Adrian Peterson, Brett Favre, and Vikings were not perfect.

Minnesota wasn’t able to get half a yard at a time when it could have turned things around. Then they watched the big play defense of the Steelers end the Vikings undefeated season with their two long returns for touchdowns during the last 6 ½ minutes of the game.

The fumble return of 77 yards by LaMarr Woodley and the 82 interception return by Keyaron Fox on Favre turnovers allowed Pittsburgh to turn the Vikings repeated comeback attempts back, as the Steelers were able to ride three critical defensive stands on Sunday to give them a very important 27-17 win.

What had been a highly anticipated showdown between quarterbacks Favre and Roethlisberger, the NFL’s passing leader, turned into a defensive duel. The Super Bowl champ Steelers (5-2) team, the No. 1 rated defense during the past two seasons, is very hard to defeat in games that are decided by the defense.

During the third quarter, Minnesota (6-1) conceded as much. After they failed to score in three plays from only half a yard out, and where Peterson only got the football once, they had to settle for just a field goal which meant that the Steelers still had the lead in the game at 13-10.

The critical goal line stand for Pittsburgh was just as decisive as their ensuing two defensive touchdowns.

Ryan Clark, Steelers safety said, that was the biggest point in the entire game. You have the world’s best running back and you don’t give him the ball. They are saying that they cannot beat us running. That is a major statement considering they have that guy back there.

The return of Woodley, with lots of huffing and puffing coming from the linebacker over the last thirty yards following Brett Keisel’s strip of Favre for the football, was very similar to the interception return of 100 yards by James Harrison during the Super Bowl versus Arizona. Mike Tomlin, Steelers coach said, that was one of those moments in slow motion that are one of the joys of this business.

Woodley’s touchdown gave Pittsburgh a 20-10 lead with 6:23 left to play, after Minnesota drove down to Pittsburgh’s 8 yard line and had positioned themselves to take the lead for the first time in the game since the 2 yard run for a touchdown by Peterson had put them ahead during the second quarter 7-3.

Woodley said, I got down to the 40 yard line and didn’t think that I would make it.

Minnesota wasn’t finished, not during this season full of surprises at the last minute. Percy Harvin answered Pittsburgh with a kickoff return of 88 yards for a touchdown. However, Favre wasn’t able to pull this game out after he had rallied the Vikings twice previously during the closing minutes of the game.

Favre said, there were lots of ifs, lots of reasons why we didn’t win. One of them was the red zone. They are very physical. We thought they would be good and they were. When I got here and saw the Steelers game on our schedule I went, ohhh.

Favre connected on a pass play of 29 yards with Peterson. With a little over one minute to play, Minnesota drove to Pittsburgh’s 18 yard line. The biggest victory in their improbable good season was awaiting them.

However, Favre’s intended pass to Chester Taylor was intercepted by Fox and returned nearly the entire length of the football field, with almost every Viking in pursuit except Favre. Previous to that, Favre had only two interceptions.

Fox said, Brett tried forcing the ball in there. Their running back bobbled the ball. It slipped from his hand. It fell right in my lap. I had just got done running across the field chasing Peterson. I was winded. It felt like 100 plus yards.

The most significant of the missed opportunities for the Vikings came midway third quarter when they were only about a foot from their goal line. Peterson, who had just 69 yards rushing in 18 attempts, after he had averaged 161.5 yards during the first two games playing AFC North teams, didn’t get inside the goal line on first down.

Favre wasn’t able to get the football into the end zone to covered receivers on their next two downs. On fourth down Brad Childress, Vikings coach, settled for a field goal of 18 yards from Ryan Longwell instead of going for it. The 65,597 record breaking crowd at Heinz Field cheered loudly on the decisive defensive stand.

Favre said, we got three chances. It’s easy looking back now to say we should have done this, we shouldn’t have done that. Handing the ball off to Adrian, I would think he would get it in. He will say I am sure that he should have went in.

Peterson said, playing Pittsburgh and their defense, it’s the very best defense we will face. You need to get seven points there. I was very upset about settling for three points.

Brett Favre went 34 for 51 for a total of 334 yards. He was statistically better than Roethlisberger, who went 14 for 26 for a total of 175 yards, with one exception- turnovers. Minnesota out gained the Steelers 386 to 259, but was unable to out score the defense of the Steelers.