Both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings have had relative success in the new NFL season, with the teams now sitting tied at 2 victories and 1 loss each. Most of Pittsburgh’s victories have been hard-fought nail-biters, especially the one against the Jets, which saw the Steelers clinch a 2-point victory.
At the same time, the Vikings took a drubbing by the Atlanta Falcons, who left them in the dust with a 22-6 lead by game’s end. Minnesota, though, was resurgent in its game against the Bengals, winning with a whopping 48-10. It’s in this state of football flux that we now take a harder look at who has the better chance of winning Sunday’s game.
Minnesota Vikings vs Pittsburgh Steelers Odds
| Moneyline | Odds |
|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | -140 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | +120 |
| Spread | Odds |
|---|---|
| Minneosta Vikings -2.5 | -111 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers +2.5 | -109 |
| Totals | Odds |
|---|---|
| Over 40.5 | -110 |
| Under 40.5 | -110 |
When, Where, and How to Watch?
- Place: Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland
- Date: Sunday, September 28
- Time: 9:30 am ET
- How to Watch: NFL Network
Vikings Continued Issues with Their Star QB
Right off the start, the Vikings are given much better odds here, and they are entering the race as the naked favorites at (-140). Can they do it, however? While the team has been doing fairly well as a unit, many are now questioning the future of QB J.J. McCarthy, whom the Vikings drafted in the first round, but his ongoing performance has somewhat disappointed fans.
Yet, it’s not so much McCarthy’s performance that is the issue, but the fact that he has been hurt again, which means that the Vikings are going to rely on their backup, Carson Wentz. Yet not all is lost. The Steelers have been struggling on defense, raising spirits that Wentz’s consistent plays will ultimately overwhelm Pittsburgh.
Not all is looking bad, and the oddsmakers agree. McCarthy, in the meantime, could prove a hidden ace for the team in subsequent games as his 12 quarters of play were indeed above-average and consistently good. Of course, there is always the question of whether the Vikings can adapt to different QBs on short notice and steer their team to accommodate them.
What Can the Steelers Show on Sunday?
Interestingly, some commentators have squared the Steelers as the favorites in the overseas game, but there are things that both optimists and pessimists share in their outlook – Wentz’s performance is stronger than that of your average backup QB, and the Steelers’ defense has been an issue.
There are some things that the Steelers ought to be aware of. First, there is the turnover, which is a Vikings’ specialty. While the Steelers have been known to have a good outcome in this, they have yet to face someone of Minnesota’s stature, which more or less led to the Bengals’ routing earlier this month.
The Steelers have two other options – Calvin Austin III and DK Metcalf – both of whom have been known to handle deep shots well. While the defense is flagging, the Steelers could benefit from leaning into these two players’ natural strengths to put the Vikings on the back foot.
The team should also be aware of the Vikings trying to pin down Jaylen Warren, who has proven to be an absolute legend over the past two games. Yet, committing too many resources to control Warren would leave other areas of the game exposed.
We still think that the Vikings are the more likely winners of the upcoming game, but we also believe that the Steelers can upset Minnesota.
Pick: Minnesota (+120)