Steelers GameDay Cheat Sheet: Week 14 vs the Minnesota Vikings

by Joe Kuzma (joe_kuzma) on December 9, 2021

Steelers GameDay Cheat Sheet is a weekly series featuring a quick glance at the upcoming Steelers game, including odds, records, things to watch for, and how to watch/listen to the game.

Series Notes

All-Time Series tied, 9-9
- Last: Steelers Win, 26-9 (Sept. 17, 2017)
Home Steelers lead, 6-4
- Last: Steelers Win, 26-9 (Sept. 17, 2017)
Away Vikings lead, 5-2
- Last: Vikings Win, 34-27 (Sept. 29, 2013)
Neutral Steelers lead, 1-0
- Last: Steelers Win, 16-6 (Jan. 12, 1975)

The Coaches

Steelers: Mike Tomlin
- At Franchise: 151-83-2 (15)
- Overall: 151-83-2 (15)
- Versus Opponent: 2-1
Vikings: Mike Zimmer
- At Franchise: 69-54-1 (8)
- Overall: 69-54-1 (8)
- Versus Opponent: 0-1

Gameday Information

Date: Thursday, December 9
Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium
Minneapolis, MN
Capacity 73,000 // FieldTurf
TV: Nationally FOX, NFL Network, Locally WPGH-TV
- Joe Buck (play-by-play)
- Troy Aikman (analysis)
- Kristina Pink (sideline)
- Erin Andrews (sideline)
Streaming: Amazon Prime
- Alternate Audio
  - Hannah Storm (play-by-play)
  - Andrea Kremer (analysis)
- Scout’s Feed
  - Bucky Brooks, Daniel Jeremiah, Joy Taylor
National Radio: Westwood One
- Kevin Kugler (play-by-play)
- Tony Boselli (analysis)
Satellite Radio
- SIRIUS: 81 (Pit.), 83 (Min.), 88 (National)
- XM: 226 (Pit.), 225 (Min.), 88 (National)
- SXM App: 826 (Pit.), 820 (Min.), 88 (National)
Radio: Steelers Radio Network (48 affiliates – see below)
- Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play)
- Craig Wolfley (analysis)
- Missi Matthews (sideline)
- Max Starks (sideline)
Referee: Clete Blakeman

Steelers TV Coverage

This week’s game is broadcast nationally on FOX, NFL Network and Amazon Prime.

Game Capsule

LEADERS	STEELERS	VIKINGS
LAST WEEK	W 20-19 vs. Baltimore	L 29-27 at Detroit
COACH VS. OPP.	Mike Tomlin: 2-1	Mike Zimmer: 0-1
PTS. FOR/AGAINST	20.3/23.8	25.7/25.4
OFFENSE	325.2	384.9
PASSING	Ben Roethlisberger: 269-415-2,758-16-6-90.6	Kirk Cousins: 305-446-3,353-25-3-106.3
RUSHING	Najee Harris (R): 217-779-3.6-5	Dalvin Cook: 171-773-4.5-4
RECEIVING	Diontae Johnson: 76-914-12.0-6	Justin Jefferson: 78-1,209-15.5-7
DEFENSE	364.1	382
SACKS	T.J. Watt: 16	Eric Kendricks, Armon Watts: 4
INTs	Minkah Fitzpatrick: 2	Eric Kendricks, Xavier Woods: 2
TAKE/GIVE	-3 (11/14)	+6 (15/9)
PUNTING (NET)	Pressley Harvin (R): 43.7 (38.9)	Jordan Berry: 46.8 (41.9)
KICKING	Chris Boswell: 92 (20/22 PAT; 24/25 FG)	Greg Joseph: 96 (24/27 PAT; 24/28 FG)

Steelers Notes

QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER completed 21 of 31 atts. (67.7 pct.) for 236 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 111.8 rating last week. Has 0 INTs & 90+ rating in 6 of past 7. Passed for 243 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 104.8 rating in last meeting. Has 5 TDs (4 pass, 1 rush) vs. INT for 94.9 rating in 4 career starts vs. Min. Has 12 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 142 rating in his past 3 starts on TNF.
RB NAJEE HARRIS had 107 scrimmage yards (71 rush, 36 rush) last week, his 6th 100-yard game, most among rookies. Has rush TD in 3 of past 4 on road. Aims for 4th in row in primetime with TD. Leads rookies with 1,166 scrimmage yards (779 rush, 387 rec.) & ranks 2nd with 7 TDs (5 rush, 2 rec.).
WR DIONTAE JOHNSON led team with 8 catches for 105 yards & season-high 2 TDs in Week 13. Aims for 4th in row with 95+ rec. yards & 8th in row with 5+ catches. Has rec. TD in 2 of past
3. Needs 86 rec. yards for 1st-career 1,000-yard season. WR CHASE CLAYPOOL aims for 4th in row with 50+ rec. yards. Rookie TE PAT FREIERMUTH aims for 4th in row on road with TD catch.
LB T.J. WATT had FF & career-high 3.5 sacks last week. Is only player in NFL with 3+ sacks in 2 games this season. Has sack in 5 of his past 6. Had PD in last meeting. Aims for his 3rd in row on TNF with sack. Leads NFL with career-high 16 sacks & is 2nd player since 1982 with 13+ sacks in 4 straight seasons. DT CHRIS WORMLEY had career-high 2.5 sacks in Week 13. S MINKAH FITZPATRICK aims for 3rd in row with 9+ tackles & INT. Had INT-TD in only career game vs. Min. (12/16/18 w/ Mia.).
QB KIRK COUSINS passed for 340 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for
116.7 rating last week. Has 25 TD passes & became 5th player with 25+ TD passes in 7 straight seasons all-time. Ranks 2nd in NFL with 106.3 rating. Aims for his 3rd in row on TNF with 275+ pass yards & 110+ rating. Passed for 329 yards in only career game vs. Pit. (9/12/16 w/ Was.).
RB DALVIN COOK aims for his 5th in row with 100+ scrimmage yards. Needs 25 scrimmage yards for 3rd-straight 1,000-yard season. RB ALEXANDER MATTISON had 124 scrimmage yards (90 rush, 34 rec.) & 5th-career rush TD last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with rush TD. Has career-high 588 scrimmage yards (405 rush, 183 rec.) in 2021.
WR JUSTIN JEFFERSON set career highs with 11 receptions & 182 rec. yards & had 7th rec. TD of season last week. Has 2,609 rec. yards & became 3rd player in SB era with 2,500+ rec. yards in 1st 2 seasons. Has 12 games with 100+ rec. yards, 2nd-most in 1st 2 seasons in SB era. WR K.J. OSBORN had 3rd rec. TD of season last week.
LB ERIC KENDRICKS is 1 of 2 (BOBBY WAGNER) with 100+ tackles in each of past 6 seasons. S HARRISON SMITH is only DB with 75+ tackles in each of past 6 seasons. Is only player with 25+ INTs (29) & 15+ sacks (15.5) since 2012. DE D.J. WONNUM aims for his 3rd in row with sack. LB BLAKE LYNCH had 1st 2 career sacks, 1st-career FF & 1st-career FR last week. CB CAMERON DANTZLER had 1st INT of season in Week 13.