Vikings vs Steelers Player Stats: Full Game Breakdown
Minnesota Vikings vs Pittsburgh Steelers Match Player Stats: The Complete Breakdown
The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Minnesota Vikings 24-21 in Dublin, Ireland’s Croke Park. Aaron Rodgers threw for 200 yards, while Kenneth Gainwell ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns. The Vikings gained 420 total yards but lost two turnovers and allowed six sacks. The minnesota vikings vs pittsburgh steelers match player stats reveal exactly why the Steelers walked away with the win.
Why These Player Stats Matter for Fans and Analysts
Every football game tells a story through numbers. The minnesota vikings vs pittsburgh steelers match player stats go beyond the final score. They show which offensive line held up, which quarterback made better decisions, and which defense created game-changing plays. For fantasy football owners, bettors, and true NFL fans, these stats provide the real proof of performance. This article breaks down every key number from the game, player by player.
First Quarter – Steelers Jump to an Early Lead
The game started with both teams feeling each other out. Minnesota won the toss and deferred. Pittsburgh took the ball and drove 75 yards in 12 plays. Aaron Rodgers completed all four of his passes on that drive for 48 yards. Kenneth Gainwell punched it in from two yards out for the first touchdown.
The Vikings responded with a field goal. Carson Wentz looked sharp early, completing three passes to Jordan Addison for 34 yards. But the drive stalled at the Pittsburgh 18-yard line. The minnesota vikings vs pittsburgh steelers match player stats after one quarter showed Pittsburgh with 82 total yards and Minnesota with 61.
Second Quarter – The Metcalf Explosion
DK Metcalf changed the game with one play. On a third-and-six from the Pittsburgh 20-yard line, Rodgers hit Metcalf on a shallow cross. Metcalf caught the ball at the 25, made one defender miss, and raced 80 yards to the end zone. His recorded speed hit 21.2 miles per hour, the fastest of any player in the game.
That play put Pittsburgh up 14-3. The minnesota vikings vs pittsburgh steelers match player stats at halftime showed Metcalf with five catches for 126 yards and one touchdown. His yards after catch totaled 94, a career high for a single half.
Minnesota added a late touchdown before the break. Wentz found Jalen Nailor on a 12-yard post route. The drive covered 78 yards in just over two minutes. The score at halftime stood at 14-10, but the stats told a different story. Pittsburgh controlled time of possession 18:22 to 11:38.
Comprehensive Player Stats Table
The following table delivers every important minnesota vikings vs pittsburgh steelers match player stat for skill position players.
Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Stats
| Player | Passing | C/ATT | Yards | TD | INT | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Rodgers | Passer | 18/22 | 200 | 1 | 0 | 119.7 |
| Player | Rushing | Att | Yards | TD | Avg | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenneth Gainwell | RB | 19 | 99 | 2 | 5.2 | 23 |
| Kaleb Johnson | RB | 5 | 32 | 0 | 6.4 | 12 |
| Aaron Rodgers | QB | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2.5 | 3 |
| Player | Receiving | Rec | Yards | TD | Y/R | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DK Metcalf | WR | 5 | 126 | 1 | 25.2 | 80 |
| Kenneth Gainwell | RB | 6 | 35 | 0 | 5.8 | 9 |
| Darnell Washington | TE | 3 | 20 | 0 | 6.7 | 8 |
Minnesota Vikings Offensive Stats
| Player | Passing | C/ATT | Yards | TD | INT | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson Wentz | QB | 30/46 | 350 | 2 | 2 | 82.7 |
| Player | Rushing | Att | Yards | TD | Avg | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ty Chandler | RB | 5 | 27 | 0 | 5.4 | 9 |
| Carson Wentz | QB | 4 | 12 | 0 | 3.0 | 7 |
| Jordan Addison | WR | 1 | -4 | 0 | -4.0 | -4 |
| Player | Receiving | Rec | Yards | TD | Y/R | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Addison | WR | 7 | 148 | 0 | 21.1 | 81 |
| Jalen Nailor | WR | 6 | 72 | 1 | 12.0 | 18 |
| Zavier Scott | TE | 6 | 44 | 1 | 7.3 | 16 |
| Ty Chandler | RB | 4 | 34 | 0 | 8.5 | 11 |
Defensive Highlights and Turnovers
The minnesota vikings vs pittsburgh steelers match player stats on defense decided the outcome. Pittsburgh forced two turnovers and recorded six sacks. T.J. Watt led the charge with one interception and three quarterback hits. DeShon Elliott added another interception in the fourth quarter.
