A plethora of numbers could be used to help assess an NFL team's performance through the first month of the regular season. For the Minnesota Vikings, one number in particular stands out after four games, both in favor and against the Vikings: two.

The Vikings are 2-2 on the 2025 season after falling 24-21 to Pittsburgh in Dublin on Sunday. The game marked not only just the second NFL contest ever played in Ireland (Sunday was the first regular-season game there), but also the second matchup between the two teams on the international stage in their franchises' history, and the second-ever meeting overseas between Minnesota and longtime rival QB Aaron Rodgers (in consecutive seasons, too).

Looking specifically at Minnesota's play through four weeks, in situations of third-and-7 or more yards to go (including scramble plays), the Vikings defense is tied for the second-fewest conversions allowed in the NFL this season, with opponents gaining a new set of downs twice (on 22 plays). Green Bay has also given up just two conversions (on 21 plays) in the same scenario, while Chicago's defense leads the NFL with just one conversion allowed (on 18 plays).

Both of the conversions Minnesota allowed defensively in that situation came in the last two games: in Week 3, the Bengals converted a third-and-12 on a run by Samaje Perine (only after Cincinnati won a challenge when Perine was initially ruled short of the line to gain). On Sunday, the Steelers lone conversion was an 11-yard scramble by Rodgers on third-and-9; Vikings LB Jonathan Greenard was able to punch the ball free, but it bounced right to Pittsburgh OT Broderick Jones, who took it six more yards.

On the flip side, in the same exact situation, Minnesota's offense is tied for the fewest conversions, moving the chains just twice on 23 plays (the Colts also have just two conversions, but on 19 plays). The first one came in Week 2, when J.J. McCarthy converted a third-and-18 with a 19-yard strike to Adam Thielen. The second occurred on Sunday on an 11-yard scramble by Carson Wentz on third-and-8.

Sunday's game not only gave Minnesota its first-ever loss in the International Series, but it caused the Vikings to slightly fall back in this week's power rankings. Here's a look at where the Vikings landed heading into Week 5:

No. 17 (down 2 spots): Eric Edholm, NFL.com

It's getting worrisome to think what might happen if the offensive line doesn't quickly get right. Carson Wentz was Croked on Sunday in Ireland, taking six sacks and 14 hits. He deserves a ton of credit for rallying the Vikings against the Steelers, throwing two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to make it a game, but that pace is unsustainable in the face of such pass-rush pressure. Now, Minnesota must island hop over to England and face a Browns defense that hasn't allowed more than 277 yards (while piling up 11 total sacks) in the first four contests. The Vikings' beaten-up offensive line will have its hands full all game, with the hope being that they can return stateside in relatively good shape. That feels far from certain now.

No. 18 (down 3 spots): Gary Davenport, Bleacher Report

Don't pay attention to the final score of this game – it was 24-6 at one point before the Vikings made it interesting late. Wentz's 350 passing yards and two scores are also misleading, as much of that production came with the game all but decided.

Wentz threw a pair of interceptions and was dropped six times in Dublin behind a patchwork Vikings line that has been a problem much of the season.

Add in a Minnesota ground game that averaged 3.5 yards a carry, and these Vikings look less like last year's 14-3 squad by the week.

No. 17 (down 4 spots): Pete Prisco, CBS Sports

[The Vikings] two-game European trip didn't get off to a good start in the loss to the Steelers, but they did battle back to make it a game.

No. 17 (down 2 spots): Nate Davis, USA Today

Europe, where the Vikes remain following their loss in Dublin, is nice ... but probably less so if you're trying to rehabilitate so many injured linemen.

No. 14 (no change): Josh Kendall, The Athletic

[Vikings wide receiver Tai Felton] only has one catch for nine yards but has been a standout on special teams, which is enough to stand out in this Minnesota rookie class. First-round guard Donovan Jackson started in the first three games but is out with a wrist injury. He and Felton were the Vikings only picks in the first four rounds.

No. 20 (down 6 spots): Conor Orr, Sports Illustrated

The Isaiah Rodgers dream season continues, though I think it is the product of something far bigger. Blake Cashman, Andrew Van Ginkel and now Rodgers, a former sixth-round pick out of UMass. This team can identify exactly what it wants on the defensive side of the ball and squeeze every bit of potential out of those players.

No. 16 (down 2 spots): Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News

The Vikings are getting their offense well in gear with Carson Wentz, but the turnovers are concerns with either QB and their defense has proved it can fall apart when not getting its own takeaways. Minnesota is heading for plenty of ups and downs.

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