Croke Park was loud. Really loud. On September 28, 2025, the Pittsburgh Steelers edged the Minnesota Vikings 24-21. That’s the headline. But the real story lives inside the Minnesota Vikings vs Pittsburgh Steelers match player stats. This isn’t just a scoreboard. It’s a confession. The vikings vs steelers player stats tell you who fought and who folded.
Let’s walk through the Minnesota Vikings vs Pittsburgh Steelers stats like we’re rewatching the tape together. You bring the coffee. I’ll bring the truth. The steelers vs vikings box score shows a one-score game. But the vikings vs steelers full game stats reveal a beating in the trenches. Here’s everything you need to know. No sugar. No spin. Just football.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 3 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 21 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
PIT: Gainwell 1-yard run (Q1) • Rodgers 80-yard TD to Metcalf (Q2) • Gainwell 4-yard TD (Q3) • Boswell 33-yard FG (Q4)
MIN: Reichard 41 & 28-yard FGs • Wentz 16-yard TD to Z. Scott • Wentz 2-yard TD to Nailor + 2-pt conversion
| Player | Cmp/Att | Yards | TD | INT | Rating | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson Wentz (MIN) | 30/46 | 350 | 2 | 2 | 84.5 | 6 |
| Aaron Rodgers (PIT) | 18/22 | 200 | 1 | 0 | 119.7 | 2 |
| Player | Carries | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Mason (MIN) | 16 | 57 | 3.6 | 0 | 11 |
| Carson Wentz (MIN) | 2 | 12 | 6.0 | 0 | 9 |
| Kenneth Gainwell (PIT) | 19 | 99 | 5.2 | 2 | 23 |
| Najee Harris (PIT) | 8 | 28 | 3.5 | 0 | 7 |
| Aaron Rodgers (PIT) | 2 | -1 | -0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | Rec | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Jefferson (MIN) | 10 | 126 | 12.6 | 0 | 28 |
| Zavier Scott (MIN) | 6 | 43 | 7.2 | 1 | 16 |
| T.J. Hockenson (MIN) | 4 | 32 | 8.0 | 0 | 12 |
| Jalen Nailor (MIN) | 2 | 10 | 5.0 | 1 | 2 |
| DK Metcalf (PIT) | 5 | 126 | 25.2 | 1 | 80 |
| Kenneth Gainwell (PIT) | 6 | 35 | 5.8 | 0 | 12 |
| Pat Freiermuth (PIT) | 3 | 20 | 6.7 | 0 | 9 |
| George Pickens (PIT) | 2 | 11 | 5.5 | 0 | 6 |
| Team | Sacks | Interceptions | Fumbles forced | Key players |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 2 | 0 | 0 | Jonathan Greenard (1 sack), Andrew Van Ginkel (1 sack) |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 6 | 2 (Watt, Fitzpatrick) | 1 | Nick Herbig (2 sacks), T.J. Watt (1 sack + INT), Cam Heyward (1.5 sacks) |
| Category | Minnesota Vikings | Pittsburgh Steelers |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 372 | 313 |
| Rushing Yards | 70 | 131 |
| Passing Yards | 302 | 182 |
| Third Down Conv. | 4/14 (29%) | 4/10 (40%) |
| Time of Possession | 33:34 | 26:26 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Penalties | 8 / 82 yds | 5 / 35 yds |
Scoring Summary: How the Points Landed in Dublin
The steelers vs vikings score summary has four quarters of chaos. Let’s break it down by the clock.
First Quarter (Vikings 3, Steelers 7)
- 8:36 left – Will Reichard (Vikings kicker) drilled a 41-yard field goal. Easy money.
- 14:05 left – Kenneth Gainwell (Steelers running back) crashed in from 1 yard out. Touchdown.
Second Quarter (Vikings 6, Steelers 14)
- 2:44 left – Aaron Rodgers found DK Metcalf. Eighty yards. Gone. Touchdown.
- 0:00 left – Reichard added a 28-yard field goal as the half died.
Third Quarter (Vikings 6, Steelers 21)
- 7:22 left – Gainwell again. Four yards. His second touchdown.
Fourth Quarter (Vikings 21, Steelers 24)
- 11:03 left – Chris Boswell hit a 33-yard field goal for Pittsburgh.
- 5:48 left – Carson Wentz threw a 16-yard touchdown to Zavier Scott.
- 2:13 left – Wentz found Jalen Nailor for a 2-yard touchdown. Two-point conversion good.
- Final – Steelers recovered the onside kick. Game over.
The vikings vs steelers game highlights and stats will remember that late comeback. But the scoreboard remembers who won.