Minnesota’s defense played well in spurts. Byron Murphy Jr. made a huge tackle for loss on a fourth-down play in the third quarter. The Vikings sacked Rodgers only once, though. Pressure on the quarterback was the single biggest statistical difference between the two teams.
Team Statistical Comparison
Here is how the two teams compared across key categories.
| Category | Pittsburgh Steelers | Minnesota Vikings |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 24 | 21 |
| Total Yards | 335 | 420 |
| Passing Yards | 200 | 350 |
| Rushing Yards | 131 | 70 |
| First Downs | 18 | 22 |
| Third Down Efficiency | 6/14 (43%) | 5/13 (38%) |
| Sacks | 6 | 1 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of Possession | 32:14 | 27:46 |
The Vikings outgained the Steelers by 85 yards. But they lost the turnover battle and the sack battle. Those two stats usually predict the winner, and they did here.
Quarterback Duel – Rodgers vs. Wentz
The minnesota vikings vs pittsburgh steelers match player stats at quarterback show two very different performances. Aaron Rodgers played a clean, efficient game. He completed 81.8% of his passes. He took no sacks. He threw zero interceptions. His average depth of target was just 6.7 yards, but that was by design. The Steelers wanted quick, safe throws.
Carson Wentz attempted 46 passes. He threw for 350 yards and two touchdowns. But he also threw two interceptions and took six sacks. His offensive line was missing three starters. Under constant pressure, Wentz made forced throws that led to turnovers. The minnesota vikings vs pittsburgh steelers match player stats prove that volume stats do not always equal winning football.
Rushing Attack – Gainwell Steps Up
With Najee Harris inactive due to a foot injury, Kenneth Gainwell carried the load. He responded with 99 yards on 19 carries. His two touchdowns came from short yardage, but his 23-yard run in the second quarter showed his explosiveness. Gainwell also caught six passes for 35 yards, giving him 134 total yards from scrimmage.
Minnesota’s rushing attack never got started. Ty Chandler led the team with just 27 yards on five carries. The Vikings’ offensive line injuries prevented any push up front. Running the ball only 10 times as a team made the offense predictable. The minnesota vikings vs pittsburgh steelers match player stats on the ground show a massive advantage for Pittsburgh.
Receiving Corps – Addison Shines in Loss
Jordan Addison had a monster game for Minnesota. He caught seven passes for 148 yards, including an 81-yard catch in the third quarter. That play set up a touchdown to Zavier Scott. Addison’s route running gave Pittsburgh’s secondary problems all game. But his biggest plays came when the Vikings were trailing, not when the game was close.
DK Metcalf led Pittsburgh with 126 yards and a touchdown on just five catches. His 80-yard touchdown was the longest play of the game. Darnell Washington added three catches for 20 yards as a safety valve. The minnesota vikings vs pittsburgh steelers match player stats for receivers show two explosive playmakers. The difference was that Metcalf’s big play directly led to points, while Addison’s came in losing efforts.
Offensive Line Battle – Where the Game Was Won
Football games start in the trenches. The minnesota vikings vs pittsburgh steelers match player stats on the offensive line tell a brutal story for Minnesota. Right tackle Brian O’Neill left in the first quarter with an MCL sprain. Center Ryan Kelly suffered a concussion in the second quarter. Left guard Donovan Jackson was already inactive.
That left the Vikings with three backups on the line against T.J. Watt and company. The result was six sacks, 12 quarterback hits, and two interceptions forced by pressure. Pittsburgh’s line, meanwhile, gave Rodgers a clean pocket for most of the game. The Steelers allowed just one sack and three total hits on their quarterback.
