Matt Cassel: Win at Wembley can give Minnesota Vikings confidence to push on

 
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Agency30 September 2013

The Minnesota Vikings are hoping their London city break can mark the turning point in their season as they got a first win on the board by beating the Pittsburgh Steelers at Wembley on Sunday night.

Adrian Peterson scored two rushing touchdowns and stand-in quarterback Matt Cassel (above) threw two more before the Minnesota defence stood strong against a late Pittsburgh rally in a 34-27 win.

The close contest thrilled a crowd of 83,519 as NFL UK bosses celebrated another success in the first of two games to be played at Wembley this season.

But those celebrating the most were the Vikings, as both teams started the game 0-3 and desperate for a victory that could get their campaigns kick-started.

"I think the main thing was just for us to get started," said Cassel, who threw for 248 yards and two scores after being thrust into the starting role due to an injury to Christian Ponder.

"We needed to get that first win and we did. Hopefully that gives us some confidence as we move forward in the season."

Peterson, the league's reigning MVP, had been billed as the star of the show and he certainly delivered, with his first touchdown a 60-yard run down field with an array of Pittsburgh players helplessly trailing in his wake.

"I was just being patient, letting the gaps open up for me," he said. "I was able to press it, cut it back and take it to the house. I just give thanks to those guys up front. They were the ones that made it happen."

The Vikings gave up a home game to play in London, but were rewarded with strong support despite the traditionally large Steeler fanbase on this side of the Atlantic.

"The atmosphere was electric," Peterson added. "Coming out of that tunnel, looking at all that purple and yellow, I feel like we trumped them a little, and all that energy, it felt like a home game."

The Jacksonville Jaguars are hoping that purple returns in force in a month's time when they face the San Francisco 49ers at Wembley, the first of four games the Jaguars will play in the capital over the next four years as the NFL hopes to establish a regular following.

The moves are all designed to test the viability of a London-based team one day competing in the league, although for now these fleeting visits will have to suffice.

That will be fine by the Pittsburgh Steelers, eager to get home after falling to 0-4 and surely headed for their first losing season the seven-year reign of coach Mike Tomlin.

"Obviously it's a disappointing loss, but who am I kidding?" Tomlin said. "They all are."

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