The location is different but Pittsburgh Steelers WR DK Metcalf’s mentality hasn’t changed. If anything, he’s even more focused on the task at hand. Speaking to reporters shortly after arriving in Ireland, Metcalf said his only goal is to beat the Minnesota Vikings.
“I’m not trying to explore,” Metcalf told reporters via the PPG’s Brian Batko. “I’m here for the football game. I’ll see everything on the flight in, flight out and drive to the stadium. I’m here to play football.”
It’s the right and frankly, about the only mentality the team can take. It’s perhaps one benefit to the team choosing to arrive late in the week instead of early. There’s limited time to be distracted by the international location. Pittsburgh got off the plane around 9 AM/local time Friday morning, held a walkthrough practice, and will hold meetings over the next 36 hours.
There will likely be some time off later tonight and tomorrow for players to venture out on their own, WR Calvin Austin III noted he plans to get dinner with family who made the trip, but there’s little idle time for the team to go out and truly explore. Metcalf doesn’t seem to mind.
For Pittsburgh, securing a win would mean everything. The Rooneys pushed hard to host the NFL’s first-ever regular season game in Ireland. The Steelers were part of the league’s first game in the country, a 1997 preseason game against the Chicago Bears. Years later, Bill Cowher and players shared it was the only time Pittsburgh ever game-planned for the preseason in order to walk away with a victory. Pittsburgh came out on top, 30-17.
Sunday is “just” another regular season game in the standings but one that ownership likely holds in highest regards. A poor showing would be a massive disappointment in many respects.
“Trip we were hoping to make for many years now…Kinda pinching myself earlier in the week thinking we finally did this,” Art Rooney II told reporters a short time ago.
Metcalf will be needed to win. He’s found the end zone twice this season but has struggled to find big plays downfield. His ADOT, average depth of target, is just 6.3, a number that’s exactly half his career average. Unlocking him downfield will be critical against a tough Vikings’ defense and make for a fun plane ride back home.