Quarterback Battle: Wentz vs Rodgers – Two Different Worlds
The steelers vs vikings quarterback stats are not even close. One guy threw a lot. The other guy threw smart.
Carson Wentz (Vikings)
- 30 completions on 46 attempts
- 350 passing yards
- 2 touchdowns
- 2 interceptions
- Sacked 6 times
- Passer rating: 84.5
Aaron Rodgers (Steelers)
- 18 completions on 22 attempts
- 200 passing yards
- 1 touchdown
- 0 interceptions
- Sacked 2 times
- Passer rating: 119.7
Wentz looked like a gunslinger. Chucking the ball all over the field. But six sacks? Two picks? That hurts. Rodgers looked like a professor. He took the win.
The vikings vs steelers player performance analysis starts with these two men. One played hero ball. One played a winning ball.
Rushing Stats: The Ground Game Was a Ghost for Minnesota
Look at the vikings vs steelers rushing and passing stats. One team ran. The other pretended to run.
Minnesota Vikings Rushing
- 20 carries
- 70 total yards
- 0 touchdowns
- Jordan Mason: 16 carries, 57 yards
- Carson Wentz: 2 scrambles, 12 yards
- Everyone else: 2 carries, 1 yar
Pittsburgh Steelers Rushing
- 29 carries
- 131 total yards
- 2 touchdowns
- Kenneth Gainwell: 19 carries, 99 yards, 2 TD
- Najee Harris: 8 carries, 28 yards
- Aaron Rodgers: 2 kneel-downs, -1 yard (doesn’t count)
The rushing yards comparison vikings steelers is embarrassing for Minnesota. You cannot win NFL games with 70 rushing yards. Not against a defense like Pittsburgh’s. Not ever.
Gainwell was a battering ram. That man earned his paycheck.
Receiving Stats: Jefferson vs Metcalf – A Heavyweight Fight
The receiving stats vikings vs steelers game gave us two superstars. Both delivered. But only one scored.
Justin Jefferson (Vikings)
- 10 catches
- 126 yards
- 0 touchdowns
- Targeted 11 times
DK Metcalf (Steelers)
- 5 catches
- 126 yards
- 1 touchdown (80 yards)
Other Vikings Receivers
- Zavier Scott: 6 catches, 43 yards, 1 TD
- T.J. Hockenson: 4 catches, 32 yards
- Jordan Mason: 3 catches, 15 yards
- Jalen Nailor: 2 catches, 10 yards, 1 TD
Other Steelers Receivers
- Kenneth Gainwell: 6 catches, 35 yards
- Pat Freiermuth: 3 catches, 20 yards
- George Pickens: 2 catches, 11 yards
- Calvin Austin III: 2 catches, 8 yards
Jefferson was a vacuum cleaner. Everything thrown his way stuck. But Metcalf’s 80-yard touchdown was the play of the game. He caught a short pass, broke a tackle, and outran everyone. That’s quarterback passing yards, Vikings vs steelers in a nutshell. Wentz threw for more. Rodgers threw for bigger moments.
Defense Wins Games: Sacks, Tackles, and Turnovers
Pittsburgh’s defense lived in Minnesota’s backfield.
Steelers Defense
- 6 sacks
- 2 interceptions
- 1 forced fumble (not recovered)
- 70 rushing yards allowed
- 0 rushing touchdowns allowed
Vikings Defense
- 2 sacks
- 0 interceptions
- 1 fumble recovery attempt (failed)
- 131 rushing yards allowed
- 2 rushing touchdowns allowed
The defensive tackles and sacks stats show T.J. Watt (1 sack, 1 INT) and Nick Herbig (2 sacks) causing chaos. The turnovers and interceptions of the Vikings and Steelers show Pittsburgh’s clean sheet. Zero giveaways. Two takeaways. That’s the ballgame.
The team performance comparison in an NFL game is simple. Pittsburgh hit the quarterback. Minnesota did not.
Full Game Stats: Side-by-Side Numbers
Let’s lay out the vikings vs steelers full game stats like a receipt.
| Category | Vikings | Steelers |
| First Downs | 23 | 19 |
| Total Yards | 372 | 313 |
| Rushing Yards | 70 | 131 |
| Passing Yards | 302 | 182 |
| Third Down % | 4/14 (29%) | 4/10 (40%) |
| Time of Possession | 11:34 PM | 11:26 PM |
| Penalties | 8 for 82 yards | 5 for 35 yards |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Sacks Allowed | 6 | 2 |
The NFL match player statistics breakdown shows a weird game. Minnesota had more yards. More first downs. More time with the ball. But they lost. Why? Turnovers. Sacks. No run game. Football is cruel.
