Pittsburgh are six-time Super Bowl winners – a record they share with the New England Patriots – and their defence of the 1970s became known as the Steel Curtain.
The franchise has continued to be renowned for its defence and this would have been a performance to make proud the Steelers’ late president Dan Rooney, who was the US ambassador to Ireland from 2009 to 2012.
Minnesota earned more first downs, more yards and had more time in possession, yet back-up quarterback Carson Wentz was stifled by the Steelers throughout.
The 32-year-old was sacked six times and intercepted twice, and the second of those picks – by TJ Watt late in the third quarter – drew one of the biggest cheers of the day as the Steelers’ star linebacker raced to the sideline and booted the ball into the Croke Park crowd.
Rodgers said Pittsburgh’s offence is still a work in progress after the four-time MVP and star receiver Metcalf were brought in during the off-season, and he said on Friday that the “next big improvement will be the run game, getting over 100 yards”.
Their previous best this season was 72, but they managed 131 in Dublin, with Gainwell registering 99 himself, while Rodgers and Metcalf connected for the kind of highlight-reel play the Steelers hope they will produce time and again this season.
Veteran Rodgers completed an impressive 18 passes from 22 attempts for 200 yards, but it was Pittsburgh’s defence that again stepped up as Minnesota threatened a fightback in the final minute.
It was reminiscent of the team’s golden era and raised hope of Mike Tomlin’s men mounting a play-off push this season after improving their record to 3-1.
“It’s an honour to represent American football here in Dublin,” said coach Tomlin. “It was just a great trip.
“We made it a little more entertaining than maybe it should have been, but the Vikings had a lot to do with that. That group’s got a lot of fight.”