September 28, 2025 • 24 mins
Welcome back to the Vikings Postgame Report presented by Lumen - The trusted network of A.I. The Minnesota Vikings late-game heroics were not enough as they fell short to the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-21 at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. The Steelers defense held the Vikings offense in check with 6 sacks and 2 interceptions. Minnesota gave a valiant effort late, as they scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns, but Pittsburgh was able to hold on for the win. Vikings Quarterback Carson Wentz threw for 350 yards on 30 of 46 passing. Running back Jordan Mason rushed for 57 yards on 16 carries. Wide Receivers Justin Jefferson (126 yards) and Jordan Addison (114 yards) both eclipsed the 100 yard mark. Kicker Will Reichard remained perfect this season as he converted field goals from 41 and 28 yards in the game. The Vikings defense was led by Safety Josh Metellus and Linebacker Eric Wilson who each had 9 tackles. Defensive Tackle Jalen Redmond was the only Vikings player to record a sack in the game with two. Paul Allen and Pete Bercich recap the game, including: the impact of the injuries to the offensive line, giving up the big play to DK Metcalf, and the way the Vikings were able to hang in there and make it a game in the fourth quarter. Plus, press conferences from Head Coach Kevin O’Connell and Quarterback Carson Wentz all are in this edition of the Vikings Postgame Report - presented by Lumen - The trusted network of A.I.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Alrighty from Dublin in Ireland. The Minnesota Vikings first regular
season game in this country, likewise for Pittsburgh, likewise for
the NFL, goes the way of the Pittsburgh Steelers twenty
four to twenty one in the final. Got interesting late,
but nevertheless the Vikings take their second loss. And speaking
of losses, they had some injuries today too. Sentater Ryan
(00:42):
Kelly did not return in the second half. Brian O'Neill
right tackle was lost in the second quarter. No end
Ruvan Ginkel into the game, valiant effort. Too many mistakes, Yeah,
too many mistakes.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
But yeah, by the end of this game, you're missing
sixty of your offensive line. You know. Blake Brandell played
some guard last year. He felt good about that. But
losing Ryan Kelly and having Jurgens have to come in
and then losing Brian O'Neal on a field goal attempt,
that that really changed things. And it wasn't until the
(01:15):
fourth quarter that the Vikings scored a touchdown, right, and
the third quarter was the rough one fifteen yards of offense.
You had one turnover, two interceptions on the day for
Carson Wentz. But you get again, they hung in there.
And needed a big play, you got one from Jordan Aison,
you get the two point conversion. I mean, it's been
(01:36):
it's been one of those. It was just one of
those games, Paul, where we just felt we just didn't
feel like we were in it, and then all of
a sudden, the fight and these guys they hung in there,
they kept battling and they they made it come down
to the last play of the game.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
The postgame Report with a Pete Bursage and yours truly,
Paul Allen, is provided by Loomen, and we thanked them
greatly for the weekly sponsorship of the postgame Report where
Aaron Rodgers in his twenty first year from cal the
forty one year old went eighteen of twenty two two
hundred yards and a touchdown, and it was an eighty
yard touchdown to DK Metcalf in the second quarter. You know,
(02:14):
that was one of the mistake laden plays where DK's
good and a Rodge obviously had some hof joined, but
you had a mistackle, you had a bad angle, m'ight,
had some guys out of position a little bit. You
know that that really never should have happened. And what
do you think of a Rodge?
Speaker 2 (02:29):
He did exactly what we thought he was going to
do going into this, and let's get rid of the
football quickly and then nowhere to go with that? Go
with it and the DK Metcalf slant. I mean that
was he had that football in his hand for a
fraction of a second. As soon as he got that snap,
he was throwing that slant before the linebackers could adjust
their drops and get over there. And then you have
(02:49):
that that creature, a six foot four, six foot five
DK Metcalf. Yeah, catching the ball in stride, a lot
of bad angles, and next thing you know, it's an
eighty yard touchdown. So for the Steelers, that's a huge play.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
But overall, one.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Hundred and thirty one yards of rushing for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
They did they guys with the off tackle. You know,
Van Ginkel would have probably have helped in that regard
because it's the way our outside linebackers play. It's so unique.
But at the same time, too much on the ground,
too much giving up on the ground for the Vikings defense.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison combined for two hundred and
forty yards on a combined to fourteen receptions This was
by far the most active Jefferson has been in the
passing game this year. He was targeted eleven times Addison,
after missing the first three targeted eight times, he brought
in four, including one for a career long eighty one
(03:44):
yards nearing the end of the game that put the
Vikings in business and Xavier Scott, second year from Maine,
Xavier Scott scored his first National Football League touchdown. It
was a catching touchdown. Six catches and forty three yards
for Zay Scott. But all of that was not enough.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
People, No, it wasn't it, you know, for Xavier Scott.
I think the Vikings coaching staff knew that if they
could get the right kind of coverage. They have some
mismatches with the running backs on the linebackers of the
Pittsburgh Steelers. We spread that defense out right. We made
him tip their hat as far as if it's man
or its zone and we wanted to get some of
those bigger guys in space and if not for a
(04:24):
couple of tipped passes. Both those interceptions are on tip passes.
That's the part that's that's so tough. But Carth Carson
Wentz for the most part, did a really nice job
of handling everything and handling the quick throws, reading the defenses.
I didn't he didn't make any blatant major mistakes. Made
some plays with his legs as well. So you know
the way Carson months is handling his quick this quick
(04:47):
style quick throw offenses. I think it looked looked good.
