The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Minnesota Vikings 24–21 on September 28, 2025. The game was played at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland — the first NFL regular-season game ever held in Ireland. It was a close fight. The Steelers led by 18 points in the fourth quarter, but the Vikings almost came all the way back.
Below you’ll find every key stat, every big play, and every player number you need from this game. This is the most complete breakdown of the Vikings vs Steelers 2025 matchup you’ll find.
Week 4 · 2025 NFL
Quarter-by-Quarter Score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 3 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 21 |
The Steelers scored at least 7 in each of the first three quarters. The Vikings scored all 15 of their fourth-quarter points in the final eight minutes. It was not enough.
Team Stats Comparison
| Stat | PIT Steelers | MIN Vikings |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 313 | 372 |
| Passing Yards | 200 | 350 |
| Rushing Yards | 131 | 70 |
| First Downs | 19 | 23 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Sacks Allowed | 2 | 6 |
| Penalties | 5–35 yds | 8–82 yds |
| 3rd Down Conv. | 4/10 (40%) | 4/14 (29%) |
| 4th Down Conv. | 0/1 | 2/3 |
| Red Zone Eff. | 2/5 (40%) | 2/4 (50%) |
| Time of Possession | 26:26 | 33:34 |
| Passer Rating | 119.7 | 84.5 |
The Vikings had the ball more and gained more yards. But they turned the ball over twice and gave up 6 sacks. Those two things cost them the game.
Pittsburgh Steelers Player Stats
QB Aaron Rodgers Game MVP
Aaron Rodgers was sharp. He was 18 for 22. That is an 82% completion rate. He threw one touchdown — an 80-yard strike to DK Metcalf — and had zero interceptions. Pittsburgh’s offense was efficient, not flashy. Rodgers controlled the game.
“There were a lot of us that wanted to win a little bit more for the family, knowing how much affection they have for this area.”— Aaron Rodgers, after winning in Dublin
RB Kenneth Gainwell 2 TDs
Gainwell was the offensive star of the game. He ran the ball 19 times for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Both scores came on short, hard-nosed runs — 1 yard in Q1, 4 yards in Q3. He also caught 6 passes for 35 yards. He was everywhere.
| Stat | Number |
|---|---|
| Rushing Attempts | 19 |
| Rushing Yards | 99 |
| Yards per Carry | 5.2 |
| Rushing TDs | 2 |
| Receptions | 6 |
| Receiving Yards | 35 |
WR DK Metcalf 80-Yd TD
Metcalf made the biggest single play of the game. He caught a crossing route from Rodgers, ran past safety Theo Jackson, and went 80 yards for a touchdown. He finished with 5 catches for 126 yards.
PIT Defense
| Category | Steelers Total |
|---|---|
| Sacks | 6.0 |
| Sack Yards | 48 |
| Interceptions | 2 |
| Tackles (combined) | 66 |
| Passes Defended | 8 |
| Forced Fumbles | 2 |
| QB Hits | 14 |
| TFL (Tackles for Loss) | 10.0 |
| Turnovers Forced | 2 |
Six sacks on Carson Wentz. That number says it all. The Steelers’ defensive front made life miserable for the Vikings’ QB all day. T.J. Watt had one of the two picks — tipped at the line by Cam Heyward. DeShon Elliott got the other one.
“There was always someone in his face, and he was uncomfortable.”— Cam Heyward, Steelers DL, on the pass rush vs. Wentz
K Chris Boswell
Boswell had one of his field goals blocked in the second quarter — Minnesota’s Isaiah Rodgers got a piece of a 30-yarder with 1:42 left in the half. Boswell made his 33-yard attempt in the fourth quarter to push the lead to 24–6.
Minnesota Vikings Player Stats
QB Carson Wentz
Wentz had a rough day up front. He was sacked 6 times for 48 yards of losses. He threw two interceptions. But he still threw for 350 yards and 2 touchdowns and nearly brought the Vikings back from an 18-point hole in Q4. His best throw was an 81-yarder to Jordan Addison that set up a late touchdown.
WR Justin Jefferson Best Viking
Jefferson was the best player on the Vikings. He had 10 catches for 126 yards. Every time the Vikings needed a big play in the first half, Wentz went to Jefferson. He was open. He caught it. He ran hard. He just didn’t get enough support around him.
| Stat | Number |
|---|---|
| Receptions | 10 |
| Receiving Yards | 126 |
| Yards per Catch | 12.6 |
| Targets | ~14 (est.) |
WR Jordan Addison First Game of Season
Addison returned from a three-game suspension for this game. He made an instant impact. His best play: a wide-open catch for 81 yards that set up a Minnesota score. He finished with 4 catches for 114 yards.
WR Jalen Nailor 2 TDs
Nailor had a huge fourth quarter. He caught a 2-yard TD pass from Wentz with two minutes left to make it 24–21. Earlier, he converted a two-point attempt as the Vikings tried to climb back. He was the center of the late comeback effort.
RB Jordan Mason
Mason was the main running back but the ground game never got going. The Steelers stopped the run well — the Vikings averaged just 3.5 yards per carry as a team.
K Will Reichard
Reichard was the one bright spot in special teams for Minnesota. He was perfect — 2 for 2 on field goals (28 and 41 yards).
