Game Summary
With their first 6-0 start since 2003, the Minnesota Vikings (6-0) will go back on the road for the fi rst of 2 consecutive road games, this time taking on the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2). Kickoff at Heinz Field is set for noon (CT) on Sunday, October 25.
This will be just the 16th game between the Vikings and the Steelers, with Minnesota holding an 8-7 advantage in the previous 15 games. The last time the two teams met was in 2005, an 18-3 Pittsburgh victory.
Key Links
Vikings at Steelers Press Release (PDF)
Latest Vikings Depth Chart
Broadcast Info
TV: FOX Channel 9 in the Twin Cities
Play-By-Play: Kenny Albert Analysts: Daryl Johnston
Sideline Reporters: Tony Siragusa
RADIO: KFAN-AM 1130/KTLK 100.3-FM
Play-by-Play: Paul Allen Analyst: Pete Bercich
Sideline Reporter: Greg Coleman
Pre-Game Show: 10 a.m. CT
KFAN and KTLK serve as the flagship stations for the 74-station, 6-state Minnesota Vikings Radio Network. Click here to view all stations on the Vikings Radio Network.
What To Watch For
- If the Vikings win, it will be the team’s 16th victory in the last 19 regular season games and the 8th consecutive regular season win, dating back to 12/28/08. The last time the Vikings won 8 straight games was in 1998.
- With a win, the Vikings will start 7-0 for the 2nd time since 2000, when they also began 7-0.
- The Vikings have won their last 6 road games, dating back to 11/23/08 at Jacksonville. The team record is 7 straight road games (12/13/70-11/21/71 and 9/23/73-11/11/74).
- Sunday’s game will feature the 2 best red zone offenses in the NFL. Minnesota (1st) is scoring TDs on 65.2% of the time when reaching the red zone while Pittsburgh (2nd) is scoring TDs 65.0% of the time.
- Both teams are led by quarterbacks who rank in the top 10 in TDs and passer rating. QB Brett Favre is currently 3rd in TDs (12) and passer rating (109.5) while QB Ben Roethlisberger is 8th in TDs (10) and 4th in passer rating (104.5).
- If the Vikings don’t allow a Steelers running back to reach 100 rushing yards, it will be the 30th consecutive game the Vikings haven’t given up 100 yards rushing to an individual.
Stats of the Week
- The Vikings have won the last 7 consecutive regular season games, dating back to 12/28/08. That marks the first time since 2000 (7-0), the team has won 7 straight regular season games.
- TE Visanthe Shiancoe has caught 8 touchdowns in the last 10 games. His 12 receiving TDs since the beginning of the 2008 season are the 2nd most of any tight end, trailing only Tony Gonzalez’s 13. His 5 TD receptions this year are tied for the most among all players.
- QB Brett Favre currently has the 3rd-best passer rating (109.5) in the NFL. Only Drew Brees and Peyton Manning have better ratings with 118.4 and 114.1, respectively.
- With his game-winning drive last week, Favre now has 44 (including playoffs) game winning/ saving drives, 16 of which K Ryan Longwell has delivered the game winning/saving FG.
- According to Elias Sports Bureau, RB Adrian Peterson’s 143 rushing yards last week was the most against Ray Lewis and the Ravens since 1998 (James Allen, 163).
Vikings Big Days vs. Steelers
- QB Brett Favre made his 1st-career start as a Green Bay Packer against the Pittsburgh Steelers on 9/27/92 and burst onto the scene completing 14-of-19 passes (73.7%) for 210 yards and 2 TDs, including a 76-yarder to Sterling Sharpe. Favre’s passer rating was a near-perfect 144.6.
- Favre also completed 23-of-32 passes for 301 yards and 2 TDs with a 122.0 rating when he met the Steelers in the Packers’ final game of the 1995 regular season (12/24). It was part of a month of December that culminated with Favre being named NFC Offensive Player of the Month.
- RB Chester Taylor caught a 20-yard TD pass as a member of the Ravens in 2002. He also posted a then-career-best 16-yard TD against the Steelers on 10/31/05. 2 of Taylor’s 5 career receiving TDs are against the Steelers.
- DT Kevin Williams posted six tackles and a sack against the Steelers when they last met on 12/18/05.
- DT Pat Williams had his best game of the 2004 season as a member of the Buffalo Bills against the Steelers, with a season-high 7 tackles and a sack on 1/2/05. Williams also had 9 tackles and a half-sack against the Steelers as a member of the Bills on 9/30/01.
Vikings vs. Steelers Series Notes
- The Vikings and Steelers have met 14 times in the regular season with the Vikings holding the overall edge 8-6-0.
- The Vikings are 4-2 against the Steelers at home during the regular season, but just 4-4 in Pittsburgh.
- The Steelers defeated the Vikings 16-6 in Super Bowl IX (1/12/75) in New Orleans in the series’ only postseason game.
- The Vikings are 2-1 against the Steelers in October.
- The Steelers have won the past 2 matchups (2001 & 2005), one at home and one on the road. Prior to that the Vikings had one 4 of the last 5.
- Minnesota owns the longest winning streak in the series with a 3-game stretch ranging from 1964-69.
- The Vikings have only played at Heinz Field once before, on their last trip to Pittsburgh in 2001. It was the inaugural season for Heinz Field, with the Steelers vs. Vikings game the 5th ever inside its confines.
- This week’s game will mark the first time the Vikings face off with their former defensive coordinator and current Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin in the regular season.
- This will be Vikings head coach Brad Childress’ first matchup against the Steelers in the regular season.
A Win Would...
- Give the Vikings their second 7-0 start in the last 10 years. The last time the team started 7-0 was in 2000.
- Give the Vikings their 16th win in the last 19 regular season games, dating back to 10/6/08. The Vikings are 15-3 in the last 18 games.
- Give the Vikings their 8th consecutive regular season victory, dating back to the 2008 season finale against the N.Y. Giants. The last time the Vikings won 8 straight games was in 1998, when they finished the season with 8 straight wins.
- Give the Vikings their 7th consecutive road win, dating back to 11/23/08 at Jacksonville.
- Improve the Vikings all-time record, including postseason, against the Steelers to 9-7-0.
- Give Head Coach Brad Childress his 3rd straight win vs. a former colleague that is now a head coach (Spagnuolo, Harbaugh, Tomlin).
Last Time vs. Pittsburgh
The last time the Vikings and the Steelers met during the regular season was on December 18, 2005, at the HHH Metrodome, a game in which Pittsburgh won 18-3.
Offensively the Vikings gained only 185 total yards, including 54 on the ground. RB Michael Bennett rushed 11 times for 43 yards, while QB Brad Johnson threw for 143 yards on 16-of 30 passing and was picked off twice. WR Koren Robinson led the team with 3 catches for 34 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, the team was led by LB Sam Cowart, who finished with 9 defensive stops. The Vikings notched 4.0 sacks in the game, with DE Erasmus James leading the way with 2.0. DEs Kevin Williams and Lance Johnstone also collected 1.0 apiece.
P Chris Kluwe punted the ball 6 times for 267 yards, a 44.5-yard gross average and pinned the Steelers inside their own 20 twice. KR Koren Robinson averaged 26.5 yards on 3 kick returns while future Steeler Mewelde Moore returned 3 punts for 41 yards.
