The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for a highly anticipated matchup with the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season. Both teams are 2-1 as they enter the contest, but Pittsburgh will be underdogs when they take the field on Sunday, despite the fact that Minnesota is being forced to start their backup quarterback. Carson Wentz will be the man under center while JJ McCarthy is recovering from a sprained ankle, and this should be an ideal spot for Pittsburgh's defense to potentially get back on track after a shaky start to the year.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin (left) and former defensive assistant Brian Flores (right) during their time together in the Steel City.
One of the more interesting matchups to watch during the game on Sunday is going to be Pittsburgh's offense as it takes on Minnesota's defense. The Vikings' defense is orchestrated by Brian Flores, who used to be on staff in Pittsburgh during the 2022 season. He is considered one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL, and he is known for his ability to confuse opposing offenses with disguised coverages and blitz packages. New Steelers star wide receiver DK Metcalf was asked about this on Wednesday morning, and he knows what the offense must do to combat this from the Vikings.
"I mean they try to disguise a lot," Metcalf said. "But you know, it's up to us, for us to put something out there on the field that they can't disguise to. With shifts, motions, and you know, just our play-making ability."
Pittsburgh cannot be bland on the offensive side of the ball when playing Minnesota, or else the group will get picked apart and find it extremely difficult to move the football. The offense has been relatively stagnant and inefficient ever since its Week 1 matchup with the New York Jets where the group was able to put up 34 points in the win. The offense has not looked the same since, and the run game has seriously struggled overall.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Line Coach Pat Meyer (left) and Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith (right) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
It is up to Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith to create some wrinkles for the offense in this matchup. Motions and shifts are going to be extremely important when it comes to identifying coverages before the snap, and as long as the group is able to keep Minnesota guessing, things should be able to go well for the offense. Fans will be looking for the run game to get going, while also hoping to see Metcalf get more involved in the passing game.
Minnesota's defense is coming off of its best game of the year as it scored two defensive touchdowns against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3. The Vikings were able to win the game by a score of 48-17, and the group has a ton of confidence and momentum going into the Week 4 clash overseas.
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Looking For Revenge Against Brian Flores And Minnesota
Aaron Rodgers is going to be an x-factor in the matchup against Minnesota. He needs to play well in order for the offense to be efficient and give Pittsburgh any chance of winning this game. The veteran quarterback was in a similar spot just a year ago when he was with the Jets. He and the Jets played the Vikings in London, and Rodgers had his worst performance of the 2024 campaign. He threw three interceptions and took three sacks while playing against Flores' defense. Pittsburgh is hoping to see a better performance from Rodgers this time around.
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Aaron Rodgers during a game overseas in the 2024 season with the New York Jets.
The Steelers franchise has a ton of connections with Dublin, so it would be very cool to see the team get the possible international victory. It is also an important time of the season as Pittsburgh has its bye week in Week 5. It would be huge if the team could enter the bye week with a 3-1 record rather than a 2-2 record.
What do you think about Metcalf's thoughts on Minnesota's defense? Let us know in the comments below!
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