MINNEAPOLIS -- Forget the 24-hour rule, which says that NFL teams get to celebrate or stew about a win or loss for 24 hours before forgetting about it and moving on to the next game.
For the Steelers and Vikings, they essentially both got 24 minutes before they had to move on to their next game. Such is life in the NFL for Thursday night games.
And the Steelers (6-5-1) and Vikings (5-7) have plenty to get over after last Sunday prior to their meeting here Thursday night, as both played games that came down to the closing minutes.
They just had remarkably different results.
The Steelers will look to keep the momentum going after the Ravens failed on a two-point conversion attempt with 12 seconds remaining in the game to secure a 20-19 victory that snapped a three-game winless streak.
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Diontae Johnson celebrates one of his two touchdown catches last Sunday at Heinz Field against the Ravens.
The Vikings, meanwhile, gave up a last-second touchdown pass to the Lions in a 29-27 loss that was Detroit's first win of the season and Minnesota's second consecutive loss and fourth in its past six games.
"Everyone has to do this throughout the year. I don’t think anybody really likes it except for the NFL and all the money that they make," Ben Roethlisberger said. "Players, it’s tough. Obviously, the back end of it is the benefit, right? The weekend, some time off. That only really feels good if you get the win. But you’ve just got to find a way, really."
The Steelers have been finding a way -- at times -- this season. They're 6-1-1 in one-score games. The Vikings? They've been something of the opposite. Though 10 of their 12 games have been decided by seven points or less, they're just 4-6 in those contests.
But Minnesota also has had at least a lead of 6 or more points in every one of its games this season. As happened against the Lions, the Vikings have found some interesting ways to lose leads late in games -- and halves in general.
The Vikings have given up 101 total points in the final two minutes of a half this season, including the late touchdown to the offensively challenged Lions, who had gone 10 games without breaking 20 points. That includes a 16-16 tie by Detroit against the Steelers, who were playing without Roethlisberger in that game.
The Vikings are 25th in the league overall in points allowed (305).
"We got to stop the offense. We stop the offense, and you win," said Vikings cornerback Brashaud Breeland. "Really try to not give up points before half, field goals or position to get anything going. But our defense we had our ups and downs in two minutes, and sometimes we win. But we're going to fix it."
There isn't much time to fix anything with a Thursday game on the docket. You are pretty much what you are. And the Steelers hope they can keep their momentum from Sunday's win going while continuing Minnesota's woes.
After all, in the jumbled mess that is currently the AFC playoff race, anything is possible -- so long as you keep winning. And with five games remaining, a win would lift the Steelers, currently the eighth seed in the AFC, back into a playoff spot -- if just for a few days.
The entire AFC North is now within two games of first-place Baltimore (8-4) after the Ravens' loss to the Steelers last week. And the Ravens travel to Cleveland (6-6) Sunday. Cincinnati (7-5), meanwhile, has a tough game at home against the 49ers.
"I feel like our division is always up for grabs," said Cam Heyward. "It always comes down to the last four weeks of the season. No one really runs away with it. We all understand that. There's a lot of football to be played. Each team has a chance to leave their imprint on it, but that's the way we want it. We knew this wasn't going to be easy. We knew we had some (high) caliber teams out here. And we just asked for a chance to compete.
"I think you just appreciate the good talent in our division. We knew going in, we're going to be playing against some really good teams. And they come from our division. We don't look over that. We embrace that. We look forward to those challenges. We're 2-2 in our division. We've got a lot more big games."
Starting with this one. In fact, the season is essentially a five-game playoff that starts now.
And given Minnesota's propensity to play close games -- win or lose -- the Steelers expect more of the same. They just hope their positive experiences in close contests can help be a deciding factor.
"It can be," Roethlisberger said. "Obviously, we’d love to have a blowout game and not have to worry about it, but I definitely think you can learn something from the game last week where you have to drive down the field. Or Chicago a few weeks ago, where we’ve got to go down to win the game. There’s something to be said in character that can be built, heart that can be built from those games. I definitely think that there are some things to be taken from tight games because a lot of times, when you get to the postseason — or as you’re starting to get down to the end of the regular-season, which is almost considered postseason — games are usually tight.
"If you can look back and remember this game or remember this moment or remember when we needed a drive here or a play here, if you’ve already experienced them, sometimes that can benefit you moving forward."
