Steelers vs. Vikings: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings will entertain NFL fans across the pond in London this Sunday, and one team will fly back home with heavy hearts and an 0-4 record. 

Both teams have started the 2013 season about as poorly as possible, but it's about to get worse for one of them. 

Christian Ponder hasn't been impressive this season, completing just 59 percent of his passes for 691 yards with two touchdowns compared to five interceptions, which have directly led to his team's 0-3 start.

He's out of this upcoming game due to a fractured rib, however, as noted by Chip Scoggins of the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

In his stead, veteran backup Matt Cassel will line up behind center.

Ben Roethlisberger hasn't done much better, throwing four touchdowns and four interceptions, but at least he has the excuse of playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in football. 

Minnesota is technically the home team in this contest, but both teams face the same challenges of playing a game in another country, thousands of miles away from the comforts of home. 

Here's what you need to know about this upcoming contest.

When: Sunday, Sept. 29, at 1 p.m. ET

Where: Wembley Stadium, London, England

Watch: CBS

Live Stream: NFL Sunday Ticket

Betting Lines (via Covers) 

• Over/Under: 42 pts.
• Spread: Minnesota (+3)

Steelers Injury Report (via Steelers.com) 

NAME	POSITION	INJURY	WED.	THU.	FRI.	GAME STATUS
Allen, Cortez	CB	Ankle	FP	FP	FP	Probable
Bell, Le'Veon	RB	Foot	FP	FP	FP	Probable
Keisel, Brett	DE	Hamstring	DNP	FP	FP	Probable
McLendon, Steve	DT	Hamstring	FP	FP	FP	Probable
Miller, Heath	TE	Knee	-	LP	FP	Probable

Vikings Injury Report (via Vikings.com) 

NAME	POSITION	INJURY	WED.	THU.	FRI.	GAME STATUS
Asiata, Matt	RB	Hamstring	LP	FP	FP	Probable
Cook, Chris	CB	Groin	DNP	DNP	DNP	Out
Ellison, Rhett	TE	Knee	DNP	DNP	DNP	Out
Henderson, Erin	LB	Heel	FP	FP	FP	Probable
Jefferson, A.J.	CB	Ankle	DNP	LP	FP	Probable
Loeffler, Cullen	LS	Neck	FP	FP	FP	Probable
Peterson, Adrian	RB	Coach's Desicion	-	LP	-	-
Ponder, Christian	QB	Rib	LP	LP	DNP	Out
Sanford, Jamarca	S	Hamstring	DNP	LP	DNP	Out
Williams, Kevin	DT	Knee	LP	LP	FP	Probable

Which Team Will Win the Turnover Battle?

The team that wins the turnover battle Sunday in London will win the game. 

Unfortunately, both teams have struggled with turnovers early this year. Pittsburgh has turned the ball over nine times, and Minnesota has turned the ball over 10 times. 

But the Steelers have failed to force a single turnover this year, while the Vikings have forced five, meaning Pittsburgh's plus-minus is at negative nine, while Minnesota's is at negative five.

Neither number is good, but the Vikings have at least gotten some chances back when Ponder and his offensive teammates have turned the ball over. 

If the Steelers have any hope of winning this game, Troy Polamalu, Jarvis Jones and Ike Taylor need to create some extra chances. 

Prediction

Minnesota has been close in each of its first three games, losing by an average of five points per contest. 

Pittsburgh, on the other hand, has gotten progressively worse since losing to the Tennessee Titans in Week 1, losing by more than 11 points per game. 

The Steelers haven't even been able to pretend to run the ball to help Roethlisberger from being hounded by pass-rushers, averaging just 51.7 yards per game. Rookie Le'Veon Bell is slated to play for the first time this year, as noted by Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but it'll be hard for him to make headway behind the team's horrid line.

Adrian Peterson might be frustrated by the sound front seven of the Steelers, but at least he'll be able to take some pressure off of Cassel. 

As crazy as it sounds, the Steelers will be the team that falls to 0-4 after this contest. 

Final Score 

Vikings win 24-17

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