It just again, we couldn't. We just did not put
anything together, shooting ourselves in a foot with penalties getting
us into third and long. Some mistakes along the way,
I mean those you forget about those at the end
of a game like that, but they built, they can
come back to haunt you.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
We will hear from a Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz coming
up shortly but first here as head coach Kevin O'Connell
following a three point loss in Dublin to Pittsburgh.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Buff the guy's battle to the very end of the
football game, clearly losing the turnover battle, and and and
can penalties continue to be you know, a critical factor
something I've got to get fixed, you know, specifically the
pre and post snap penalties that you know when we've
we we we give away yards or we get you know,
(05:39):
things stacked against us, creating third and longers for our
offense or you know, earn first downs that aren't necessarily
happening between the whistle against our defense. I thought our
defense kept us in it, battling a couple of big stops,
and then we were able to put together some two
minute drives despite being down a few guys up front,
(05:59):
which is, you know, never an excuse. Expect everybody to
be ready to rock and roll and step in next
man up, and had a chance to still win the
football game in the end, because our guys compete to
the very end regardless of circumstances and just just didn't
find a way to get it done. Credit to credit
to them for you know, playing a good football game,
(06:21):
winning the turnover battle, and their formula to win is
is that, and they were able to do that. Injury wise,
Brian O'Neil will have an MRI tonight. And then Ryan
Kelly did get put in the or he was out
with a concussion. And then Carson did get poked in
the eye and was able to continue playing. Kevin was good.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
Brian O'Neill concerned.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
I guess what are you guys his league?
Speaker 3 (06:45):
You know, I was out there when they evaluated him.
Don't want to get too far ahead from a standpoint
of what it might be, but it sounded like they
were talking about his m c L So that's one
they'll have to evaluate. I know he was trying to
do everything in his power to tape it up and
see if he could go. And uh, you know, one
of the toughest guys on our team, so I know
(07:05):
he would have absolutely tried to get back out there
if he could. And we'll evaluate him and and uh
see where he's at.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
How did you know what Carson, what he is under
that much question?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Yeah, I mean it was it was, uh, you know,
you're trying to you go into a play into the game,
you know, trying to make sure if you do everything
in your power for you know, to based upon what
you view as the challenges going into the game. From
a standpoint, I thought, we tried to do everything every
which way we could try to limit t J. Watts effectiveness.
(07:39):
He's a really, really unique special player, and throughout the game,
we we had some breakdowns, you know, at some other
areas and just kind of took us out of the
flow of of being able to run the football. It
took us out of the flow being able to use
our play action pass game. I thought we did do
a pretty good job early moving the football via you know,
(08:00):
the ball coming out pretty quick, and trying to find
ways to get some catch and run opportunities. But as
you stack some of those negative plays, you just end
up and down and distances that are very conducive for them,
and then eventually the score is very conducive for them.
And you're trying to make sure you piece together what
(08:20):
was the original plan and making sure you never want
to leave ninety, you know, to an open edge, and
I think the one of the few times we did,
he got off the ball so fast they called him
for a false off side in the neutral zone. But
then as you lose your center and then obviously bo it,
it has some effect on the execution, but I don't
(08:42):
look at it as anything more than the next man up.
And we've got to consistently do some more simple things
early on in the game, just from a standpoint of
doing our job, and that's the execution when it's all eleven,
when it's all there and you're going to have sometimes
both interceptions were off of tip balls. What we've got
to look at is, you know, was the ball going
(09:03):
to the right spot, what was the protection? Like who
tipped it? Could we have gotten hands down? And then
on the third and long we're just trying to put
the ball in play right there. We we got today
a little quick on that one. Don't necessarily Carson's processing
and seeing kind of the intent of the play which
you know had a had a provision in it to
(09:25):
get the ball today, just maybe not as quick as
he did. And it ball ends up being thrown on
you know, the the west side of the center, which
was was not the intent, and the ball gets tipped.
And and and that one is an incredible play by TJ.
Watt off of the tip. I think I think Hayward
might have got the original the first tip. But those
are two tip balls. There are still interceptions. We got
the ball out one time on defense and it looked
(09:47):
like it bounced, you know, JG got it off the
quarterback one time and it looked like it bounced right
to one of their guys. You've got to overcome that.
That's you know, funny shape football. And and you know
the tip balls were intercepted. And the one time we
got the ball out, it was just the next down
for their offense, and when that's happening, then you got
to create some things. I thought the blocked field goal
(10:08):
was big, and then obviously the defense at the end
finding a way to get the stop, and then we
flipped that into a touchdown and had a chance because
of that. That's where you're just never going to see
this team quit. They're going to play to the very
end against a good team. We just didn't do enough
things to overcome either you know, our own execution or
(10:29):
the injuries or whatever. I don't really look at anything
other than we've got to improve and and continue to
grow as a team.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
At the end of the first half, when Carson gets
a poke in the eye, how did that affect his
ability to kind of read things through coverage wise?
Speaker 3 (10:42):
At the end of the sequence, it looked like we
had TJ you know, on the on the maybe the
down either right after, maybe two downs after, and it
was his left eye, uh, you know, and he you know,
he's made that throw, you know, many many times, made it,
you know, to the right against the Bengals kind of
in a similar area of the field and and just
left it a little inside, tough catch and ended up
(11:05):
kind of all but ending our opportunity maybe get seven there,
and what that looks like if we can do a
little bit better job coming out in the third quarter,
What what does the game look like? So it's all
it all connects that, it's all works together throughout the game,
Ben And and you know, like I said, we complimented
at the end within a will to try to win
(11:26):
the football game, overcoming all the things that in many cases,
you know, we put ourselves in that situation.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Ryan Kelly, are there any larger conversations that need to
happen with the two concussions this year?
