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Kevin O'Connell reacts after Vikings lose to Steelers, 24-21 [FULL]
Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell spoke with reporters Sunday after a fourth quarter comeback fell short in a 24-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin, Ireland. The Vikings drop to 2-2 as they face the Cleveland Browns in London next Sunday.
DUBLIN, Ireland (FOX 9) - A fourth quarter rally for the Minnesota Vikings came up just short in a 24-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland.
The Vikings fall to 2-2 on the season, and their streak of four straight international wins is over.
Kevin O’Connell has some major issues to address with an offensive line depleted due to injuries. They lost both Brian O’Neill (knee) and Ryan Kelly (concussion) on Sunday, with Donovan Jackson already out, and the Steelers’ defense took advantage.
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Vikings players react after 24-21 loss to Steelers [FULL]
Viikings players Josh Metellus, Jonathan Greenard, Carson Wentz and Justin Jefferson react after a 24-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in Dublin, Ireland. The Vikings stay across the pond and take a 2-2 record to London to face the Cleveland Browns next Sunday.
The key sequence
How it happened:
The Vikings rallied from down 21-6 to get within 24-21, and had the ball with 1:02 to play, needing a field goal to force overtime. But Carson Wentz couldn’t get the Vikings to midfield for a potential Will Reichard try. A 4th-and-18 pass to Jordan Addison in the middle of the field fell incomplete. Even if he caught it for a first down, the Vikings likely didn’t have enough time to kill the clock, and the game would’ve ended.
The drive included Wentz getting a flag for intentional grounding, and a critical delay of game penalty with the play clock on that side of the field turned off.
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Byron Murphy, T.J. Hockenson react to Vikings loss
Vikings defensive back Byron Murphy Jr. and tight end T.J. Hockenson react from the locker room after a 24-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in Dublin, Ireland.
Aaron Rodgers, Steelers strike early
What we know:
The Vikings had an early 3-0 lead after a Steelers’ fumble return for a touchdown was wiped away. Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers answered with 14 points in a five-minute stretch. Kenneth Gainwell scored from 1-yard out to give the Steelers a 7-3 lead late in the first quarter. Then early in the second quarter, Rodgers hit D.K. Metcalf for an 80-yard touchdown, and the Vikings were down 14-3.
Vikings lose Brian O’Neill, Ryan Kelly to injury
Why you should care:
Sunday’s game turned after the Vikings’ opening possession ended in a Will Reichard field goal. Brian O’Neill went down with a knee injury, limped to the locker room and didn’t return. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said after the game O'Neill will have an MRI, and they fear it's an MCL injury.
The Vikings also lost center Ryan Kelly to a concussion, his second of the season in less than four games.
"Clearly the health of our players is always the beginning and the end of that conversation. We’ll totally defer to the doctors and to the protocol, we’re going to want to make sure Ryan is in a good place. That’s not anything I ever want to mess around with," O'Connell said.
With three starters out, Wentz was sacked seven times and intercepted twice on third down plays. Jackson is out until after the bye week with a wrist injury that required surgery.
Rodgers, Steelers carve up Vikings defense
Dig deeper:
The Vikings were linked to Rodgers in the offseason, and he showed Sunday he still has it.
Rodgers was 18-of-22 for 200 yards and a touchdown. He got help in the run game, with Kenneth Gainwell going for 99 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. His second score of the day gave the Steelers a 21-6 lead late in the third quarter, effectively putting the Steelers in control.
"We hold ourself to certain standards and when you got a guy like Aaron Rodgers just sitting back there and control the game of running the ball when they don’t have their starting running back. We’ve got to be better," safety Josh Metellus said.
Carson Wentz struggles under pressure
The backstory:
Wentz is the quarterback until J.J. McCarthy’s ankle can heal, but the Vikings are probably hoping that happens sooner rather than later. Wentz faced pressure most of the afternoon and was 30-of-46 for 350 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions while being sacked seven times.
Wentz hit Zavier Scott and Jalen Nailor for fourth quarter scores to make it interesting. Wentz’s struggles before the fourth quarter can largely be put on the offensive line, which is now without three starters. The Vikings have yet to play their projected starting offensive line of Christian Darrisaw, Jackson, Kelly, Will Fries and O'Neill together in a game this season.
We’ll see if McCarthy returns to practice next week, or if they wait until after the bye week.
Vikings head to London
What's next:
The Vikings are the first team in NFL history to play international games in consecutive weeks. They’ll try to right the ship next Sunday, against the Cleveland Browns at Tottenham Hotspur in London.
"A sick taste in our mouth just hurting ourselves, shooting ourselves in the foot and giving them more opportunities to get points," wide receiver Justin Jefferson said.