Minnesota Vikings Push Away the Steelers, Win on TNF, 36-28

Minnesota Vikings have posted a big win this Thursday night, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 36-28. The Vikes have allowed the guests from Massachusetts to come back and have the last play, which could potentially lead to a tie.

If it weren’t for Harrison Smith, who stopped Pat Freiermuth from receiving a pass in the end zone, the Steelers could have tied the game via a two-point conversion. However, the safety prevented another frustration for the Vikes’ fans, clinching this game and leaving his unit in the playoff hunt.

“It is frustrating having to come down to the last second. It’s taken a few years of my life this season, but it’s good to be on this side of a close one,” Anthony Barr said.

Minnesota Vikings were up 29-0 midway through the third period, and it seemed as if they were going to inflict Pittsburgh one of the toughest losses in the past few years. However, the guests started fighting back, scoring three consecutive TD and adding one more with 4:14 to go, with the result 36-28. Roethlisberger had moved the chains very quickly, but in the end, he and his team didn’t have any luck.

Big Ben had 308 passing yards, for three touchdowns and one pick. He was more than disappointed after the match.

“We’re running out of time,” Roethlisberger said. “I don’t look at moral victories.”

The Steelers were without one of the best defenders in the league TJ Watt, who picked up an injury in the first half, and didn’t come back until the end. This was a huge blow for Mike Tomlin’s crew, but even so, they had a chance to make a miraculous comeback.

Chase Claypool caught 8 passes for 93 yards, Diontae Johnson five for 76, James Washington four for 65, and Freiermuth two for 32, noting that the latter two contributed with touchdowns.

Najee Harris was exceptional with 20 runs for 94 yards and one TD.

Though, if he was exceptional, Dalvin Cook was magical, with the Vikings’ RB racking up 205 yards in 27 snaps for two scores. One of the best rushers in the league was questionable for this event, but managed to recover fast from his shoulder injury.

Dalvin Cook finished with 205 rushing yards, tied for the 3rd most vs the Steelers in NFL history.

He joins Adrian Peterson as the only players with multiple 200-yard rushing games in Vikings history. pic.twitter.com/H3MdfQKWu5

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 10, 2021

Kirk Cousins had a mediocre game with 216 passing yards, two TDs, and picks each. KJ Osborn was a very good target with 83 receiving yards in three receptions. Meanwhile, Justin Jefferson had 79 and was Cousins’ most frequent target. Both he and Osborn had one TD.

The Vikes’ defense was also solid because they sacked Ben Roethlisberger five times for 39 negative yards.

With this victory, the Vikings are 6-7, and are still in the playoff hunt. Beating the Steelers is a big deal, but the Vikes have to post a few more successes until the end of the regular season to reach the playoffs. They are traveling to Chicago next week, and after that, host the Rams, before visiting the Packers. The final game of the regular campaign for them is at home against the Bears.

On the other side, the Steelers (6-6-1) are in a tough position. They have a very nasty schedule and need to win constantly in order to end up among the top seven in AFC. Next week, Mike Tomlin’s crew hosts the Titans, then visits the Kansas City Chiefs. In the final two rounds, they await the Browns and travel to Baltimore.