Speaker 3 (11:38):
Clearly, you know, the health of the health of our
players is always the first, you know, the beginning of
the end, in the middle of that conversation, beginning, middle end.
So we'll totally defer to the doctors, and we'll defer
to the protocol, and then ultimately we're gonna want to
make sure Ryan's in a good place. That's not anything
(11:59):
you know, I particularly ever want to mess around with.
So we'll be smart and at the same time, you know,
i'd much more definitely not my lane to kind of
weigh in on those things until the medical staff or
you know, we get to that place, but appreciate the question.
Speaker 4 (12:16):
It on the last drive, it looked like you wanted
a clock recent before the delay.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Mean or well, we were dealing with the play clock.
You know. It was the unique thing about you know,
coming to play here and then you find out about
three minutes before the kickoff that that end zones game
clock and play clock would be turned off for the day.
Trying to go as fast as we can, the coach's
quarterback kind of system kind of went out there at
(12:41):
fifteen seconds and we just you know, normally that clock
right in front of the quarterback is kind of registering.
I got to get going, and it was you know,
it was just precious time lost in a sequence where
with the clock, we're trying to get as detailed of
a play off as we possibly can, to account for
a lot of the things we're moving the ball with
(13:02):
from a standpoint of help on the edges, making sure
we get things up front to give us a chance
on the plate to let our let our guys get downfield.
And uh, you know that was a critical, critical penalty.
And then I think we might have got beat on
a te on the intentional grounding, had an opportunity maybe
on that one to get a pretty significant chunk which
(13:23):
you're looking for at least one or two times there
to try to see for sure get in field goal range.
And then uh, you know, we're still thinking about trying
to get and field goal range and then have opportunities
either make it a shorter field goal or try to score.
So that was kind of the momentum of the game. Thought,
you know, thought the best thing to do would be
(13:45):
on side kick it, see if we could capture it
right there, continue to have it and then no and
flow and the guys could get a stop and then
and then it was going to be, you know, a
race to try to get three points and get this
thing into overtime. Kevin Million, You will use the offensive
line or talk as an excuse, but how tough does
it make it for you?
Speaker 4 (14:03):
Just as you're approaching things.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
Knowing who they have on other side, with whereas.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
As much shuffle as there as there's been a year.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Yeah, you're you know, you're asking you're asking guys to
step in there. You're asking guys to uh, you know,
play against some premiere players for sure, and and try
to use the game plan as much as we can
at least as a starting point and then from there,
you know, and we were you know, trying to uh
piece it together a little bit to move the ball
and account for some things in the second half, which
(14:32):
I thought Carson did a really good job kind of handling.
We get the explosive t JA we you know, we
you don't get in the end zone on that play
and you're trying to get a playoff, and there's just
sequences in parts of our offense that that you know,
maybe there's an answer, but it's it's down the line
into into things, especially when you get down in there
(14:56):
and then just the you know, you would have loved
to save every second you possibly could, but the same time,
you've got to account for all those things that we
that we talked about in your accounting for certain certain
things where you're diving, diving deep into the end of
the playbook a little bit too, combined protection with the
ability for your playmakers to make a play and try
to see if we can get some more or two
(15:16):
hitch throws out for cars.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Well, do you think of the atmosphere today and do
you think the noise played a role in the NST right?
Speaker 3 (15:26):
You know, I think the atmosphere was a great atmosphere
for football. You know, both our fans that made the trip,
the fans that were wearing purple, and I thought they had,
you know, a great showing as well. It was the
energy in the building was fantastic. You know, I think
probably a combination of uh, you know, the energy there
(15:47):
on the last drive and then you know, just you
one of those negatives being you know, quarterback facing a
clock that's off. That's not an excuse, we knew about it,
but that is a unique challenge when it comes to most,
if not all, you know, NFL games, you're normally staring
right down right through the defense at that at that
play clock. To be able to speed things up and
(16:08):
get the ball snapped got us in a big moment,
and we've got to be ready to handle you know,
the circumstances a little bit better. The field down efficiency
was very low today. How you do you plan to
work on it in order to achieve consistency in the
offer efficiency? Yeah, I think you know, a big story
and theme you've heard me say the term, you know,
(16:30):
the early down execution and then some of the you know,
some of the penalties. I think we had you know,
a false start on a third and medium, which would
be in that six to nine range, and that kicks
you back ten plus. You know, I think back to
some of the you know, early parts of our season
here where we're when we can stay efficient and when
(16:51):
we can you know, get that early down execution and
then lead into a third and manageable. I thought Adam
Thieln had some nice third down conversions today, you know,
on some of those d and ds. But then you
start wholly, you know, you got to get people further
down the field when you're talking about twelve thirteen, fourteen fifteen,
and that's when you know, we ended up having a
turnover today trying to put the ball in play, seeing
(17:14):
if we can get a play started and activate z
A a little bit in the past game which showed
up again. But yeah, it's it's absolutely something we've got
to continue to work through. Those downs tend to be
the weighty downs, tend to be the hard ones and
the most magnified when you when you're down some guys
because it requires some individual one on one you know,
(17:34):
blocks at times, and you're trying to do everything you
can to eliminate or at least contain some of the
you know, the very familiar names on the other side
that you know can affect the passer. So all well,
knowing there's a plan of justin coverage wise, there's you know,
there's absolutely a way to a path moving forward for
(17:55):
us to do exactly what you said, which was improved,
which is to improve on those third downs. But to me,
it's as much those plays as it is the plays
that precede them, and making making sure we're efficient and
staying on schedule to allow ourselves to get the ball
out of our hand and put the ball and play
to our playmakers.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
Penalties, you know, it's been a common thread with the
Vikings this season, and it has some a topic to
it today because into the game the Vikings had twenty
nine penalties, fourth most in the NFL. The Steelers only
had fourteen into the game, fewest in the NFL. And
the Steelers won the penalty battle today.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
And again it's self inflicted. It's the you know, Byron
Murphy Junior getting fifteen after a whistle, Dallas Turner kind
of doing this, you know, doing the same thing.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
We gave them fifty yards and penalties, yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Fifty yards in some key spots too, And I mean
as I look through my notes, I think about that
when it's fourteen to six and JJ slips on what
should have been could have been easily a touchdown reception,
you know what I mean. So a couple of things
just don't go your way. Isaiah Rodgers again coming up
big with a block field goal that could have really
put Pittsburgh over the edge even earlier in this game.
