game day Steelers vs. Vikings

Steelers vs. Vikings

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) at Minnesota Vikings (1-1)
Date: Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008
Kickoff: 8 p.m., ET
Site: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (64,121) • Minneapolis, Minn.
Playing Surface: FieldTurf
TV Coverage: CBS nationally (locally KDKA-TV, channel 2)
Announcers: Greg Gumbel (play-by-play) Dan Dierdorf (color analyst)
Local Radio: Steelers Radio Network WDVE-FM (102.5)/WBGG-AM (970)
Announcers: Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play) Tunch Ilkin (color analyst) Craig Wolfley (sideline)


A Look at the Coaches:

Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin
Overall Regular-season Record: 10-6 (.625)/second season
Regular-season Record at Pittsburgh: 10-6 (.625)/second season
Playoff Record/Years: 0-1/one year

Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress
Overall Regular-season Record: 14-18 (.438)/third season
Regular-season Record at Minnesota: 14-18 (.438)/third season
Playoff Record/Years: n/a


Series History

Series History: Series began in 1962
Overall: Minnesota leads 8-7
At Pittsburgh: Series tied 4-4
At Minnesota: Minnesota leads 4-2
Neutral Sites: Pittsburgh leads 1-0
Last Regular-Season Meeting: Dec. 18, 2005 (in Minnesota) Pittsburgh 18, Minnesota 3
Postseason Series: Pittsburgh leads 1-0
Preseason: Minnesota leads 8-2
(preseason record not included in overall series record)
Pittsburgh trails the all-time series 8-7, including the postseason...the Steelers are 2-8 in the preseason against the Vikings...Pittsburgh lost the last preseason matchup, 17-10, prior to the 2006 season...this marks the first preseason game between the teams in Minnesota since a 24-10 Vikings’ victory in 2001...Pittsburgh is 3-4 in the last seven regular-season games between the teams, dating back to the 1983 season...the Steelers are 2-4 on the road against Minnesota and 1-1 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome...prior to the 2005 regular-season matchup, the teams had played four straight games and six of the last seven in Pittsburgh, including a 21-16 Steelers’ victory on Dec. 2, 2001, at Heinz Field...the Steelers won the only game played between the teams on a neutral site when they defeated the Vikings, 16-6, in Super Bowl IX for the team’s first Super Bowl title.


Steelers-Vikings Connections

Steelers-Vikings Connections: Several Steelers have ties to the Vikings and the Minneapolis area. Steelers with direct ties to the Vikings and the surrounding Minneapolis area include head coach Mike Tomlin, who was the defensive coordinator for the Vikings for one season (2006) prior to being named the Steelers head coach. P Mitch Berger, who punted for Minnesota from 1996-2001. RB/KR Mewelde Moore played for the Vikings from 2004-07. TE Matt Spaeth is from just outside of Minneapolis (St. Michael) and played at the University of Minnesota, along with S Tyrone Carter and RB Gary Russell. C Justin Hartwig is from Mankato, Minn.

Vikings with Steelers/Western Pennsylvania connections include defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, who was drafted in the eighth round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Steelers and played one season in Pittsburgh. Wide receivers coach George Stewart spent three seasons as the special teams coach for the Steelers under Chuck Noll (1989-91). Strength and conditioning coach Tom Kanavy attended Penn State while defensive backs coach Joe Woods was born in Natrona Heights. CB Dee McCann, OG Dan Mozes and WR Darius Reynaud played at West Virginia.


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