Sunday morning’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers was a tough one for the Minnesota Vikings.
The 24-21 loss was tough to take. However, the way the team lost, combined with their upcoming schedule, gives this one an extra sting.
The Game
After a blowout win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3, there was a lot of faith in this Vikings team going into the first-ever regular-season game in Ireland.
The Vikings got a little help in their first drive after Jordan Mason‘s heads-up play on the boundary that brought back Jalen Ramsey’s scoop-and-score, which led to Minnesota’s only lead of the game on a 41-yard boot from Will Reichard.
Afterward, it seemed as though everything was going Pittsburgh’s way — that is, until the first half was winding down.
Looking to go up 17-3, Steelers kicker Chris Boswell had his 30-yard field goal blocked by Isaiah Rodgers, the defensive X-factor in Week 3.
It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that the Vikings got something other than a field goal.
Down 24-6, Carson Wentz helped the team battle back with a couple of touchdown passes, one to Zavier Scott and the other to Jalen Nailor, who caught a two-point attempt after Scott’s touchdown.
Between touchdowns, the Steelers had a chance to make it a 13-point game with a chip-shot field goal and instead chose to go for it at Minnesota’s three-yard line and were unsuccessful. One could argue, given the situation, that the Steelers played with their food instead of devouring it and ultimately kept Minnesota’s hopes of squeaking out a victory alive.
The Vikings had one final shot to tie the game. Still, four penalties, including an intentional grounding call, which resulted in a crucial loss of ten seconds and 16 yards, ultimately led to the three-point defeat.
Key Injuries
The injury report also took its toll both before and during the game.
Minnesota entered the game without a key defensive player. It held out Andrew Van Ginkel while recovering from a neck issue. On offense, the Vikings held rookie guard Donovan Jackson out due to a wrist injury.
Then, during the contest, while the defense remained relatively healthy, the offensive line became incredibly thin when Brian O’Neill and Ryan Kelly both had to leave the game with a knee injury and a concussion, respectively.
Kelly’s concussion issues may stem from Week 2, when he had to exit the game against the Atlanta Falcons with the same issue and ultimately sat out against the Bengals the following week.
These offensive line injuries led to Blake Brandel starting for Jackson, Justin Skule coming in for O’Neill, and Michael Jurgens entering again for Kelly.
As a result, Wentz took six sacks, and Minnesota only had 70 total rushing yards, a season low.
These tough losses of personnel accent just how gut-wrenching this loss becomes, especially if both O’Neill and Kelly join Jackson in the need for an extended rest.
Upcoming Schedule
Minnesota needed to win in Dublin in a shootout that could prove to be a turning point as the season continues.
The team will stay across the pond for one more week to play the Browns in London. In doing so, they became the first team in NFL history to play two consecutive weeks in two different foreign countries.
It’s what comes after the bye that has some fans concerned about the current situation.
Week 7 sees the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles visit Minnesota, followed by a Thursday night road game against the Los Angeles Chargers and a matchup in Detroit before returning home to face the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens appear to be struggling early in the season. Still, they should always be considered dangerous with Derrick Henry and — maybe? — a healthy Lamar Jackson. On the other hand, the other three teams are a combined 10-2 and are considered the top five teams according to ESPN’s latest power rankings.
This gauntlet of games following the bye, combined with the current injury situation, especially on the offensive line, makes every game critical to come away with a win each week.
This stinging loss of the game and personnel in the Fair City has just made Minnesota’s road to success that much harder to overcome.
