbers don’t capture. The wind in Dublin was tricky. Kickers struggled with direction. The grass at Croke Park was cut low, making for fast plays but slippery cuts. The Steelers’ sideline was loud all game. They believed. The Vikings’ sideline got quiet after the Metcalf bomb. You could see the air leave their lungs. But then they fought back. That’s the kind of game that builds character. Even in a loss.

Conclusion: A Game of Inches and Takeaways

The minnesota vikings vs pittsburgh steelers match player stats show a game that Pittsburgh controlled for three quarters. Then Minnesota nearly stole it. The vikings vs steelers player stats prove that turnovers and rushing yards win games. Pittsburgh had zero turnovers and 131 rushing yards.

Minnesota had two turnovers and only 70 rushing yards. That’s the ballgame. The Minnesota Vikings vs Pittsburgh Steelers recap stats will remind us of Kenneth Gainwell’s breakout performance and Aaron Rodgers’ surgical precision. The steelers vs vikings box score tells the story of a veteran team that made fewer mistakes.

The vikings vs steelers full game stats show a young Vikings team that never quit. But in the NFL, close doesn’t count. Only wins do.

Want more breakdowns like this? Bookmark this page. Check back after every Vikings and Steelers game. We’ll keep digging into the numbers so you don’t have to.

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