Vikings vs. Steelers: Three must-know storylines for Sunday's game in Ireland

International play returns on Sunday with the first-ever regular-season game in Ireland, the second of seven matchups taking place outside of the United States this season.

Two storied NFL franchises -- the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings -- will square off on the pitch of historic Croke Park in Dublin.

It's been 12 years since the Steelers have played overseas and they will have a chance at avenging their only international appearance on Sunday against the Vikings, who topped Pittsburgh, 34-27, in front of 83,518 fans at Wembley Stadium in London.

That 2013 victory was the first of four straight international wins for Minnesota. The Vikings (4-0) hold the best record in the NFL while abroad and are one of three teams that are undefeated (Eagles, Panthers). The Steelers, meanwhile, are one of six teams with zero international wins (Browns, Titans, Packers, Bengals, Commanders).

Minnesota's perfect transoceanic record will be put to the test in 2025, as Sunday's Dublin Game is the first of consecutive international games. The Vikings head to London in Week 5 to take on the Cleveland Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, becoming the first team ever to play in two different foreign countries in a single season.

The NFL's global outreach is reaching new heights in 2025, and Sunday's matchup could provide a gem of a game on the Emerald Isle.

Three must-know storylines

1) Veteran quarterbacks square off in throwback matchup

The last time we saw Aaron Rodgers and Carson Wentz face off was in Week 13 of the 2020 season. It was a fateful game for Wentz, who was benched for Jalen Hurts in the second half -- his last start with the Philadelphia Eagles and the beginning of a winding road (five teams in the past five seasons) that has led him to Minnesota. Wentz, in relief of an injured J.J. McCarthy, looked comfortable in Kevin O'Connell's offense last Sunday, completing 14 of 20 passes for 173 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers in a blowout win that didn't ask too much from the 32-year-old. It was an ideal outing for Wentz's first start with the Vikings, but Pittsburgh's defense figures to be a tougher test. Fortunately, Wentz has a proven system and one of the league's best receivers in Justin Jefferson at his disposal. On the other sideline, Rodgers has been efficient through his first three games with the Steelers, throwing seven TDs (second in NFL) for an offense that's hit pay dirt on 87.5% of red-zone possessions (second in NFL). But the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer is still looking to find his rhythm with Pittsburgh, particularly downfield, as the Steelers' leading receiver is running back Jaylen Warren and the remaining pass catchers have yet to produce a 100-plus yard game. Like Rodgers, DK Metcalf and Jonnu Smith are in the early going of acclimating to a new offense and finding an effective rapport, but it will be tough sledding against Minnesota.

2) Vikings' blitz-happy, sure-tackling defense poses problem for Steelers

Minnesota has led the league in blitzing (45.4%) and defensive scores (seven) since defensive coordinator Brian Flores took control in 2023. It poses as a big threat against Rodgers, who's struggled mightily against the blitz the past two seasons with a 5.7 yards-per-attempt average that ranks lowest in the NFL (minimum 350 passing attempts since 2024), according to Next Gen Stats. Rodgers recently faced Flores' unit in a 2024 loss with the Jets that saw him tie a career high with three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. The Steelers' offensive success this season has largely been through a short passing attack that has gained a league-high 443 yards after catch, amounting to 73% of Rodgers' passing yards (586). For now, it's supplemented an ineffective ground game for Pittsburgh (63.0 YPG; second-worst in NFL), but that kind of game plan will have a tough time versus a Vikings defense that's allowed 225 yards after catch (third-fewest in NFL) and boasts the league's third-best defense against the pass (141.3 YPG). The Vikings defense is coming off a stellar game in Week 3, in which Isaiah Rodgers scored two defensive TDs and Andrew Van Ginkel, who scored that pick-six on Rodgers last year (in London), collected two sacks. Pittsburgh unlocking its struggling run game against a Vikings team that was gashed on the ground in their only defeat could do wonders for Rodgers and Co. It might also be the missing link to their downfield passing woes, but the Vikings are well-equipped to stop the Steelers offense from what we've seen through three games.

3) Jordan Mason could be game's X-factor

The Vikings' offseason trade for Mason is already looking like a brilliant move. Faced with a similar situation last year in San Francisco, the fourth-year RB stepped up last week in place of an injured Aaron Jones, gaining 116 yards on 16 carries (7.3 YPC) and scoring two TDs in his first start with Minnesota. Mason, with stalwart left tackle Christian Darrisaw back healthy and leading the charge, has an opportunity to aid Wentz in his backup role once again against a Steelers defense that's yielded 139.3 rushing yards per game. Poor tackling has been the issue for Mike Tomlin's normally stout squad, leading the league in missed tackles (28) on run plays, per NGS. Mason, whose 94.3 rushing yards per game as a starter ranks fourth in the league since 2024, has the capabilities to exploit those errors. The Steelers are also coming off a great defensive performance last week after forcing five turnovers (four fumbles) and collecting five sacks. T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward and first-round rookie Derrick Harmon, who impressed in his debut last Sunday, would love to wreak havoc and force the issue on Wentz, but they're going to have to stop Mason first.

Vikings' Week 4 injury report

Steelers' Week 4 injury report