Steelers make NFL history in Dublin thriller

The Steelers conquered Dublin. Pittsburgh (3-1) played the first regular-season game ever held in Ireland and edged the Minnesota Vikings (2-2) 24-21. The black and gold pulled it out with defense at historic Croke Park in front of 74,512 fans. Carson Wentz was sacked six times and threw two interceptions.

It looked like it might be a long afternoon in Dublin for the Steelers. Aaron Rodgers was sacked on the very first play of the game, and they had to punt after failing to move the chains. The Vikings opened the scoring but managed only a 41-yard field goal after a Jordan Mason fumble recovery by Jalen Ramsey was wiped out.

Rodgers (18/22, 220 yards, TD) found DK Metcalf as his favorite target, and three passes of more than 10 yards set up Kenneth Gainwell’s first-ever touchdown at Croke Park. The defense came up big with a sack by Nick Herbig on Wentz to quickly get the ball back, and Rodgers connected with Metcalf on a short pass that the speedster turned into an 80-yard touchdown.

Pittsburgh came up with the game’s first interception in the second quarter. Wentz (30/46, 350 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT) looked for Jordan Addison on third-and-eight, but rookie Derrick Harmon deflected the throw at the line and DeShon Elliott came down with it. The Steelers fought their way to the Vikings’ 12-yard line, only for Isaiah Rodgers to block Chris Boswell’s kick. The half ended with Will Reichard’s second field goal.

Steelers defense robs Vikings

The third quarter started poorly for Minnesota. Payton Wilson dropped Jordan Mason behind the line, and on the next play Nick Herbig and Keanu Benton combined to sack Wentz.

On the next Vikings drive, T.J. Watt batted down Wentz’s throw intended for Zavier Scott and picked it off, setting the Steelers up with good field position. Pittsburgh cashed in with Gainwell’s second rushing touchdown.

The sacks kept piling up on Wentz, stalling the Vikings’ offense. The Steelers capitalized on a solid punt return from Calvin Austin and opened the fourth quarter with a 33-yard Boswell field goal.

The Vikings rally in the fourth quarter.

Minnesota made the scoreline more respectable in the fourth with a no-huddle drive capped by a 16-yard touchdown pass from Wentz to Scott. They followed it up with a successful two-point conversion on a Jalen Nailor reception.

Rodgers argued with coach Mike Tomlin about going for it on fourth-and-goal from the three. Tomlin relented, but Gainwell was stuffed a yard short of the end zone, and the Steelers turned it over on downs.

That gave the Vikings four minutes to go 99 yards and inject late drama into Dublin’s first NFL game. They pulled it off with an 81-yard bomb from Wentz to Addison. But after a run for a loss and two incompletions, Minnesota had to go for it on fourth down. The NFC North team scored before the two-minute warning on another Nailor catch.

Minnesota tried an onside kick, but Roman Wilson secured it for Pittsburgh. The Steelers couldn’t pick up a first down, deliberately took a delay of game penalty to bleed more seconds, and punted it away.

Defense saves the Steelers

Kevin O’Connell’s squad had one last chance with 61 seconds left. Wentz nearly threw another pick, but James Pierre failed to secure the ball before stepping out of bounds. Two defensive penalties on Pittsburgh stretched the tension—a Patrick Queen holding call and a T.J. Watt false start.

Wentz was about to be sacked but flung it away, drawing an intentional grounding penalty that cost 16 yards. He hit T.J. Hockenson for 14, but the game ended when DeShon Elliott broke up Wentz’s pass intended for Addison. The Steelers sealed victory in Dublin when Rodgers knelt down on the Croke Park turf.

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