(19:05):
But he hung in there and he may again making
another big play a week after. You know, two forced
fumbels and two touchdowns. So, yeah, the self inflicted stuff's
got to end. It's got to end quickly because when
you're going out minus by the end of this game,
we were down five starters. Yeah, right, And when you're
doing that, you can't be you can't. You just can't
(19:27):
be making those, you know, those kinds of mistakes. And
credit to the Steelers, maybe not so much credit for
the play calling and some of the decisions that allowed
the Vikings to get back into it, but they're an
aggressive bunch and Vikings almost took a full advantage of
everything that happened.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Carson Wentz threw for three hundred and fifty yards a
couple of touchdowns, couple of interceptions. He also was sacked
six times, so the Vikings are permitted eighteen sacks this
year through four games. Let's hear from the quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Is there a problem with your left eye there part, Yeah, for.
Speaker 4 (20:01):
A moment there, it's tough to see gut goalage in
the eye, but.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
We're fine overall. Was it like dealing with bad amount
of pressure in the team.
Speaker 4 (20:10):
Yeah, I mean they're a good team, you know, I think,
and we got down early, so we ended up throwing
throwing the ball quite a bit. So that's always tough
on on the line and everything. And there's definitely times
I could have got rid of the ball quicker and
gone through my progressions faster. But yeah, shout out to
that team. They play hard, they play physical, They made
a tough Hofes. How different was it not having a
play clock in that direction?
Speaker 1 (20:33):
Yeah, that's weird.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
I'm not gonna lie. It was weird looking behind me,
looking over my shoulder on the side. I thought we
handled it okay. Obviously got us at a very bad
time of the game, unfortunately, but yeah, that was a
little different.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
You guys hoping for a reset of the play clock
there after the spike. Man, it looks like you cut
point of the end zone.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Ko.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Yeah, that's that's all me. I gotta be quicker in
and out, you know. I think just kind of lost
sight of it obviously physically and kind of was back
in my mind. So I gotta be better.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Picture.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
How would you evaluate your game in a hole?
Speaker 4 (21:07):
And you gotta watch them back. I gotta watch it back.
At the end of the day, we lost. That's all
I care about. That's all I'm concerned about. Got a
bad taste in my mouth that the defense stepped up
when we needed them at the end, got us the
wall back. In those situations, you know, it pains me
to be left there out on the field as a
chance and come up short. So I'm not here to
(21:27):
evaluate the rest of the play. You know, we had
some chances, you know, a couple of tip picks or
those suck. Not gonna lie. Those are tough. They kind
of derailed what I thought we had some decent momentum
going on a couple of drives, and so yeah, that
was tough. But at the end of the day, we lost,
and that's all that matters.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
What's going through your head when you guys see Brian
Ornel down on the field, me coming out to attend
to him.
Speaker 4 (21:48):
Yeah, I mean, immediately just start praying for for guys. Obviously,
it's all you can do. I know, injuries are unfortunately
part of this game. We've both been there, and so
some of those things you just kind of right for
these guys, And obviously as the leader of our team,
you know that means that means something to everybody. So
I thought Justin did a great job stepping up justin
(22:08):
school there when Bo went out, and so that's obviously
always tough with the leader of your team in that situation,
but it's always the next man up mentality, you know,
injuries are part of this game, and praying he'll be
back soon.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
Carson, how do you feel about about that pressure.
Speaker 4 (22:24):
From the DNI. Yeah, I mean it's like I said earlier,
it's tough. I mean, when you get down, you dig
yourself a hole like that. The D line kind of
just pins their ears back and rushes and we're throwing,
you know, time and time again. So it's a good team.
It's a good team. It's a good D line. Hats
off to them. They play hard, and so we had
our chances I can be better, get the ball out
quicker too, so but yeah, it always makes it tough.
(22:46):
And they did a good job today if.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
You feel the pressure from the public.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
And the nie.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
The crowd is honestly, if that's what you're asking about
the crowd atmosphere, it was fun. Honestly, it's fun. It's
my second time playing overseas, and so it was. I
thought it was a good experience, good, good turnout. Sucks
to lose, not gonna lie, but I thought it was
a cool atmosphere and a tough one to lose out there.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
Okay, another AFC North team next week, and this one
will be in London. The Vikings are the first team
in the history of the NFL to play back to
back games outside of the United States of America. Hopefully
we have better news next week.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Yeah, and it's gonna be another physical defense, right, So
it's not gonna this this this truck here is not
gonna get any any easier, uh, for our offense, They're
gonna face another good defense. Don't know, I have we
haven't seen much on Cleveland. Don't know if their offense
is going to be as effective, so to speak, as Pittsburgh.
