NFL Scores: Pittsburgh Steelers Defense Comes Up Huge in Fourth Quarter, Hand Minnesota Vikings First Loss

Ben Roethlisberger was 14/26 passing for 175 yards and a touchdown, Rashard Mendenhall collected 69 yards rushing on ten carries and the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) defense came up huge in the fourth quarter, returning pair of turnovers for touchdowns in a 27-17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings (6-1) on Sunday.

Both defenses played solid in the opening frame and a Jeff Reed field goal would be the only points put on the board as the Steelers carried a 3-0 advantage into the second. Minnesota was finally able to crack the goal line late in the second as Adrian Peterson punched in a run from 2-yards out with 5:12 left in the half. Pittsburgh would answer though as Roethlisberger found Mike Wallace on a 40-yard touchdown strike with 24-seconds on the clock to give the Steelers a 10-7 lead at the break.

Reed would extend the Pittsburgh lead to 13-7 with a 27-yard field goal on the opening drive of the third quarter but Ryan Longwell got those points back for the Vikings with an 18-yard chip and the score was 13-10 heading into the fourth.

It looked like the Vikings were in position to at least tie the game midway through the final frame as Brett Favre had Minnesota inside the Steelers 30 but a fumble was picked up by Lamarr Woodley and he went 77-yards for a touchdown to give Pittsburgh a 10-point cushion. That was quickly reduced to a 3-point cushion as Percy Harvin took the ensuing kickoff 88-yards for a touchdown and Minnesota was back in business. After forcing the Steelers to punt Minnesota was once again marching down the field and looked ready to tie or score the go-ahead touchdown but a Favre pass bounced off the hands of Chester Taylor and into the hands of Keyaron Fox who went 82-yards for the game-clinching touchdown with one minute left.

Pittsburgh managed to hold Adrian Peterson to just 69 yards rushing but allowed Favre to throw for 334 yards.

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