Minnesota Vikings at Pittsburgh Steelers preview: Do Aaron Rodgers and Cam Heyward have the goods to get the win in Dublin?
The Vikings are used to facing off against Aaron Rodgers, including in Europe.
The Minnesota Vikings can make NFL history on Sunday morning if they defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers. They will be the first team to win five games internationally and win a game in Dublin.
It’s a very interesting matchup for the Vikings. They faced quarterback Aaron Rodgers last year in London, England, when he was with the New York Jets. Now, he will lead the Steelers against the Vikings, a position both sides are familiar with.
While both teams are 2-1 going into Sunday’s matchup, the way they have gotten there has been markedly different. We spoke to A to Z Pittsburgh writer Rob Gregson to get the lowdown on what’s going on with Mike Tomlin’s team.
Aaron Rodgers highlights biggest Pittsburgh Steelers questions
What are the Vikings getting in this version of Aaron Rodgers compared to the version they saw last year with the New York Jets?
A totally different player. No one is going to confuse Rodgers of 2025 with the quarterback who won back-to-back MVPs at the beginning of the decade. But his mobility is much better two years removed from injury. His arm talent still shines, and outside of one bad throw last week, Rodgers has been decisive and timely with his decisions. There is also virtually zero drama with this version of the QB. I don’t think the Steelers offense will be among the hardest challenges for the Vikings defense all year, but Rodgers will do his part to make sure Pittsburgh is in it.
The defense is loaded with talent, but they are getting up there in age with T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Jalen Ramsey, and Darius Slay. Are they still playing at a high level?
It’s ironic. The names you listed have all played very well, if not fine, this year. It’s actually been the younger players who haven’t lived up to their potential so far. Keeanu Benton has struggled along the interior, Payton Wilson was benched for Cole Holcomb last week, and the team has missed Joey Porter Jr. at corner.
A lot of the Steelers’ defensive issues have come down to alignment and communication. Benton has struggled at nose because he’s literally not built for it. Payton Wilson has taken on too many blocks in the run game and hasn’t been the sharpest in coverage. The older players are aging like fine wine, but the younger players need to step up.
What’s your final score prediction?
I think the Vikings’ offense comes back to earth this week. I know Carson Wentz is a certified veteran in this league, but he made easy work of a defense that Mike Tomlin would deem “junior varsity” last week. That being said, I think the Vikings’ defense will give Pittsburgh trouble all game. I’m going with a low-scoring affair compared to a shootout, with the Steelers’ Irish DNA giving them a boost. Steelers win 17-14.
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The idea of the Vikings sitting J.J. McCarthy already is beyond reckless and would reek of an Anthony Richardson-style malpractice
Everyone wants to develop a young quarterback until it comes time to develop him.