But you're gonna be out here for a whole entire week.
(23:43):
You gotta get healthy and then you got to get
ready for yet another really physical AFC North style of game.
Uh on the quick turnaround and hopefully get that win
before you go into the by. Have a winning record
going into the by. It's it's a it's a big
it's a big, big game coming up against Cleveland.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Good job on the car all today that despite the outcome,
it was fun calling a game here at Croke Park.
The fans were really vibranting into it. But the Vikings
fall to two and two after a twenty four to
twenty one loss to Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The postgame report is provided by Lumen and for Pete versage,
I'm Paul Allen. Thank you very much for listening, and
(24:21):
don't forget to peruse everything game coverage wise. We offer
a Bikings dot Com
Alrighty from Dublin in Ireland. The Minnesota Vikings first regular
season game in this country, likewise for Pittsburgh, likewise for
the NFL, goes the way of the Pittsburgh Steelers twenty
four to twenty one in the final. Got interesting late,
but nevertheless the Vikings take their second loss. And speaking
of losses, they had some injuries today too. Sentater Ryan
(00:42):
Kelly did not return in the second half. Brian O'Neill
right tackle was lost in the second quarter. No end
Ruvan Ginkel into the game, valiant effort. Too many mistakes, Yeah,
too many mistakes.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
But yeah, by the end of this game, you're missing
sixty of your offensive line. You know. Blake Brandell played
some guard last year. He felt good about that. But
losing Ryan Kelly and having Jurgens have to come in
and then losing Brian O'Neal on a field goal attempt,
that that really changed things. And it wasn't until the
(01:15):
fourth quarter that the Vikings scored a touchdown, right, and
the third quarter was the rough one fifteen yards of offense.
You had one turnover, two interceptions on the day for
Carson Wentz. But you get again, they hung in there.
And needed a big play, you got one from Jordan Aison,
you get the two point conversion. I mean, it's been
(01:36):
it's been one of those. It was just one of
those games, Paul, where we just felt we just didn't
feel like we were in it, and then all of
a sudden, the fight and these guys they hung in there,
they kept battling and they they made it come down
to the last play of the game.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
The postgame Report with a Pete Bursage and yours truly,
Paul Allen, is provided by Loomen, and we thanked them
greatly for the weekly sponsorship of the postgame Report where
Aaron Rodgers in his twenty first year from cal the
forty one year old went eighteen of twenty two two
hundred yards and a touchdown, and it was an eighty
yard touchdown to DK Metcalf in the second quarter. You know,
(02:14):
that was one of the mistake laden plays where DK's
good and a Rodge obviously had some hof joined, but
you had a mistackle, you had a bad angle, m'ight,
had some guys out of position a little bit. You
know that that really never should have happened. And what
do you think of a Rodge?
Speaker 2 (02:29):
He did exactly what we thought he was going to
do going into this, and let's get rid of the
football quickly and then nowhere to go with that? Go
with it and the DK Metcalf slant. I mean that
was he had that football in his hand for a
fraction of a second. As soon as he got that snap,
he was throwing that slant before the linebackers could adjust
their drops and get over there. And then you have
(02:49):
that that creature, a six foot four, six foot five
DK Metcalf. Yeah, catching the ball in stride, a lot
of bad angles, and next thing you know, it's an
eighty yard touchdown. So for the Steelers, that's a huge play.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
But overall, one.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Hundred and thirty one yards of rushing for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
They did they guys with the off tackle. You know,
Van Ginkel would have probably have helped in that regard
because it's the way our outside linebackers play. It's so unique.
But at the same time, too much on the ground,
too much giving up on the ground for the Vikings defense.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison combined for two hundred and
forty yards on a combined to fourteen receptions This was
by far the most active Jefferson has been in the
passing game this year. He was targeted eleven times Addison,
after missing the first three targeted eight times, he brought
in four, including one for a career long eighty one
(03:44):
yards nearing the end of the game that put the
Vikings in business and Xavier Scott, second year from Maine,
Xavier Scott scored his first National Football League touchdown. It
was a catching touchdown. Six catches and forty three yards
for Zay Scott. But all of that was not enough.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
People, No, it wasn't it, you know, for Xavier Scott.
I think the Vikings coaching staff knew that if they
could get the right kind of coverage. They have some
mismatches with the running backs on the linebackers of the
Pittsburgh Steelers. We spread that defense out right. We made
him tip their hat as far as if it's man
or its zone and we wanted to get some of
those bigger guys in space and if not for a
(04:24):
couple of tipped passes. Both those interceptions are on tip passes.
That's the part that's that's so tough. But Carth Carson
Wentz for the most part, did a really nice job
of handling everything and handling the quick throws, reading the defenses.
I didn't he didn't make any blatant major mistakes. Made
some plays with his legs as well. So you know
the way Carson months is handling his quick this quick
(04:47):
style quick throw offenses. I think it looked looked good.
