THURSDAY, DEC. 9, 2021 // 8:20 PM ET // U.S. BANK STADIUM // REFEREE: CLETE BLAKEMAN
ON THE AIRWAVES
TV: FOX/NFLN/Amazon (8:20 PM ET): FOX: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Kristina Pink (field reporters)
Amazon: Andrea Kremer, Hannah Storm | Amazon Scout’s Feed: Bucky Brooks, Daniel Jeremiah, Joy Taylor
NATIONAL RADIO: Westwood One: Kevin Kugler, Tony Boselli
SIRIUS: 81 (Pit.), 83 (Min.), 88 (National) | XM: 226 (Pit.), 225 (Min.), 88 (National) | SXM App: 826 (Pit.), 820 (Min.), 88 (National)
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES HISTORY
LEADER: Vikings lead all-time series, 9-8
STREAKS: Steelers have won 4 of past 5
LAST GAME: 9/17/17: Vikings 9 at Steelers 26
LAST GAME AT SITE: 9/29/13: Vikings 34, Steelers 27
PITTSBURGH STEELERS LEADERS MINNESOTA VIKINGS
W 20-19 vs. Baltimore LAST WEEK L 29-27 at Detroit
Mike Tomlin: 2-1 COACH VS. OPP. Mike Zimmer: 0-1
20.3/23.8 PTS. FOR/AGAINST 25.7/25.4
325.2 OFFENSE 384.9
Ben Roethlisberger: 269-415-2,758-16-6-90.6 PASSING Kirk Cousins: 305-446-3,353-25-3-106.3
Najee Harris (R): 217-779-3.6-5 RUSHING Dalvin Cook: 171-773-4.5-4
Diontae Johnson: 76-914-12.0-6 RECEIVING Justin Jefferson: 78-1,209-15.5-7
364.1 DEFENSE 382.0
T.J. Watt: 16 SACKS Eric Kendricks, Armon Watts: 4
Minkah Fitzpatrick: 2 INTs Eric Kendricks, Xavier Woods: 2
-3 (11/14) TAKE/GIVE +6 (15/9)
Pressley Harvin (R): 43.7 (38.9) PUNTING (NET) Jordan Berry: 46.8 (41.9)
Chris Boswell: 92 (20/22 PAT; 24/25 FG) KICKING 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.).
VIKINGS NOTES
• 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.
