SKOL from the Sofa
2025 Week 4 – Vikings at Steelers – Dublin

This week’s Skol from the Sofa comes from fan club co-president Reece Field, who had plenty to say about Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin. The game exposed a lot of the Vikings’ deficiencies on both sides of the ball, but perhaps Reece can find a few reasons to be hopeful!

It is the hope that kills you. Three hours of disappointment, with a smattering of excitement, and a near daylight robbery that was never really close. The Minnesota Vikings were outclassed in Dublin while perfectly walking the tightrope between garbage time and an apparent comeback that’s left a glimmer of hope for the weeks to come.

What a difference a week makes (again)

Last time out against the Bengals, the Vikings looked like a machine, dominating the line of scrimmage, forcing turnovers and methodically doing whatever they wanted on offense. Against the Steelers, however, they faced a team that spends more on its defense than any other in the league. Rather than facing an egotistical backup who thinks he’s Aaron Rodgers, they faced Aaron Rodgers. So this week, rather than have the Bengals mask their flaws, the Vikings faced a team that exposed each and every one of them.

Dude, where’s my run defence?

Kenneth Gainwell sliced through the Vikings like a hot knife through butter, breaking through the line of scrimmage untouched on numerous occasions. The Vikings invested heavily in two veteran defensive tackles, but Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave are pass rushing specialists. So without Blake Cashman and Andrew Van Ginkel, linebackers who are exceptional against the run, the Vikings defensive front seven look entirely one-dimensional.

Second-guessing the secondary

The only decision I have confidence in at this stage is Harrison Smith coming back. Last week’s superstar, Isaiah Rodgers, could not impact the game outside of a blocked field goal, while DK Metcalf bullied Jeff Okudah, making him look like the cornerback that so many have decided to move on from, and Theo Jackson has done nothing this season to convince me that moving on from Cam Bynum was the right move. The only chance the Vikings had of stopping Aaron Rodgers on Sunday would’ve been to invent a time machine and sign him themselves in the offseason.

So what about that glimmer of hope?

For the first time this season, the Vikings had Jordan Addison, and this unleashed Justin Jefferson. Having two wide receivers that can take the top off the opposition defense with sheer technical ability opened up the field dramatically. If the battered Vikings offensive line can grind, scrap and chip to give Carson Wentz or J. J. McCarthy 3.5 seconds of a clean pocket, then this Vikings team can get back to its strength of playing from ahead.

The Vikings should never defer on a kickoff again. In back-to-back weeks, the opening script has looked great! KOC can trust the offense to get up early like it did last season, strike fast and allow Brian Flores and his defense to pin their ears back and blitz to their hearts’ content.

We are not made for a slugfest in the ground game, this isn’t the Zimmer era. We are made for shootouts, thrilling one-score encounters, punching teams in the mouth with 14 points in the first quarter. That is this team’s DNA. That is the identity of modern Vikings football.

Do you want to have your say about an upcoming Vikings game? Is something really grinding your gears? You can have your say right here in Skol from the Sofa. Just drop us an email at UKVikingsFanClub@gmail.com or send us a DM on any of our social media channels.