The Steelers pulled off a 24-21 win in Dublin to move to 3-1 heading into the bye. Payton Wilson delivered the game’s defining moment, sprinting 22 mph to trip Addison at the goal line—the fastest linebacker burst in Next Gen Stats history. Wilson finished with 13 tackles and two tackles for loss, crediting his father for the hustle. Addison’s 81-yard connection and Calvin Austin’s 80-yard TD kept Pittsburgh’s offense explosive and the defense locked in down the stretch.

The Steelers survived a tense Dublin showdown with Minnesota, winning 24-21 to move 3-1 and sit atop the AFC North. Pittsburgh controlled much of the game with a punishing run game and a disruptive front seven, while coaching decisions in the fourth quarter drew scrutiny even as the victory held. The win signals a rhythmic offensive and defensive surge, even as late-game miscues hint at room for sharper clock management.

Nick Herbig highlighted a breakout by pressuring Minnesota’s offense, while Keeanu Benton and Payton Wilson anchored a ferocious interior and sideline-to-sideline effort. D.K. Metcalf thrived as a versatile weapon, and Kenneth Gainwell delivered a near-100-yard rushing day with help from a mauling line. The combination kept Pittsburgh in control for most of the game and provided a blueprint for progress in the weeks ahead.

Offensively, the Steelers leaned on an adaptable scheme that fed Metcalf around the field, while the run game leveraged a jumbo package with Spencer Anderson to punch through Minnesota’s defense. The defense racked up six sacks on Wentz and kept the Vikings mostly out of rhythm, underscoring Pittsburgh’s edge through depth and discipline. The result: a win that feels earned, not lucky.

Final-minute drama aside, the Steelers demonstrated suffocating front-seven depth, improved run efficiency, and a playmaking secondary that can capitalize on pressure. If they tighten late-game decisions and sustain the run-pass balance, this team has staying power in a crowded AFC North race.

The Steelers sit at 2-1 after Week 3, riding a notably cleaner defensive performance. Cole Holcomb logged every defensive snap, overtaking Payton Wilson and signaling a clearer LB pecking order as Pittsburgh leaned on a deep rotation along the line and solid veteran play in the secondary. The improved cohesion came after two uneven weeks, with new defensive look(s) contributing to a more reliable fantasy floor for the Steelers’ defenders. A confident step forward in a key division-year stretch.

Pittsburgh opened the 2025 season with a win over New York, but Payton Wilson’s showing was a blunt reminder that internal linebackers often swing wins or losses in small margins. Wilson posted a 33.2 overall PFF grade (90th among 100 qualified linebackers), especially struggling in pass coverage. The aura around Wilson’s future is tempered by the splashy critique from a former Steeler, while the team leans on Malik Harrison and Cole Holcomb behind him and Patrick Queen up the middle. Week 2 at Seattle could be the moment for a corrective turn, with Seattle’s early offense looking less explosive than the Jets’ Week 1 showing.