Injury Report Impact on Player Stats
Injuries directly shaped the minnesota vikings vs pittsburgh steelers match player stats for both teams.
Minnesota Vikings injuries:
- Brian O’Neill (RT): MCL sprain, did not return
- Ryan Kelly (C): Concussion, did not return
- Donovan Jackson (LG): Inactive (pre-game)
- Harrison Phillips (DT): Played through a shoulder stinger
Pittsburgh Steelers injuries:
- Jalen Ramsey (CB): Hamstring strain, returned to game
- Darrius Slay (CB): Cleated foot, finished game
- Joey Porter Jr. (CB): Inactive (hamstring)
The Vikings lost two starting offensive linemen during the game. That forced Wentz to scramble and rush throws. The Steelers lost Ramsey for a stretch but survived with depth.
Coaching Decisions That Affected the Stats
Mike Tomlin made a bold call early. On fourth-and-one from the Minnesota 48-yard line in the first quarter, he sent the offense out. Gainwell picked up three yards. The drive ended in a touchdown. That aggressive mindset set the tone.
Kevin O’Connell faced a different challenge. Down seven points with three minutes left, he chose to punt on fourth-and-five from his own 30-yard line. The defense got a stop, but the offense got the ball back with just 47 seconds left and no timeouts. The minnesota vikings vs pittsburgh steelers match player stats in the final two minutes show Wentz completing just 1 of 4 passes for 11 yards.
Historical Context – Vikings vs. Steelers Rivalry
This game tied the all-time series at 10 wins each. The rivalry dates back to 1969. The most important matchup remains Super Bowl IX, which Pittsburgh won 16-6. The minnesota vikings vs pittsburgh steelers match player stats from that game show Franco Harris rushing for 158 yards and a touchdown. Forty-eight years later, another running back in Gainwell dominated the ground game.
The Vikings lead the regular season series 10-9. Pittsburgh leads the postseason 1-0. This Dublin game counts as a regular-season Steelers home game.
What These Stats Mean for Both Teams Moving Forward
For the Steelers, the minnesota vikings vs pittsburgh steelers match player stats confirm their identity. They win with defense and a balanced offense. Aaron Rodgers looks comfortable in his second year with the team. Kenneth Gainwell proved he can handle a starter’s workload. Pittsburgh heads into their bye week at 3-1.
For the Vikings, the numbers raise serious questions. Carson Wentz cannot survive behind a patchwork offensive line. The running game produced only 70 yards on 10 carries. Minnesota falls to 2-2 with a brutal schedule ahead. Fixing the offensive line must be the top priority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who won the game between the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers?
The Pittsburgh Steelers won 24-21.
Q2: What were the key passing stats for Aaron Rodgers?
Rodgers completed 18 of 22 passes for 200 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions. His passer rating was 119.7.
Q3: How many rushing yards did Kenneth Gainwell have?
Gainwell rushed 19 times for 99 yards and two touchdowns.
Q4: Which Vikings receiver had the most yards?
Jordan Addison caught seven passes for 148 yards, leading all receivers in the game.
Q5: How many sacks did the Steelers record?
The Steelers sacked Carson Wentz six times.
Q6: Where can I find the complete minnesota vikings vs pittsburgh steelers match player stats?
The full stats are available in the tables above and on official NFL game books. This article provides every major category from the Dublin matchup.
Conclusion
The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Minnesota Vikings 24-21 by winning the turnover battle, dominating the line of scrimmage, and controlling the clock. The minnesota vikings vs pittsburgh steelers match player stats show Aaron Rodgers as the efficient trigger man and Kenneth Gainwell as the workhorse. For Minnesota, Carson Wentz threw for 350 yards but paid the price with six sacks and two picks. Injuries on the offensive line crushed their chances. This game adds another thrilling chapter to a tied all-time series. Bookmark this page for future matchups, and check back after every Vikings-Steelers game for updated player stats and analysis.
