Biggest Winners and Losers from Thursday Night Football Steelers vs. Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings escaped with a win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the win, the Vikings go to 6-7 and are back in the NFC Wild Card hunt. Pittsburgh moves to 6-6-1 and need every game from here on out to get to the playoffs.
Every game is more than just the final score, so here are the biggest winners and losers from Week 14's edition of Thursday Night Football.
Winners
Minnesota Vikings’ Playoff Hopes
The Vikings absolutely needed this win and they came out the gates like they wanted it more than the Steelers. Now at 6-7, Minnesota is right on the edge of the playoff bubble. They were behind the Philadelphia Eagles coming into tonight, but are now tied with them.
Minnesota still has three divisional games left and a matchup with the Los Angeles Rams left on their schedule. If Dalvin Cook can run the way he did tonight or Justin Jefferson can continue to dominate, then Kirk Cousins and Co. should be able to make a legititmate run.
Losers
Big Ben’s Arm Strength
We knew Roethlisberger was at the end of his career coming into today, but WOW. He is running on “E.” The Steelers looked outmatched for most of the game and looked like a team without a lot to play for in the first half.
Even though he came alive in the second half, Thursday was just another data point that indicated that Roethlisberger needs to be done playing football after this year. I don't care that he finished with 308 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. You can't win games only playing one good half of football. If "Big Ben" really cared about the Steelers, he would leave.
Kirk Cousins
We all know the narrative that Cousins can’t win in primetime or in big games, and he tried to continue that narrative tonight. The Vikings as a whole came out ready to keep their playoff hopes alive. They were motivated and Cousins made sure to carry his weight -- only in the first half. Cousins finished had two interceptions in the second half and played as if the pressure of keeping a 23-point lead was too much. He showed he still can't be fully trusted in big moments and lost an opportunity to show otherwise.
Minnesota Vikings’ Playoff Hopes
All the Minnesota Vikings fans should be scared. If the Vikings do make the playoffs, they are still a cursed franchise. This team did everything it could to lose this game and they almost did.