Vikings loss vs. Steelers highlighted major flaws that must be addressed immediately to make any kind of playoff run

The first-ever game in Dublin, Ireland, was quite the barnburner between the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers. It got interesting at the end, but the Steelers left with the 24-21 win. The game exposed major flaws with the Vikings team, some of which can be addressed, while others are problems that won’t go away anytime […]

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Sep 28, 2025; Dublin, Ireland; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) runs for a gain during the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers during an NFL International Series game at Croke Park.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The first-ever game in Dublin, Ireland, was quite the barnburner between the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers. It got interesting at the end, but the Steelers left with the 24-21 win.

The game exposed major flaws with the Vikings team, some of which can be addressed, while others are problems that won’t go away anytime soon. This week’s studs and duds highlight those concerns, with some impressive performances looped in.

Minnesota Vikings studs and duds

Stud: DT Jalen Redmond

This season has been a revelation for Redmond. He’s been a fantastic player and earned his way into the starting lineup at the end of last season. The Vikings found him playing for the UFL’s Arlington Renegades, and he’s been fantastic so far.

It didn’t take long for Redmond to make an impact on Sunday morning. He got a sack on the first play from scrimmage when center Zach Frazier slid the wrong way. His second sack came when he just beat left guard Isaac Seumalo and got to Aaron Rodgers quickly. He’s arguably been the best player on the defense this season, and a massive find for Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.

Dud: QB Carson Wentz

Going into this game, there was a groundswell of people who believed Wentz should be the starter over J.J. McCarthy once he’s healthy enough to return. I think that ends after Sunday’s game.

Wentz struggled massively with his pocket management, taking multiple unnecessary sacks and missing reads downfield. While the offensive line has been in rough shape, Wentz hasn’t done them any favors with how he’s maneuvered. It’s been a frustrating watch.

Stud: CB Isaiah Rodgers

Listen, he wasn’t nearly as good as last week when he achieved the first-ever 99.9 PFF grade, but he was solid. Rodgers was in coverage when DK Metcalf took a slant 75 yards for a touchdown, but he wasn’t the reason why he scored. In fact, he achieved one of the highest speeds in recent memory.

He also blocked a field goal at the ned of the first half, which was a momentum shift for the Vikings. Unfortunately, they couldn’t build upon that momentum.

Dud: OL health

One thing the Vikings had last season was a mostly healthy team. Outside of Christian Darrisaw’s torn ACL, they were mostly healthy at the end of the season. That has been far from the case this season, especially on the offensive line.

The Vikings already had Donovan Jackson out after wrist surgery, and Brian O’Neill went out with a knee injury in the first half. Then, Ryan Kelly got ruled out with a concussion for the second time in three weeks. Having three backup offensive linemen is incredibly suboptimal, and it significantly hindered the Vikings’ offense.

Stud: WR Justin Jefferson

When you have a superstar wide receiver, it’s a smart move to get him involved early and often. They got the ball in his hands early and often, with three catches to get a field goal. Throughout the game, they found ways to get Jefferson the ball, and it worked well.

Jefferson remained a focus throughout the game, with 10 catches for 126 yards, but it wasn’t enough to get the win. He continues to be a major factor, and that will eventually manifest in success.

Dud: LB play

The defense had a lot of issues on Sunday, but the second level has been an issue for a while. It makes a difference that Blake Cashman is out, but the Steelers were gashing the Vikings’ run defense, primarily due to the lack of talent on the second level.

Ivan Pace Jr. and Eric Wilson did not play their best games. They were making mistakes in coverage, struggling to hit the right gaps and make tackles when needed. It’s been a major issue across the board without Cashman in the game. The Vikings might want to invest a major asset to get Cashman a legitimate running mate next year.

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