THE ESSENTIALS
• Who: Steelers (6-5-1) vs. Vikings (5-7)
• When: 8:20 p.m.,Thursday
• Where: U.S. Bank Stadium
• Forecast: Indoor
• TV: WPGH, FOX (National); NFL Network; Amazon Thursday Night
• Radio: 102.5 WDVE, ESPN Pittsburgh
• Streaming: Steelers Nation Radio
• Satellite: Sirius XM 226, online 826
• Media notes: Steelers | Vikings
THE INJURY REPORT
Steelers: CB Joe Haden (foot, out); DT Isaiah Buggs (ankle, out); OL B.J. Finney (back, out); LB Robert Spillane (knee, out)
Vikings: WR Adam Thielen (ankle, out); OT Christian Darrisaw (ankle, out); RB Dalvin Cook (shoulder, questionable); LB Blake Lynch (hip, questionable); S Camryn Bynum (ankle, questionable)
THE KEY VARIABLE
The Steelers' final rushing stats last Sunday against the Ravens didn't look all that impressive -- 25 carries for 85 yards.
But it was how the Steelers ran the ball -- and perhaps more importantly -- when they ran the ball that made the biggest difference. Limited to just 18 offensive snaps in the first half as the Ravens controlled possession -- though to just the tune of a 7-3 lead -- the Steelers were intent on turning the tables in the second half.
They ran the ball 20 times for 72 yards in the second half, eventually getting chunk runs in the fourth quarter as their offense, which was limited to three points in the first three quarters, exploded for 17 over the final 15 minutes.
"We made some plays. I thought everybody kind of settled down," said offensive coordinator Matt Canada. "The run game started to be a little bit more efficient, which then obviously opens up some of the pass plays."
The Steelers went to more pistol formations, with Roethlisberger just a few yards behind the center and the running back -- usually Najee Harris a couple of yards behind him -- it offers the best of both worlds for the Steelers.
"The pistol’s kind of a combination of both," Canada said of allowing Roethlisberger to get a better look at the defense while allowing Harris to get more of a running start toward the line of scrimmage. "It gets you in the gun but it still gives you kind of a downhill run versus a sideways. There are certain plays we like better out of it."
You can likely expect to see more of it moving forward after it worked so well against the Ravens, who are tied for the NFL lead allowing 83.3 rushing yards per game. The Vikings allow 131.5 rushing yards per game, playing a lot of two-high safety looks and trying to stop the opponents' rushing attack with seven defenders.
Though they play the Vikings only once every four years, the Steelers are quite familiar with how head coach Mike Zimmer likes to operate on defense. Prior to becoming Minnesota's head coach, Zimmer was defensive coordinator for the Bengals from 2008 through 2013.
That helped with the game prep on a short week for Roethlisberger.
"We watched a little bit of it today, the last time they came here and played. And obviously in Cincinnati, a lot of the double-barrel stuff," Roethlisberger said. "We’ve looked at a lot of that."
With so many young players on the offensive side of the ball for the Steelers, every little bit of an edge on a short work week can help.
The Steelers will still do what they do best. There's not much time to game plan for Thursday night games. That means getting the ball to Harris -- who averages 18.3 touches per game -- and Diontae Johnson -- second in the NFL at 10.9 pass targets per game -- and working out from there.
Harris already has gone over 1,000 total yards for the season. Johnson could do it in this game. He has 76 receptions for 914 yards and is closing in on becoming the first Steelers receiver to top 1,000 yards since Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster both did so in 2018.
But much of it stems from the ability to run the ball effectively and then allowing the passing game to make plays when needed.
"I thought our continued commitment to running the football was significant," Mike Tomlin said of the win over the Ravens. "Although we didn't have a lot of success early, I thought we were able to gain a little bit of rhythm and success in that area due to the commitment. I thought we did a nice job of taking care of the football. Possession of the football is a critical component.
"When we do that, we have a chance to win. I also thought just the one-on-one playmaking, particularly in those weighty moments outside at the receiver position, has always been something that's kind of outlined this series; corners and wideouts in those moments."
THE HISTORY LESSON
This will only be the fifth time in Roethlisberger's storied career that he'll face the Vikings and just the third time in Minneapolis.
Today we'll go back to Roethlisberger's first career meeting and first in Minnesota for our history lesson.
In 2005, after going an NFL-best 15-1 in 2004 but falling short in the AFC Championship to the Patriots, the Steelers were one of the favorites to return to the AFC title game.
