Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers delivered a message through NFL Network’s Pam Oliver after the team’s Week 4 win.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers led the Pittsburgh Steelers to their first international series win in the franchise’s history Sunday. But the team’s Week 4 outcome didn’t need to be in doubt as long as it was.
Thanks to a series of plays in the final 10 minutes of the fourth quarter, the Minnesota Vikings scored 15 points to pull within a field goal of forcing overtime. Then, the Vikings forced a Steelers punt with about a minute to go in regulation.
Fortunately for the Steelers, the team’s defense forced a turnover on downs. But it still seemed to be too close for comfort for the Pittsburgh quarterback.
“We have to finish that game out on offense,” Rodgers told NFL Network’s Pam Oliver on the field after the game.
The Steelers offense scored a touchdown in each quarter to help the team build an 18-point lead. But Rodgers and his unit scored just three points in the fourth.
That was just enough to hold on to defeat the Vikings 24-21.
Aaron Rodgers, Steelers Missed Opportunities to Cruise to Win vs. Vikings
The Steelers played their most complete game of the early season Sunday versus the Vikings. But they missed a couple golden opportunities to win comfortably.
After the Vikings scored their first touchdown of the game, the Steelers responded with another strong drive. The drive stalled, though, at the Minnesota 3-yard line.
Instead of kicking a short field goal, the Steelers elected to go for it. Based on reactions on the field, Rodgers was strongly in favor of keeping the team’s offense on the field for fourth down.
But while Mike Tomlin was aggressive with the decision, the team’s offensive play call was conservative. Running back Kenneth Gainwell received a carry on fourth-and-goal from the 3 and pushed his way only for two yards.
The Steelers offense faced another fourth down about three minutes of game time later. This time, with a 3-point lead, Tomlin elected to punt from the Vikings 40-yard line.
With the decision, the Steelers gave the ball back to a Minnesota offense which had scored two consecutive touchdowns. The Steelers punted instead of trying to convert fourth-and-inches.
The Vikings also only needed a field goal to force overtime.
The Steelers defense earned the stop the team needed. But it’s not surprising that Rodgers regrets putting his defense in that situation.
With a fourth-down conversation in either situation, the Steelers win either by two possessions or without the Vikings getting the ball with a chance to force overtime.
Steelers Offense Has Stronger Showing in Ireland Matchup
The Pittsburgh offense showed flashes in Weeks 1 and 3. But both games were far from a complete performance.
The Steelers rushed for only 53 yards during the season opener. Last week, the offense didn’t do much of anything after scoring two touchdowns on its first two possessions.
But against the Vikings on Sunday, the Steelers showcased balance on offense. The team ran for a season-high 131 rushing yards behind a better-looking offensive line.
In place of an injured Jaylen Warren, Gainwell ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
Rodgers finished 18 of 22 with 200 yards and a touchdown. DK Metcalf had his best game of the campaign, posting five catches for 126 yards and a touchdown.
Metcalf set a record with an 80-yard touchdown in the second quarter. That is the longest play in an international game in NFL history.
The Steelers offense didn’t quite finish the deal Sunday. That allowed the Vikings an opportunity to make things interesting late. But there were a lot of encouraging signs for Rodgers and his unit in Week 4.
