The 2021 NFL season continues with Week 14 and Thursday night features a showdown between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings.
Both teams are desperate to improve their playoff positioning.
On that note, they share a bond that has a direct impact on their respective records.
Very excited for this week's Thursday night matchup between two teams who couldn't beat the Lions.
STEELERS VS. VIKINGS, CATCH IT!
— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) December 9, 2021
Both the Steelers and Vikings are part of the NFL club of teams in 2021 who were not able to beat the Detroit Lions.
The Steelers were at least able to get a tie, while the Vikings actually lost to the Lions just a few days ago.
Vikings Have It Worse
The Steelers tied the Lions in overtime on a rainy day in Pittsburgh with Mason Rudolph at quarterback.
Tomorrow’s Steelers-Vikings game will feature the only two teams to face the Detroit Lions in 2021 and not walk away with a win
— Jeremy Layton (@JeremyLayt0n) December 8, 2021
The game was about as ugly as one can get, but even Rudolph was able to guide the Steelers to a tie against a full-strength Lions team led by Jared Goff.
Minnesota has zero excuses after their loss Sunday in Detroit.
Goff threw for nearly 300 yards and completed a game-winning touchdown as time expired.
All the Vikings defenders had to do was protect the end zone against the worst team in the NFL and they could not even do that.
The loss dropped them to 5-7 and if they Vikings miss the playoffs by one game this year, fans are going to have nightmares about that final play in Detroit.
As for Steelers fans, Roethlisberger missing a week may help in the end given his age and injury history.
But that tie still does loom large in the tightly-packed AFC playoff race.
Will any other teams join the Vikings and Steelers in this club?
That may be a possibility now that the Lions have some confidence, thanks to the Vikings defense.
NEXT: Saints Get Both Good And Bad Injury News For Week 14