It just again, we couldn't. We just did not put
anything together, shooting ourselves in a foot with penalties getting
us into third and long. Some mistakes along the way,
I mean those you forget about those at the end
of a game like that, but they built, they can
come back to haunt you.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
We will hear from a Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz coming
up shortly but first here as head coach Kevin O'Connell
following a three point loss in Dublin to Pittsburgh.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Buff the guy's battle to the very end of the
football game, clearly losing the turnover battle, and and and
can penalties continue to be you know, a critical factor
something I've got to get fixed, you know, specifically the
pre and post snap penalties that you know when we've
we we we give away yards or we get you know,
(05:39):
things stacked against us, creating third and longers for our
offense or you know, earn first downs that aren't necessarily
happening between the whistle against our defense. I thought our
defense kept us in it, battling a couple of big stops,
and then we were able to put together some two
minute drives despite being down a few guys up front,
(05:59):
which is, you know, never an excuse. Expect everybody to
be ready to rock and roll and step in next
man up, and had a chance to still win the
football game in the end, because our guys compete to
the very end regardless of circumstances and just just didn't
find a way to get it done. Credit to credit
to them for you know, playing a good football game,
(06:21):
winning the turnover battle, and their formula to win is
is that, and they were able to do that. Injury wise,
Brian O'Neil will have an MRI tonight. And then Ryan
Kelly did get put in the or he was out
with a concussion. And then Carson did get poked in
the eye and was able to continue playing. Kevin was good.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
Brian O'Neill concerned.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
I guess what are you guys his league?
Speaker 3 (06:45):
You know, I was out there when they evaluated him.
Don't want to get too far ahead from a standpoint
of what it might be, but it sounded like they
were talking about his m c L So that's one
they'll have to evaluate. I know he was trying to
do everything in his power to tape it up and
see if he could go. And uh, you know, one
of the toughest guys on our team, so I know
(07:05):
he would have absolutely tried to get back out there
if he could. And we'll evaluate him and and uh
see where he's at.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
How did you know what Carson, what he is under
that much question?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Yeah, I mean it was it was, uh, you know,
you're trying to you go into a play into the game,
you know, trying to make sure if you do everything
in your power for you know, to based upon what
you view as the challenges going into the game. From
a standpoint, I thought, we tried to do everything every
which way we could try to limit t J. Watts effectiveness.
(07:39):
He's a really, really unique special player, and throughout the game,
we we had some breakdowns, you know, at some other
areas and just kind of took us out of the
flow of of being able to run the football. It
took us out of the flow being able to use
our play action pass game. I thought we did do
a pretty good job early moving the football via you know,
(08:00):
the ball coming out pretty quick, and trying to find
ways to get some catch and run opportunities. But as
you stack some of those negative plays, you just end
up and down and distances that are very conducive for them,
and then eventually the score is very conducive for them.
And you're trying to make sure you piece together what
(08:20):
was the original plan and making sure you never want
to leave ninety, you know, to an open edge, and
I think the one of the few times we did,
he got off the ball so fast they called him
for a false off side in the neutral zone. But
then as you lose your center and then obviously bo it,
it has some effect on the execution, but I don't
(08:42):
look at it as anything more than the next man up.
And we've got to consistently do some more simple things
early on in the game, just from a standpoint of
doing our job, and that's the execution when it's all eleven,
when it's all there and you're going to have sometimes
both interceptions were off of tip balls. What we've got
to look at is, you know, was the ball going
(09:03):
to the right spot, what was the protection? Like who
tipped it? Could we have gotten hands down? And then
on the third and long we're just trying to put
the ball in play right there. We we got today
a little quick on that one. Don't necessarily Carson's processing
and seeing kind of the intent of the play which
you know had a had a provision in it to
(09:25):
get the ball today, just maybe not as quick as
he did. And it ball ends up being thrown on
you know, the the west side of the center, which
was was not the intent, and the ball gets tipped.
And and and that one is an incredible play by TJ.
Watt off of the tip. I think I think Hayward
might have got the original the first tip. But those
are two tip balls. There are still interceptions. We got
the ball out one time on defense and it looked
(09:47):
like it bounced, you know, JG got it off the
quarterback one time and it looked like it bounced right
to one of their guys. You've got to overcome that.
That's you know, funny shape football. And and you know
the tip balls were intercepted. And the one time we
got the ball out, it was just the next down
for their offense, and when that's happening, then you got
to create some things. I thought the blocked field goal
(10:08):
was big, and then obviously the defense at the end
finding a way to get the stop, and then we
flipped that into a touchdown and had a chance because
of that. That's where you're just never going to see
this team quit. They're going to play to the very
end against a good team. We just didn't do enough
things to overcome either you know, our own execution or
(10:29):
the injuries or whatever. I don't really look at anything
other than we've got to improve and and continue to
grow as a team.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
At the end of the first half, when Carson gets
a poke in the eye, how did that affect his
ability to kind of read things through coverage wise?
Speaker 3 (10:42):
At the end of the sequence, it looked like we
had TJ you know, on the on the maybe the
down either right after, maybe two downs after, and it
was his left eye, uh, you know, and he you know,
he's made that throw, you know, many many times, made it,
you know, to the right against the Bengals kind of
in a similar area of the field and and just
left it a little inside, tough catch and ended up
(11:05):
kind of all but ending our opportunity maybe get seven there,
and what that looks like if we can do a
little bit better job coming out in the third quarter,
What what does the game look like? So it's all
it all connects that, it's all works together throughout the game,
Ben And and you know, like I said, we complimented
at the end within a will to try to win
(11:26):
the football game, overcoming all the things that in many cases,
you know, we put ourselves in that situation.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Ryan Kelly, are there any larger conversations that need to
happen with the two concussions this year?
Speaker 3 (11:38):
Clearly, you know, the health of the health of our
players is always the first, you know, the beginning of
the end, in the middle of that conversation, beginning, middle end.
So we'll totally defer to the doctors, and we'll defer
to the protocol, and then ultimately we're gonna want to
make sure Ryan's in a good place. That's not anything
(11:59):
you know, I particularly ever want to mess around with.
So we'll be smart and at the same time, you know,
i'd much more definitely not my lane to kind of
weigh in on those things until the medical staff or
you know, we get to that place, but appreciate the question.
