Steelers hold off Vikings in first NFL clash at Croker

The NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in Dublin saw the Pittsburgh Steelers escape with a 24-21 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

A packed out Croke Park, with 74,512 in attendance, was the backdrop as the Steelers’ Kenneth Gainwell rushed for 99 yards and two touchdowns and Aaron Rodgers passed for another score.

Rodgers completed 18 of 22 passes for 200 yards to go along with one touchdown for Pittsburgh (3-1). DK Metcalf caught five passes for 126 yards and a touchdown.

Carson Wentz completed 30 of 46 passes for 350 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for Minnesota (2-2). Justin Jefferson had 10 receptions for 126 yards.

DeShon Elliott and TJ Watt had one interception apiece for the Steelers. Pittsburgh’s defense constantly hounded Wentz, sacking him a half-dozen times.

Minnesota scored the final 15 points of the game but could not complete the comeback. Wentz’s final pass attempt fell incomplete with eight seconds to go.

The Vikings scored first on a 41-yard field goal by Will Reichard.

The Steelers responded with a nine-play, 71-yard touchdown drive to grab a 7-3 lead. Gainwell punched in a one-yard touchdown with 55 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Metcalf scored an 80-yard touchdown to increase the Steelers’ lead to 14-3 with 12:16 left in the second quarter. Rodgers hit Metcalf across the middle for about a 15-yard pass, and Metcalf weaved through defenders and sprinted down the left sideline for the score.

Minnesota settled for another field goal by Reichard, this time from 28 yards, to pull within 14-6 in the final minute of the first half.

Gainwell bounced off a defender and into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game with 2:23 remaining in the third quarter. The score put Pittsburgh ahead 21-6.

Chris Boswell added a 33-yard field goal to give the Steelers a 24-6 lead with 11:18 to play.

The Vikings rallied with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Wentz to Zavier Scott with 7:50 left. Scott made the catch in the back of the end zone for his first career touchdown, and the Vikings completed a two-point conversion moments later to pull within 24-14.

Jalen Nailor finished the scoring with a two-yard touchdown catch with 2:08 remaining but the Vikings were unable to forced the field goal that would have taken the game to overtime.