But injuries, including to Roethlisberger, left the Steelers at 7-5 through 12 games and out of the playoff picture in the AFC after a 38-31 loss to the Bengals at home in Week 13.
The Steelers, however, picked up a big win the following week, beating the Bears 21-9 at Heinz Field before traveling to Minnesota for a meeting between a pair of 8-5 teams hoping to stay in the playoff races in their respective conferences.
The Steelers took the opening kickoff and drove to the Minnesota 2, but Roethlisberger fumbled a third-down snap and the Steelers were forced to settle for a 21-yard Jeff Reed field goal and a 3-0 lead.
The Vikings returned the favor later in the first quarter, driving to the Pittsburgh 1. But James Harrison and Troy Polamalu stopped Ciatrick Fason for a 1-yard loss on third down to force a 20-yard field goal by Paul Edinger that tied the game at 3-3.
After forcing a Pittsburgh punt, the Vikings drove inside the 10 on their next possession, but Joey Porter ended the possession with an interception on second-and-goal from the 6 to end the threat.
An 72-yard Antwaan Randle El punt return to the Minnesota 14 set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Roethlisberger with just over three minutes remaining in the half as the Steelers took a 10-3 lead into the half.
The Vikings threatened to cut into the lead on the opening possession of the second half, but Kimo von Oelhoffen blocked a 32-yard field goal attempt and the Steelers clung to their 10-3 lead.
A 49-yard Willie Parker run on the Steelers' ensuing possession set Reed up for another field goal, this one from 41 yards and a 13-3 lead.
The Steelers then tacked on another Reed field goal and tackled Michael Bennett in the end zone for a safety after Chris Gardocki pinned the Vikings at the 2 in the fourth quarter to win the game by the rare 18-3 score.
The defenses ruled this game, as the Steelers had just 275 total yards while the Vikings had 185.
Roethlisberger completed 10 of 15 passes for 149 yards and was sacked four times. Parker had 14 carries for 81 yards.
Larry Foote had a team-high seven tackles, including four for a loss, while also recording one of the Steelers' two sacks. Deshea Townsend also had an interception.
Brad Johnson completed 16 of 30 passes for 143 yards and a pair of interceptions. Bennett gained 43 yards on 11 carries.
The win was the second in a row for the Steelers and put them at 9-5 on their way to an 11-5 finish that would see them become the first Wildcard team to win the Super Bowl.
The Vikings continued to stumble, losing the next week to the Ravens before beating Chicago in Week 17 to finish 9-7 and out of the postseason.
THE MAIN MATCHUP
Justin Jefferson burst onto the scene in 2020, setting a record for receiving yards by a rookie receiver with 1,400 while walking away with the league's Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
It wasn't a fluke.
As good as the LSU product was a year ago, he's been even better in 2021. Jefferson, who had 88 receptions and seven touchdowns as a rookie, already has 78 catches for 1,209 yards and seven scores this season -- with five games yet to play.
He and the Rams' Cooper Kupp are the only two receivers in the league averaging 100 receiving yards per game this season.
"He gets open. He does a good job running routes," said Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler. "He and the quarterback are in tune, so there’s going to be a problem in the passing game. We’ve got to try to put as much pressure on them as we can, if we can, and we’ve got to cover. (We've) got to do both. Good pass defense is predicated on pressure a lot of times. We’ll see."
Quarterback Kirk Cousins looks for Jefferson early and often. And that will be especially true in this game. With fellow wideout Adam Thielen and star running back Dalvin Cook both likely out of this game -- Cook is questionable but didn't play against the Lions because of a dislocated shoulder -- Jefferson is sure to be the focal point of the Vikings offense -- and the Steelers defense.
Thielen was injured on his first catch last week in a 29-27 loss to the Lions. Jefferson became even more of a focal point for Cousins, finishing with a career-high 11 receptions for 182 yards and a touchdown.
The Steelers would like to avoid a repeat of that. Without Thielen and Cook, the Vikings are missing 1,663 total yards and 14 touchdowns. That's 35 percent of their yardage and 43.8 percent of their touchdowns.
What they don't want is for this game to turn into a re-run of the football scenes of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." You know, "catch by Jefferson. Touchdown by Jefferson. Another catch by Jefferson."
"We’ve got our hands full trying to minimize Jefferson and his talents," Tomlin said. "I've been familiar, obviously, with his exploits, but playing against someone and preparing to play for him is different. He's really challenging. He's an easy and fluid mover. He's got great vision. His run after is exceptional because of that vision. He's able to contort his body and adjust and make difficult catches seem easy."