Speaker 4 (12:16):
It on the last drive, it looked like you wanted
a clock recent before the delay.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Mean or well, we were dealing with the play clock.
You know. It was the unique thing about you know,
coming to play here and then you find out about
three minutes before the kickoff that that end zones game
clock and play clock would be turned off for the day.
Trying to go as fast as we can, the coach's
quarterback kind of system kind of went out there at
(12:41):
fifteen seconds and we just you know, normally that clock
right in front of the quarterback is kind of registering.
I got to get going, and it was you know,
it was just precious time lost in a sequence where
with the clock, we're trying to get as detailed of
a play off as we possibly can, to account for
a lot of the things we're moving the ball with
(13:02):
from a standpoint of help on the edges, making sure
we get things up front to give us a chance
on the plate to let our let our guys get downfield.
And uh, you know that was a critical, critical penalty.
And then I think we might have got beat on
a te on the intentional grounding, had an opportunity maybe
on that one to get a pretty significant chunk which
(13:23):
you're looking for at least one or two times there
to try to see for sure get in field goal range.
And then uh, you know, we're still thinking about trying
to get and field goal range and then have opportunities
either make it a shorter field goal or try to score.
So that was kind of the momentum of the game. Thought,
you know, thought the best thing to do would be
(13:45):
on side kick it, see if we could capture it
right there, continue to have it and then no and
flow and the guys could get a stop and then
and then it was going to be, you know, a
race to try to get three points and get this
thing into overtime. Kevin Million, You will use the offensive
line or talk as an excuse, but how tough does
it make it for you?
Speaker 4 (14:03):
Just as you're approaching things.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
Knowing who they have on other side, with whereas.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
As much shuffle as there as there's been a year.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Yeah, you're you know, you're asking you're asking guys to
step in there. You're asking guys to uh, you know,
play against some premiere players for sure, and and try
to use the game plan as much as we can
at least as a starting point and then from there,
you know, and we were you know, trying to uh
piece it together a little bit to move the ball
and account for some things in the second half, which
(14:32):
I thought Carson did a really good job kind of handling.
We get the explosive t JA we you know, we
you don't get in the end zone on that play
and you're trying to get a playoff, and there's just
sequences in parts of our offense that that you know,
maybe there's an answer, but it's it's down the line
into into things, especially when you get down in there
(14:56):
and then just the you know, you would have loved
to save every second you possibly could, but the same time,
you've got to account for all those things that we
that we talked about in your accounting for certain certain
things where you're diving, diving deep into the end of
the playbook a little bit too, combined protection with the
ability for your playmakers to make a play and try
to see if we can get some more or two
(15:16):
hitch throws out for cars.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Well, do you think of the atmosphere today and do
you think the noise played a role in the NST right?
Speaker 3 (15:26):
You know, I think the atmosphere was a great atmosphere
for football. You know, both our fans that made the trip,
the fans that were wearing purple, and I thought they had,
you know, a great showing as well. It was the
energy in the building was fantastic. You know, I think
probably a combination of uh, you know, the energy there
(15:47):
on the last drive and then you know, just you
one of those negatives being you know, quarterback facing a
clock that's off. That's not an excuse, we knew about it,
but that is a unique challenge when it comes to most,
if not all, you know, NFL games, you're normally staring
right down right through the defense at that at that
play clock. To be able to speed things up and
(16:08):
get the ball snapped got us in a big moment,
and we've got to be ready to handle you know,
the circumstances a little bit better. The field down efficiency
was very low today. How you do you plan to
work on it in order to achieve consistency in the
offer efficiency? Yeah, I think you know, a big story
and theme you've heard me say the term, you know,
(16:30):
the early down execution and then some of the you know,
some of the penalties. I think we had you know,
a false start on a third and medium, which would
be in that six to nine range, and that kicks
you back ten plus. You know, I think back to
some of the you know, early parts of our season
here where we're when we can stay efficient and when
(16:51):
we can you know, get that early down execution and
then lead into a third and manageable. I thought Adam
Thieln had some nice third down conversions today, you know,
on some of those d and ds. But then you
start wholly, you know, you got to get people further
down the field when you're talking about twelve thirteen, fourteen fifteen,
and that's when you know, we ended up having a
turnover today trying to put the ball in play, seeing
(17:14):
if we can get a play started and activate z
A a little bit in the past game which showed
up again. But yeah, it's it's absolutely something we've got
to continue to work through. Those downs tend to be
the weighty downs, tend to be the hard ones and
the most magnified when you when you're down some guys
because it requires some individual one on one you know,
(17:34):
blocks at times, and you're trying to do everything you
can to eliminate or at least contain some of the
you know, the very familiar names on the other side
that you know can affect the passer. So all well,
knowing there's a plan of justin coverage wise, there's you know,
there's absolutely a way to a path moving forward for
(17:55):
us to do exactly what you said, which was improved,
which is to improve on those third downs. But to me,
it's as much those plays as it is the plays
that precede them, and making making sure we're efficient and
staying on schedule to allow ourselves to get the ball
out of our hand and put the ball and play
to our playmakers.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
Penalties, you know, it's been a common thread with the
Vikings this season, and it has some a topic to
it today because into the game the Vikings had twenty
nine penalties, fourth most in the NFL. The Steelers only
had fourteen into the game, fewest in the NFL. And
the Steelers won the penalty battle today.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
And again it's self inflicted. It's the you know, Byron
Murphy Junior getting fifteen after a whistle, Dallas Turner kind
of doing this, you know, doing the same thing.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
We gave them fifty yards and penalties, yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Fifty yards in some key spots too, And I mean
as I look through my notes, I think about that
when it's fourteen to six and JJ slips on what
should have been could have been easily a touchdown reception,
you know what I mean. So a couple of things
just don't go your way. Isaiah Rodgers again coming up
big with a block field goal that could have really
put Pittsburgh over the edge even earlier in this game.
