Steelers 42, Vikings 23: Pittsburgh pounds Minnesota in Dublin showcase

DUBLIN, Ireland - The Pittsburgh Steelers brought their brand of power football across the Atlantic, and the fans at Aviva Stadium were treated to a ground-and-pound clinic. Behind a balanced rushing attack led by Jaylen Warren and Kaleb Johnson, Pittsburgh rolled to a 42-23 win over the Minnesota Vikings in the first of back-to-back international games for Minnesota.

Fast start in Dublin

The teams traded haymakers in a thrilling first quarter. Aaron Rodgers opened the scoring with an 8-yard touchdown strike to D.K. Metcalf. Minnesota answered quickly, as Aaron Jones Sr ripped off a dazzling 75-yard touchdown run.

The Vikings kept pace with a short Jones plunge late in the first, but Pittsburgh seized control with a bruising second quarter. Rodgers marched the offense down the field for two rushing scores - Johnson from six yards and then 12 - sending the Steelers into halftime up 28-17.

Steelers overwhelm in the trenches

The second half belonged to the Steelers' offensive line. Warren delivered the knockout blow early in the fourth quarter with a 6-yard score, finishing with 109 yards on 11 carries (9.9 yards per attempt). Johnson added 74 yards and two touchdowns on just seven totes, while rookie back Kenneth Gainwell chipped in 59 yards and a touchdown.

Rodgers was efficient, completing 16 of 24 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown. Backup Skylar Thompson added a late score to Pat Freiermuth. Metcalf led all receivers with six catches for 83 yards.

Defensively, Pittsburgh harassed J.J. McCarthy all afternoon, sacking him five times, including two from Cameron Heyward.

Vikings' bright spot overshadowed

McCarthy connected with T.J. Hockenson on a 32-yard touchdown in the third, and Jones finished with 162 rushing yards and two scores, but Minnesota's defense couldn't withstand the Steelers' relentless attack.  "Our guys fought, but they wore us down inside," Vikings coach said afterward. "We've got to regroup quickly with another long trip coming."

Up Next

The Pittsburgh Steelers will get a week to rest with a bye in Week 5. The Minnesota Vikings remain overseas, heading to London to face the Cleveland Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where the Vikings will once again be the designated road team.