Key Players Who Changed the Game
The vikings vs steelers key players’ stats list the difference-makers. These guys earned their postgame steaks.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Heroes
- Kenneth Gainwell: 99 rush yards, 2 TD; 35 rec yards. Total beast.
- Aaron Rodgers: 119.7 rating. Zero mistakes.
- DK Metcalf: 126 yards, 1 TD. The explosion play.
- T.J. Watt: Sack + interception. Clutch.
- Nick Herbig: 2 sacks. Nonstop pressure.
- Cam Heyward: 1.5 sacks. Old man strength.
Minnesota Vikings – Bright Spots
- Justin Jefferson: 10 catches, 126 yards. He did his job.
- Carson Wentz: 350 yards, 2 TD. But two picks hurt.
- Zavier Scott: First career TD. Nice moment.
- Will Reichard: 2/2 on field goals. Perfect.
The game box score analysis, the NFL says, Pittsburgh’s stars made winning plays. Minnesota’s stars made empty calories.
Turning Points: Three Moments That Killed the Vikings
The match-winning player stats in the NFL come down to three specific plays.
1. The 80-yard bomb (2:44 left in 2nd quarter)
Rodgers to Metcalf. Steelers up 14-3. The Vikings’ defense looked slow. That play broke their spirit for two quarters.
2. T.J. Watt’s interception (3rd quarter)
Wentz tried to force a throw. Watt read it perfectly. He picked it and returned it 22 yards. Pittsburgh scored three plays later. The game felt over.
3. The failed onside kick (final seconds)
Minnesota scored 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. Then they tried an onside kick. Pittsburgh recovered. No miracle. Just math.
The NFL player efficiency ratings love Rodgers (119.7). They hate six sacks. Efficiency wins.
Game Breakdown: What This Tells Us About Both Teams
The vikings vs steelers game breakdown is a warning label.
Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1)
They have a run game now. Gainwell looks like a steal. Rodgers doesn’t make mistakes. The defense is nasty. This team can beat anyone. They go into their bye week feeling like kings.
Minnesota Vikings (2-2)
They can throw. Jefferson is unfair. But they can’t protect Wentz. Six sacks are a fire alarm. They can’t run. Seventy yards is a joke. Until they fix the offensive line, they’re a .500 team at best.
The vikings vs steelers player performance analysis ends with one truth. Football is won in the trenches. Pittsburgh owned the trenches. Minnesota got buried in them.
Final Raw Take: No Excuses, Just Stats
The Minnesota Vikings vs Pittsburgh Steelers recap stats don’t lie. Minnesota threw for 350 yards. They had 23 first downs. And they lost. Because they gave up six sacks. Because they threw two picks. Because they ran for only 70 yards.
Pittsburgh did the dirty work. They ran the ball. They protected the quarterback. They hit the other quarterback. That’s winning football. Ugly. Simple. Effective.
The Vikings fly home with questions. The Steelers fly home with a win. And the steelers vs vikings box score goes into the books.
Q1: What was the final score of the Vikings vs Steelers game on September 28, 2025?
A: The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Minnesota Vikings 24-21. The game happened at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland.
Q2: How many passing yards did Carson Wentz have against the Steelers?
A: Carson Wentz threw for 350 yards. He completed 30 of 46 passes. He also threw two touchdowns and two interceptions. He got sacked six times.
Q3: Who led the Steelers in rushing against the Vikings?
A: Kenneth Gainwell led the Steelers. He ran 19 times for 99 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught six passes for 35 yards. That’s 134 total yards from scrimmage.
Q4: How many sacks did the Steelers defense record?
A: The Steelers sacked Carson Wentz six times. Nick Herbig had two. T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, and others shared the rest. They also picked off two passes.
Q5: Did Justin Jefferson score a touchdown in this game?
A: No. Justin Jefferson caught 10 passes for 126 yards. But he did not find the end zone. The Vikings’ touchdowns went to Zavier Scott and Jalen Nailor.
References
- NFL.com. (2025). Steelers 24, Vikings 21 – Box Score. Retrieved from nfl.com
- ESPN. (2025). Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings – September 28, 2025. Retrieved from espn.com
- CBS Sports. (2025). Steelers vs. Vikings Final Score, Stats, and Recap. Retrieved from cbssports.com
- The Athletic. (2025). How the Steelers Beat the Vikings in Dublin: Game Breakdown. Retrieved from theathletic.com
- Steelers.com. (2025). Postgame Stats: Steelers 24, Vikings 21. Retrieved from steelers.com
Read More: Michigan vs Arizona