But the Steelers can't just focus on keeping Jefferson in check, even with Cook out. In Alexander Mattison, the Vikings have a running back capable of carrying the load. In three starts with Cook sidelined this season, Mattison has 315 rushing yards and 16 receptions for 123 yards.
"People don’t give him the credit because he ran like a 4.6 or something like that coming out of college, but I think he’s a good running back," Butler said. "He slashes, he’s strong, and he is productive."
And Cousins is taking good care of the ball as the trigger man. He's thrown 25 touchdown passes with a league-low three interceptions and been sacked just 18 times, the third-fewest in the league.
But the Steelers defense presents some problems of its own -- namely how to stop NFL sack leader T.J. Watt?
"He's a game-wrecker. He's not by himself, they've got some other guys, too, but he's a game-wrecker," Zimmer said. "He always seems to make big plays. Obviously a terrific rusher, but he's very violent and physical."
THE TEN DATA POINTS
• The Vikings have a league-low nine turnovers this season.
• Minnesota ranks seventh in the NFL in red zone touchdown percentage at 65 percent. The Steelers have the fourth-best red zone defense, allowing a touchdown just 50 percent of the time.
• Both defenses are good on third downs. The Vikings are sixth, allowing a conversion rate of 36.1 percent. The Steelers are 11th at 38.6 percent.
• Jefferson ranks third in the NFL with 1,233 total yards. Harris is seventh at 1,166.
• The Steelers lead the NFL with 37 sacks. The Vikings are second with 36. But the Steelers' sacks have come from just 10 players, led by Watt's league-best 16. Sixteen different Vikings have at least half a sack. But Minnesota is without sack leaders Danielle Hunter (6.5) and Everson Griffen (5).
• The Steelers have allowed just two touchdowns to opposing tight ends this season, tied for second-fewest in the NFL. The Vikings are tied for third-fewest allowed at 3.
• The Vikings have allowed 21 touchdown passes, tied for fourth-most in the NFL.
• Roethlisberger needs 334 passing yards to pass Philip Rivers (63,440) for fifth place on the NFL's all-time passing yardage list. He also needs 242 yards for the 15th 3,000-yard passing season of his career, which would put him third on the all-time list.
• Harris needs six receptions to pass Chase Claypool (62) for the most receptions by a rookie in Steelers history.
THE FANTASY CORNER
I finished in the money with 167.98 points with Justin Herbert, Javonte Williams, Jonathan Taylor and Hunter Renfrow being nice hits. That left me in the money in back-to-back weeks. We'll go for three-in-a-row this week and since the Steelers are playing Thursday night, we'll include that game as part of our slate. Remember, I'm building a fantasy lineup using Draft Kings and a $50,000 salary cap.
Quarterback: Dak Prescott, Cowboys ($6,700) -- Prescott has all of his weapons back this week and has had some extra time to prep for what has now become a big game against Washington.
Running back: Antonio Gibson, WFT ($6,000), Javonte Williams, Broncos ($5,900) -- Gibson has been hot since Washington's bye and the coaching staff remembered he can catch the ball, too, as a former college receiver. Even if Melvin Gordon comes back this week, Williams should get more work than he had when both were in a true time share.
Wide receiver: Diontae Johnson, Steelers ($7,100), Hunter Renfrow, Raiders, ($6,100), Jarvis Landry, Browns, ($5,400) -- Johnson has emerged as a true No. 1 receiver and the Vikings are not good in the secondary. I initially had Mike Williams in the lineup with Keenan Allen on the COVID-19 List. Then, Williams landed there, as well, on Wednesday, so I pivoted to Renfrow. Landry had a big game two weeks ago against the Ravens. And that was when Baltimore's corner situation was better than it is now.
Tight end: Mark Andrews, Ravens ($5,900) -- I'm looking for a big bounce back this week from Andrews, who had four catches for 50 yards in the first half against the Steelers and then didn't catch another pass in that game -- including one right at the end that would have won it for the Ravens.
Flex: K.J. Osborn, Vikings ($4,100) -- With the Steelers focused on keeping Jefferson from taking over the game, Osborn should get at least six targets. That's nice for the price.
Defense: Panthers ($2,800) -- The Panthers had 11 points against the Falcons on the road a few weeks back. Now, they get them at home as they come off a bye.