The Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings kick off the European NFL slate with the first-ever regular-season game in Dublin, Ireland. For Pittsburgh, it marks their first international appearance since 2013, when they ironically faced Minnesota in a 34-27 loss.
Both teams come into the game coming off wins, but they earned them in very different ways. The Vikings dominated the Bengals from start to finish, while the Steelers had to pull away late against the Patriots despite forcing five turnovers. With contrasting styles and plenty at stake, this matchup presents real challenges for the Steelers.
What to look out for in Pittsburgh Steelers Dublin battle against the Vikings
Is the coaching mismatch too big for the Steelers to handle?
The Steelers already face a huge disadvantage before the players even hit the field on Sunday. The Minnesota Vikings have one of the best coaching staffs in the NFL with a group that is innovative, creative, and aggressive.
That defense under Brian Flores has put opposing teams in a blender, constantly disguising coverages before and after the snap, blitzing from every angle, and creating chaos for offensive lines and quarterbacks with sheer unpredictability. That will be a major challenge for a struggling Steelers offensive line that will be tested heavily in recognizing what is actually happening.
This is where having a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers helps. His football IQ and ability to read defenses are among the best the game has ever seen, which gives Pittsburgh a fighting chance. Still, the offensive line has to execute. Against a defense that thrives on pressure, the Steelers' front has to deliver its best performance of the season or risk exposing Rodgers to more punishment, something he has already taken far too much of this year.
The struggles up front have already erased much of the passing attack, with the ball needing to come out almost instantly. And the challenge does not end there. Offensively, the Vikings are just as dangerous. No matter who is under center, Kevin O'Connell has his unit operating like a well-oiled machine. Against a predictable Steelers defense that has been picked apart by top-level offenses in recent years, the Vikings have every reason to believe they can do the same.
The big question is whether Mike Tomlin can flip the script and make his defense less predictable, as they managed in spurts against the Patriots last week.
Critical for Steelers defensive line and run defense to step up even more so
The Steelers' defensive line and run defense looked significantly better than they had in the two weeks prior. The unit recorded five sacks while effectively stopping the run and applying consistent pressure to the quarterback. They will need to continue improving, as the Vikings thrive on a balanced running game and use it to set up play-action passing.
Carson Wentz looked very good against the Bengals, but no matter who is under center, the Vikings have shown they can deliver. The Steelers must not only bring relentless pressure and stop the run, but also limit Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson in the passing game. If DeShon Elliott and Joey Porter Jr. are back, the secondary should be more willing to disguise coverage and play more man coverage instead of the soft zone that has been exploited.
The pass rush and secondary must work in synchrony. This secondary is well-suited for man coverage, and forcing the quarterback to hold the ball longer will give the pass rush more opportunities to get home.
Get popcorn ready for a Jefferson vs Ramsey battle
I think this is finally the week we see Jalen Ramsey shadow the opposing defense’s number one receiver for the entire game. We were told going into the season that would be the plan, but it has yet to happen. Facing arguably the league's best wide receiver, it seems like the perfect time.
That is exactly why the Steelers traded for Ramsey while already having Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay—to match up against elite pass catchers. Given how previous Ramsey versus Jefferson matchups have gone, this will be a battle worth watching closely.
Overall, I am not optimistic about the Steelers' chances in this one. There is an argument that they could be 0-3. After looking like a very average team three weeks into the season, we have seen how Mike Tomlin-led teams fare against elite-coached squads, and it rarely ends well. For a team still trying to find its identity, everything the Vikings do so well could be too much for the Steelers. I do not believe Mike Tomlin and his staff will have the answers to stop them. Vikings win in Dublin, Ireland, 31-17.