(19:05):
But he hung in there and he may again making
another big play a week after. You know, two forced
fumbels and two touchdowns. So, yeah, the self inflicted stuff's
got to end. It's got to end quickly because when
you're going out minus by the end of this game,
we were down five starters. Yeah, right, And when you're
doing that, you can't be you can't. You just can't
(19:27):
be making those, you know, those kinds of mistakes. And
credit to the Steelers, maybe not so much credit for
the play calling and some of the decisions that allowed
the Vikings to get back into it, but they're an
aggressive bunch and Vikings almost took a full advantage of
everything that happened.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Carson Wentz threw for three hundred and fifty yards a
couple of touchdowns, couple of interceptions. He also was sacked
six times, so the Vikings are permitted eighteen sacks this
year through four games. Let's hear from the quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Is there a problem with your left eye there part, Yeah, for.
Speaker 4 (20:01):
A moment there, it's tough to see gut goalage in
the eye, but.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
We're fine overall. Was it like dealing with bad amount
of pressure in the team.
Speaker 4 (20:10):
Yeah, I mean they're a good team, you know, I think,
and we got down early, so we ended up throwing
throwing the ball quite a bit. So that's always tough
on on the line and everything. And there's definitely times
I could have got rid of the ball quicker and
gone through my progressions faster. But yeah, shout out to
that team. They play hard, they play physical, They made
a tough Hofes. How different was it not having a
play clock in that direction?
Speaker 1 (20:33):
Yeah, that's weird.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
I'm not gonna lie. It was weird looking behind me,
looking over my shoulder on the side. I thought we
handled it okay. Obviously got us at a very bad
time of the game, unfortunately, but yeah, that was a
little different.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
You guys hoping for a reset of the play clock
there after the spike. Man, it looks like you cut
point of the end zone.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Ko.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Yeah, that's that's all me. I gotta be quicker in
and out, you know. I think just kind of lost
sight of it obviously physically and kind of was back
in my mind. So I gotta be better.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Picture.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
How would you evaluate your game in a hole?
Speaker 4 (21:07):
And you gotta watch them back. I gotta watch it back.
At the end of the day, we lost. That's all
I care about. That's all I'm concerned about. Got a
bad taste in my mouth that the defense stepped up
when we needed them at the end, got us the
wall back. In those situations, you know, it pains me
to be left there out on the field as a
chance and come up short. So I'm not here to
(21:27):
evaluate the rest of the play. You know, we had
some chances, you know, a couple of tip picks or
those suck. Not gonna lie. Those are tough. They kind
of derailed what I thought we had some decent momentum
going on a couple of drives, and so yeah, that
was tough. But at the end of the day, we lost,
and that's all that matters.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
What's going through your head when you guys see Brian
Ornel down on the field, me coming out to attend
to him.
Speaker 4 (21:48):
Yeah, I mean, immediately just start praying for for guys. Obviously,
it's all you can do. I know, injuries are unfortunately
part of this game. We've both been there, and so
some of those things you just kind of right for
these guys, And obviously as the leader of our team,
you know that means that means something to everybody. So
I thought Justin did a great job stepping up justin
(22:08):
school there when Bo went out, and so that's obviously
always tough with the leader of your team in that situation,
but it's always the next man up mentality, you know,
injuries are part of this game, and praying he'll be
back soon.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
Carson, how do you feel about about that pressure.
Speaker 4 (22:24):
From the DNI. Yeah, I mean it's like I said earlier,
it's tough. I mean, when you get down, you dig
yourself a hole like that. The D line kind of
just pins their ears back and rushes and we're throwing,
you know, time and time again. So it's a good team.
It's a good team. It's a good D line. Hats
off to them. They play hard, and so we had
our chances I can be better, get the ball out
quicker too, so but yeah, it always makes it tough.
(22:46):
And they did a good job today if.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
You feel the pressure from the public.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
And the nie.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
The crowd is honestly, if that's what you're asking about
the crowd atmosphere, it was fun. Honestly, it's fun. It's
my second time playing overseas, and so it was. I
thought it was a good experience, good, good turnout. Sucks
to lose, not gonna lie, but I thought it was
a cool atmosphere and a tough one to lose out there.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
Okay, another AFC North team next week, and this one
will be in London. The Vikings are the first team
in the history of the NFL to play back to
back games outside of the United States of America. Hopefully
we have better news next week.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Yeah, and it's gonna be another physical defense, right, So
it's not gonna this this this truck here is not
gonna get any any easier, uh, for our offense, They're
gonna face another good defense. Don't know, I have we
haven't seen much on Cleveland. Don't know if their offense
is going to be as effective, so to speak, as Pittsburgh.
But you're gonna be out here for a whole entire week.
(23:43):
You gotta get healthy and then you got to get
ready for yet another really physical AFC North style of game.
Uh on the quick turnaround and hopefully get that win
before you go into the by. Have a winning record
going into the by. It's it's a it's a big
it's a big, big game coming up against Cleveland.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Good job on the car all today that despite the outcome,
it was fun calling a game here at Croke Park.
The fans were really vibranting into it. But the Vikings
fall to two and two after a twenty four to
twenty one loss to Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The postgame report is provided by Lumen and for Pete versage,
I'm Paul Allen. Thank you very much for listening, and
(24:21):
don't forget to peruse everything game coverage wise. We offer
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