MIN Defense
| Category | Vikings Total |
|---|---|
| Sacks | 2.0 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Tackles (combined) | 59 |
| QB Hits | 3 |
| Forced Fumbles | 1 |
| Blocked Kicks | 1 |
| TFL | 4.0 |
Isaiah Rodgers’ blocked field goal in Q2 was the best defensive play of the day for Minnesota. The defense had 2 sacks but let Rodgers complete 82% of his throws.
Key Individual Matchups
| Matchup | PIT Player | MIN Player | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB Duel | A. Rodgers: 18/22, 200 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT | C. Wentz: 30/46, 350 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT | Rodgers (efficiency + no TOs) |
| Top WR | DK Metcalf: 5 rec, 126 yds, 1 TD | J. Jefferson: 10 rec, 126 yds | Even (same yardage) |
| Top RB | K. Gainwell: 19 att, 99 yds, 2 TD | J. Mason: 16 att, 57 yds | Gainwell (clear winner) |
| Pass Rush | PIT D: 6 sacks, 14 QB hits | MIN D: 2 sacks, 3 QB hits | Steelers (dominant) |
| Ball Control | 0 turnovers, 26:26 poss. | 2 turnovers, 33:34 poss. | Steelers (ball security) |
Scoring Plays — Play-by-Play Timeline
- Q1PIT 7 – MIN 3Gainwell 1-yd rush TD (Boswell XP good). Reichard 41-yd FG for MIN earlier.
- Q2PIT 14 – MIN 3Rodgers to Metcalf — 80 yards for the TD. Boswell XP good.
- Q2PIT 14 – MIN 6Reichard 28-yd FG for Minnesota. (Boswell 30-yd FG blocked by Isaiah Rodgers.)
- Q3PIT 21 – MIN 6T.J. Watt INT (tipped by Heyward) sets up Gainwell 4-yd TD. Boswell XP good.
- Q4PIT 24 – MIN 6Boswell 33-yd FG. Steelers now lead by 18.
- Q4PIT 24 – MIN 14Wentz to Zavier Scott, 16-yd TD. 2-pt conversion: Wentz to Nailor. MIN trailing by 10.
- Q4PIT 24 – MIN 21Wentz to Nailor, 2-yd TD (4th down). Reichard XP good. MIN within 3!
- Q4PIT 24 – MIN 21Wentz incomplete on 4th-and-17 from MN 32. Steelers run out the clock. Game over.
Read: New York Yankees vs Toronto Blue Jays Match Player Stats 2026: Full Game Breakdown & Key
3 Key Moments That Decided the Game
Injuries That Affected the Game
| Player | Team | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Kelly (C) | MIN | Concussion | Ruled out mid-game |
| Brian O’Neill (T) | MIN | Knee | Ruled out mid-game |
| Calvin Austin III (WR) | PIT | Shoulder | Went to hospital (checked) |
| Jalen Ramsey (CB) | PIT | Hamstring | In and out of game |
The Vikings lost two offensive linemen during the game. That made life even harder for Wentz, who already gave up 6 sacks. Losing Kelly and O’Neill mid-game was a big factor in the blowout portion of the result.
Context: Why This Game Was Historic?
First NFL Game in Ireland
This was Ireland’s first-ever regular-season NFL game. It was played at Croke Park in Dublin — a venue known for Gaelic football and hurling. The crowd of 74,512 was loud and largely pro-Steelers. The Rooney family (who own Pittsburgh) has deep Irish roots. The atmosphere was electric.
Aaron Rodgers said he has some Irish heritage. Coach Mike Tomlin addressed the team the night before, honoring the late Steelers chairman Daniel M. Rooney. Pittsburgh played inspired football in front of a home-away-from-home crowd.
Series History: Vikings vs Steelers All-Time Record
Heading into this game, the series was perfectly tied at 10 wins each in 20 total meetings. Pittsburgh’s win in Dublin made it 11–10 in favor of the Steelers. These two teams have a history of close games. That trend continued in Ireland.
What This Win Meant for Both Teams
For the Steelers (3–1 after Week 4)?
Pittsburgh headed into their bye week at 3–1. It was their best start in a few years. Aaron Rodgers showed he could still lead a team to a big win in a high-profile game. The defense looked scary with 6 sacks and 2 picks. They had a week off to recover and build on this.
For the Vikings (2–2 after Week 4)
Minnesota dropped to 2–2. J.J. McCarthy was still hurt. Carson Wentz was doing his best but giving up too many turnovers. The offensive line was banged up. They still had Jordan Addison back and Justin Jefferson was healthy. But they needed to fix their protection issues fast.
“We just didn’t do enough things to overcome either our own execution or the injuries or whatever.”— Kevin O’Connell, Vikings Head Coach
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Takeaways
The Steelers beat the Vikings 24–21 in a game that was closer than the score suggests. Pittsburgh won it with zero turnovers, a punishing pass rush, and Kenneth Gainwell’s two tough touchdowns. Minnesota had the yards and the talent but two picks, six sacks allowed, and eight penalties killed their chances. Justin Jefferson was brilliant. The comeback was real. But Wentz’s final pass fell short, and Pittsburgh ran out the clock in Dublin.
