Steelers vs. Vikings: What they're saying in Minnesota after win
They were a dropped pass and 2-point conversion from blowing a 29-point second half lead.
But the host Minnesota Vikings held on to beat the Steelers. Their running back Dalvin Cook ran wild as Minnesota built a 23-0 halftime lead. The Steelers lost T.J. Watt again to a groin injury.
Still, things don’t appear to be sunny in Minnesota.
Here’s what a few sports writers there had to say after the Vikings’ 36-28 Thursday night win.
In mathematical terms, the Vikings salvaged their playoff hopes,” wrote Jim Souhan of the StarTribune. “In emotional terms, they left little doubt that this team is missing something vital, something usually described in cliched terms. Heart. Guts. Leadership. Killer instinct. Football smarts.
“The Vikings almost lost a game in which they not only led by 29 points, but did so despite physically dominating their opponent for almost three quarters.”
A headline in the St. Paul Pioneer Press read, “Tale of two defenses as Vikings hold on for win.”
“A defense that collapsed late against the previously-winless Lions, allowing a last-second touchdown in a frustrating loss to previously winless Detroit, showed up Thursday with something to prove,” wrote Betsy Helfand. “But after a stingy first half, the unit allowed 20 unanswered points and let Pittsburgh march right back into the game.”
Chip Scoggins of the StarTribune summarized the performance: “Nothing is easy with this team.” He was talking about the Vikings, not Steelers.
“The beatdown was so one-sided that you kept waiting for Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to throw in the Terrible Towel. Even the usual bugaboo didn’t haunt the Vikings — they didn’t surrender any points in the final two minutes of the first half,” he wrote. “The second half was a different story. It was a mess. Ben Roethlisberger finally got some protection from his line, and he went after the Vikings cornerbacks who had a miserable performance.”
The Vikings might be “feeling Minnesota.” But they got the win.
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