Scouting the Vikings: Steelers opponent becoming accustomed to international games

SCOUTING THE VIKINGS

Last meeting

The Vikings beat the Steelers, 36-28, on Dec. 9, 2021, in Minneapolis

Key matchup

Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith vs. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores

Flores, who spent the 2022 season as an assistant with the Steelers, has a reputation for confusing offenses with his schematics. A former head coach of the Miami Dolphins, Flores deploys ample disguises in blitzes and coverage schemes.

Key injuries

The Steelers are hoping to get back a pair of starting defensive backs who have missed the past two games, cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (hamstring) and safety DeShon Elliott (knee). They remain without outside linebacker Alex Highsmith (ankle). The Vikings on Friday ruled out guard Donovan Jackson (wrist), quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle), outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (neck) and tight end Ben Yurosek (knee).

Series record

Vikings lead 10-9

Series notes

This past Jan. 12 marked the 50th anniversary of the Steelers and Vikings meeting in Super Bowl IX in New Orleans. The Steelers won 16-6 for their first championship. … The Vikings also were the opponent for the Steelers’ first regular-season international game: Minnesota won 34-27 on Sept. 29, 2013, in London. … Until the team’s most recent matchup four years ago, the Steelers had won four of the prior five in the series. … In the tenure of coach Mike Tomlin, the Steelers have split four games against the Vikings. … The Steelers are 7-3-1 against NFC North teams since losing to the Vikings in that 2013 London game. … During the decade of the 1990s, the Steelers and Vikings met only twice. The teams did not play in Minnesota between games there in 1986 and 2005.

Notable

The Vikings are in the midst of playing four games in Europe over a span of three years and three days. They played at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in October 2022 and October 2024. After this game, Minnesota will stay abroad to face the Cleveland Browns in London on Oct. 5. … The Vikings are playing three consecutive games against AFC North opponents, having beaten the Cincinnati Bengals, 48-10, at home last week. … Tomlin was Minnesota’s defensive coordinator in 2007 when the Steelers hired him as head coach at 34 years old. … Through three weeks of the NFL season, Minnesota ranks sixth in the league in points (27.0 per game) but 28th in yards of offense (268.0). … Similarly, the Steelers are tied for 12th in points (24.0) but 30th in yardage (247.0). … Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz is making a start against the Steelers for the first time since 2020 when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles. Wentz is 1-1 in his career against Pittsburgh. … Counting the postseason, the Vikings are one of only two teams that Steelers star edge rusher T.J. Watt has not recorded a sack against. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the other. (Watt’s only sack against the Kansas City Chiefs came during a January 2022 playoff game).

Fantasy tip

Minnesota WR Justin Jefferson has finished among the top six in points (standard scoring) for wide receivers in four of the past five seasons, including No. 2 among WRs last season. He ranks 28th through three weeks this season.