Josh Metellus Drops Bombshell on Vikings' Plans to Stop Aaron Rodgers in Dublin
The Pittsburgh Steelers are hitting the international waters as they head to Dublin, Ireland, for Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings. This game will be very interesting as the Vikings are turning to backup quarterback
Aaron Rodgers will also be under the spotlight in Dublin, as he searches for cleaner execution and more consistency out of the Steelers’ offense. While the future Hall of Famer has shown flashes of brilliance, the unit as a whole has struggled to finish drives and maintain rhythm. Against a Vikings defense that just rattled the Bengals, Rodgers and the Steelers' offensive line will need to step up. Establishing the run game early and
Adding fuel to the fire, Vikings safety Josh Metellus recently gave some insight into Minnesota’s strategy for this international clash. Speaking with
"You think about a Mike Tomlin-coached [team], you think about a gritty, very physical, disciplined football team," Metellus said on the
Nightcap podcast. "You add that with Aaron Rodgers, 21-year vet, who's elite with his passing ability and his football IQ, it's gonna be hard for us to find a way for them to make mistakes. On our end, we can't make mistakes."
While his comments added intrigue to an already unique matchup, they also put more eyes on the Vikings’ approach heading into this historic game.
The Steelers now know what Minnesota thinks it must do to win, and with Head Coach
"That's gonna be a big key to the game, is executing and not giving them easy stuff, not missing assignments, missing blitzes, and messing up coverages," Metellus said. "Making sure everybody is in their spots and executing the game plan because those are two very experienced people you're going against. You can't afford to give them anything to keep them in the game because once that fourth quarter hits, that's when their superpowers start to show."
Metellus and the Vikings know the importance of not allowing Rodgers to get into a rhythm. This Minnesota defense has been elite to start the season, proving they have the ability to stifle opposing offenses.
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Is Going To Be Challenged Mightily In Week 4
For Rodgers, that relentless pass rush and opportunistic secondary could create serious problems if his offensive line fails to give him the time he needs on Sunday morning. The Steelers' offensive line avoided giving up any sacks in Week 3 against the Patriots, though Rodgers still took some punishing hits that slowed the offense.
It’s important to make life easier on Rodgers by establishing balance, protecting the pocket, and staying disciplined as he faces this tough, aggressive Brian Flores defense that thrives on confusion and constant pressure. Some pundits believe this matchup could carry extra meaning for Rodgers, given that the Vikings showed little interest in him during the 2025 offseason.
Eagles Will Have Something They Didn't Have In Last Year's Loss To Tampa
The Buccaneers Cove inside Raymond James Stadium has a 103-foot replica pirate ship that fires a cannon after each touchdown. So, it should help the Eagles to fight back with its weaponry available on Sunday in Week 4’s matchup of unbeaten teams.
Receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are healthy. Right tackle Lane Johnson was limited in Thursday’s practice with a stinger form the Rams game but is trending toward playing. All three missed last year’s game, leaving Fred Johnson to play right tackle and players such as Parris Campbell, John Ross, and Jack Stoll to catch passes from Jalen Hurts.
It didn’t work. The Eagles to grilled under a baking sun, 33-16, unable to come back from a 24-0 hole they had dug themselves in the first half.
“It definitely helps (to have those three back),” said center Cam Jurgens. “You wanna bring weapons to a fight. They got that big ship down there and that cannon goes off all the damn time. Let’s hope we have our weapons with us.”
The Eagles are trying to beat a third straight division winner from last year – already taking out the Chiefs and Rams in back-to-back weeks.
The Bucs have lived on the edge this season, becoming the first team in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to record a game-winning sore in the final minute of the fourth quarter in each of three games.
They could reverse that trend against an Eagles team that is 1-3 in three years at Raymond James Stadium and 1-4 with Nick Sirianni as the head coach.
A.J. Brown Could Turn Tide In Eagles' Favor
“I don't care,” said Brown when informed of the recent history. “It ain't got nothing to do with me. It's in the past. You can't live in the past. Even though we talk about the Super Bowl, like that's over with.
“Those are just worries at the end of the day. We have a job to go out there and do it. I don't care about the conditions or anything like that. We gotta play fast and play our style of football. What's done in the past is done.”
Brown didn’t play in the Bucs’ 32-9 romp over the Eagles in the playoffs during the 2023 season, but he played in the matchup between the two teams during the regular season, catching nine passes for 131 yards in a 25-11 Eagles win. He also didn’t play in the playoff game in Tampa in 2022 because he hadn’t been traded from the Titans, yet.
The common denominator is that the Eagles have won the only game Brown played in during this streak under Sirianni. The last time the Eagles hosted the Bucs was in 2021, but they lost that game, too, 28-24.
“I mean, the record’s the record,” said Jurgens. “The last few years. I’ve been down there when we won, I’ve been down there when we lost. I feel like I haven’t played them at home at all.”
