The Pittsburgh Steelers(5-2) defense got tired of the offense showing them up and answering questions about playing terribly in the fourth quarter so they went out and won the game for the team scoring two defensive touchdowns to hand the Minnesota Vikings(6-1) their first loss of the season 27-17.
Everyone expected a defensive battle between these two titans and that's what they got as both teams were unable to effectively move the ball throughout the first quarter but the Steelers won the game of field position and they would capitalize on it. After poor punts by Minnesota the Steelers opened up shop at the Vikings 39 yard line Pittsburgh was able to put the first points on the board off of a 39-yard Jeff Reed field goal.
The Vikings would respond though with a 13 play drive that covered 76 yards and chewed up almost five and a half minutes. Adrian Peterson(18 carries 69 yards) would cap off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run. The Steelers would waste little time answering Minnesota's touchdown with one of their own. Ben Roethlisberger, who had his worst game statistically this season going 14 of 26 for 174 yards, found rookie Mike Wallace(3 catches 72 yards, 2 carries 19 yards) open down field for a 40-yard scoring strike just before halftime to give the Steelers a 10-7 lead.
In the third quarter both teams would exchange field goals that would make the score 13-10 heading into the fourth quarter. The vikings would have first and goal from the one yard line but the Steel Curtain held tough and shut down AP on first down. They would then force two straight incompletions forcing them to kick a field goal. In the fourth quarter Pittsburgh's defense would prove to be great once again.
The Vikings had what they thought was going to be a soul crushing drive when they covered 89 yards on 15 plays and they used up seven and a half minutes but they ultimately came up empty handed. Brett Kiesel got pressure on Favre on third and goal and forced a fumble that was recovered by Lamar Woodley 77-yards for a huge 14 points swing and a 20-10 Steelers lead. On the ensuing kickoff Pittsburgh got burnt for the second consecutive week by giving up a kickoff return for a touchdown but this one was by rookie Percy Harvin and it covered 88-yards and the Vikings narrowed the gap 20-17. The Vikings would try to mount a comeback with a quick drive that featured big plays by Sidney Rice(11 catches for 136 yards) and AP(4 receptions 60 yards) but the biggest play would once again be made by the Steelers defense. On third down the Steelers defense put pressure on Favre (34/51 for 334 yards 0 TDs, 1 int. and 1 fumble) on a screen pass and forced him to throw an errant pass intended for Chester Taylor but Keyaron Fox stepped in front of it and returned the interception 82-yards for the game sealing touchdown. The defense would sack Favre to end the game and picking up their fourth straight win 27-17.
The offense was lacking in the game but it didn't matter because they defense was playing possessed. Rashard Mendenhall had a decent day carrying the ball 10 times for 69 yards but he fumbled for the second consecutive game. With the way he carries the ball it's no wonder he has coughed the ball up more. They have a bye week this week so hopefully he gets that corrected with a ferocious Denver defense waiting for them in the mile high city.
GO STEELERS!
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