Ireland is all set to host its first regular season NFL game, a Week 4 contest pitting the Minnesota Vikings against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both teams will go into the game with a 2-1 record. Interestingly, both lost their respective Week 2 fixtures — the Steelers losing 17-31 to the Seattle Seahawks, the Vikings losing 6-22 to the Atlanta Falcons. Even with those defeats, both teams have recovered with solid performances and will be hoping to continue the momentum on the international stage.

​Minnesota comes into Dublin on the heels of its strongest offensive performance of the season, a clean, prolific effort against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3. Although the Steelers’ defense looked good as it forced the Patriots into five turnovers, it also allowed long drives. That’s something that they’ll need to address against Minnesota.

With both squads hungry to prove their strengths, this confrontation is the perfect mix of a historic, high-pressure showdown. ​Here are 5 must-know stories before the game.

​Vikings’ defense may slow Steelers’ attack

​Minnesota’s defense has been the league’s most aggressive since coordinator Brian Flores took charge, ranking number one in the NFL in blitz rate (45.4%) and defensive touchdowns (seven) since 2023. This style poses a significant test for Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has had trouble facing heavy pressure the last two seasons, averaging only 5.7 yards per attempt when blitzed(minimum 350 passing attempts since 2024). That, according to Next Gen Stats, ranks lowest in the league.

The Vikings’ versatility to create mayhem in the backfield and turnovers is a potential thorn in the side of an offense that is so reliant on Rodgers’ short passing attack.

​The Steelers have used yards after catch to complement a scuffling running game, which is second-worst in the NFL at 63.0 yards per contest. Although this tactic has seen them some success, Minnesota’s defense has been judicious in this respect, giving up only 225 yards after catch, the third-lowest in the league, and is third in defense against passing (141.3 yards per game).

With recent defensive standouts such as Isaiah Rodgers, who had two defensive touchdowns in Week 3, and Andrew Van Ginkel, who chipped in with two sacks, the Vikings look well-suited to break up Pittsburgh’s rhythm and hinder the short-passing approach that has characterized so much of their early-season offense.

​Wentz steps in: The quarterback dilemma

​As J.J. McCarthy is out for a few weeks with a high ankle sprain, Carson Wentz has become Minnesota’s starting quarterback since Week 2, seizing the opportunity. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has painted Wentz as a “point guard,” directing the offense with precision and controlling games effectively.

​The larger question hanging over Minnesota is what follows when McCarthy comes back. If Wentz continues to post good performances, inevitably, questions will arise about sticking with the veteran or returning to the young quarterback. One mistake by Wentz will be enough to immediately turn the tide back toward McCarthy.

As Brandon Warne of The Athletic mentioned, ”You can’t really know much about a quarterback until you see him in the deep end of the pool. So for now, I’d say incomplete. Gun to my head? C+.” Because, as per rankings, Wentz’s performance was not too good, 35.3 QBR on ESPN and a 61.4 PFF grade. But he did complete his job.

Rodgers vs. Smith

Aaron Rodgers against Harrison Smith. The two have been dancing around one another since Smith’s 2012 rookie year, fated to face each other twice a year when Rodgers was with the Packers. They have been head-to-head over the years — 9-10-1 from Smith’s point of view or 10-9-1 from Rodgers’, depending upon how you count the infamous 2017 game in which Rodgers departed early due to injury.

The two also met last year in London for Rodgers’s last season with the Jets.

This year provided another example of how Smith is able to skew a field nearly solo. After sitting out the first two games of 2025 recovering from an August illness, the veteran safety didn’t waste any time making his presence known. A fingertip deflection of a Jake Browning pass ignited Isaiah Rodgers’ electrifying 87-yard pick-six.

​Rodgers’ potential swan song against the Vikings

After a stop with the Jets in 2024 and an offseason of whispers, Aaron Rodgers, who has hinted that this is going to be the season he calls it a day, now leads the Steelers to Dublin, to what could be the final chapter of his storied rivalry with the Vikings.

​Though the 2025 season started slowly, Rodgers is a guy who can win games. As Christopher Gates so well put it, “My biggest concern is Aaron Rodgers potentially having a big game, even though he hasn’t been particularly great through the first three weeks of the season. He’s been a thorn in the Vikings’ side his entire career… he might reach deep into his bag and thwart this team’s efforts one more time.” Over the course of his long career, he has played against the Vikings 30 times and beaten them 17 times.

​Rodgers vs. Wentz

When Wentz and Rodgers met each other in Week 13 of 2020, the former was playing for the Eagles and was replaced by Jalen Hurts during the game, which was won 30-16 by Rodgers (then playing for the Packers). Now the tables have turned, and the veteran is coming in as a replacement for a young QB.

In Week 3, he threw for two touchdowns and no turnovers in a win. With Justin Jefferson as his primary receiver and Kevin O’Connell’s offense backing him up, Wentz will look to take that game away from the Steelers.

​While Rodgers had some early communication issues on the offensive line, he has thrown for 7 touchdowns. Both receivers DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin III will have to step up and take the load of RB Jaylen Warren, who leads the team in both receiving (142 yards) and rushing yards (132)

This grizzled quarterback battle will put experience, decision-making, and adjustment to the test as both quarterbacks will try to take their squad to victory in Dublin.