Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings Preview
The Steelers’ schedule is about to get interesting. On Sunday, they face the undefeated Minnesota Vikings. Then after a bye week, they must face the currently undefeated Denver Broncos.
Steelers fans have been longing for a true measure of how good their team is. They’re about to get it.
The last time the Steelers faced two undefeated teams in back-to-back games was in 2004. The Steelers defeated the undefeated Patriots, ending their 21 game winning streak, and then defeated the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles the following week. They were the only NFL team in history to ever achieve that feat so late in the season.
Getting a win this week won’t be easy. The Vikings are a team that is very similar to the Steelers. In recent years, the Vikings have been a team that primarily depended on a strong running game and strong defense to win games. However, this year they find themselves with a suddenly potent passing attack led by a brash, gunslinger quarterback. Sound familiar?
The Vikings’ potent running attack is led by Adrian Peterson, one of the best running backs in the NFL. Peterson leads the NFL in rushing, and he torched the Baltimore Ravens’ defense for 143 yards last week. Peterson’s combination of size and speed will pose a daunting task for the Steelers’ defense.
After struggling in the passing game with QB Tavaris Jackson for the last several years, the Vikings’ passing attack is suddenly revived after the addition of legendary quarterback Brett Favre.
Vikings QB Brett Favre
Steelers fans know how great a season Ben Roethlisberger has been having so far. Yet Favre has a higher passer rating and has thrown for more touchdowns than Roethlisberger. Think about that for a moment.
The Vikings defense was the only defense in the NFL that allowed fewer rushing yards than the Steelers last year. The Vikings’ run defense ended the 2008 season ranked #1 in the NFL, while the Steelers were ranked #2.
Are you starting to see the similarities between these two teams?
Fortunately, the Steelers are starting to come into their own. The offense is on fire behind the arm of QB Ben Roethlisberger. More importantly, the Steelers’ running game is finally starting to show signs of life.
Since inserting Rashard Mendenhall into the starting lineup, the Steelers’ running attack has been noticeably better. Mendenhall seems to be more capable of getting the tough, short yardage that Willie Parker often struggled to get.
Based on Mendenhall’s performance the past 2 weeks, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has decided to name Mendenhall as the starter for the foreseeable future. “Rashard has earned the right to take the majority of the snaps as we move forward”, said Tomlin. This is welcome news to many Steelers fans who had been calling for Mendenhall to replace Parker in the starting lineup.
Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall
While both teams have potent offenses, the real difference in the game should be the Steelers’ defense. The Steelers defense is among the best in the league. They are strong against the run and the pass. Contrarily, while the Vikings defense is stout against the run, they have proven to be vulnerable to the pass. The Vikings are ranked #24 against the pass. That’s not a good thing when you are about to face the NFL’s leading passer (I still can’t get used to saying that about a Steelers’ quarterback).
I predict that the Steelers will bring the Vikings winning streak to an end by a score of 24-17.
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I agree with the scoring and that the Steelers will end the Vikings winning streak. I have one question aboout Adrian Peterson. Will he be playng this week or was his injury a threat to the season for the Vikings? If so, that would be a help to the Steelers, not that I want him to suffer like that, I don’t!!!!!!
1I’m predicting a Steelers win, too. Adrian Peterson is suffering from a sore ankle and was limited in practice but is “likely” to play Sunday. Antoine Winfield is unlikely to play due to a foot injury. In addition to the healthy talent on the Steelers, they will have home field advantage.
2Claudine,
Peterson will be fine. He had the same injury last week while romping all over the ravens. He is a 100% starter this week, sorry. I follow him very closely because he is on my fantasy team.
Donald,
I tried my best to find a flaw in this article! But I couldn’t
However, I’m not so quick to predict a win for us. Our pass D is pretty weak itself ya know. Only giving up about 30yds less each game than the Vikings do. And let’s not forget who we have played. Dereck Anderson helped those stats last week.
I have a real big problem this week! I have Peterson and Mendenhall starting on my fantasy team! I’m so conflicted. I have taken them both out of my lineup about 10 times each already and put them back in.
Any advice? I have M. Lynch on bench. By the way my team (“I AM STEEL”) is in first place in my league of 10. I’m 5-1 with a whomping 750pts in 6 weeks.
3Tony,
I don’t see your conflict. You have both Rashard Mendenhall and Adrian Peterson on your fantasy team. They may both have good games this week. That will be good for your fantasy team. However, obviously you will REALLY be hoping that Peterson has a TERRIBLE game. After all, reality trumps fantasy.
Go Steelers!!! (Boo Vikings!)
4And the Warlock Jamie Dukes spoke with fear for the Knights of the Hypocycloid as he gushed with the deeds of the invaders from the frigid wild North. The brave warriors of the Celtic King Rooney ready their armamenets for the siege of the Confluence, for they fear not the evil realm of the wry wizard Franken. The wondrous warrior with the black mane, Sir Troy of the Land of Polamalu and he of the mighty right sword arm,the stalwart knight Ben the Magnate of Roethlisberg are determined to rise to the challenge of the cagey Farve and the dasher of doom known as Sir Adrian. For as the Knights of the Confluence they are bound by their honor and duty to one another to continue the halcyon days of the Empire of the Burgh in pursuit of the silver Grail of Lombardi. The word of the Oracle.
5I have no conflict because I’m sitting Peterson. I want no reason to not feel angered if the Steelers fail to contain Peterson.
Go Steelers!
6thus you see my conflict. Hard to want to see peterson romp. I guess i just need to hope peterson gets the viking’s TDs and not Favre. And I’ll take about 80 yds from him i guess.
7Tony’s predicament is the reason why I have not jumped into the Fantasy Football world. I almost did this year because I keep track of all theplayers anyway BUT when it comes to the Steelers it is NOT JUST A GAME!I would have to sit the players opposing the Steelers and in no way could I root for any single player, team defense or team against the Steelers. But having AP on your team makes it tough. Guess I’ll leave that to Tony and focus on rooting for a big Steeler win on Sunday!
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