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The NFL staged a historic game at Dublin’s Croke Park on Sunday, holding on to a thrilling 24-21 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

The Steelers had a 21-6 lead going into the final quarter before the Vikings scored two touchdowns to set up the first regular-season game in Ireland.

However, Pittsburgh made it possible for the Rooney family, the team’s owners, to celebrate their triumphant resurgence after an Irish ancestry in 1840.

They have maintained close ties to their Irish roots, including the 1997 pre-season game that was played in Croke Park, and they were once more the driving force behind the NFL’s return to the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).

The Steelers took a raucous support from the majority of the 74,512 crowd as they took a 14-6 lead at half-time.

The play of the day came from DK Metcalf, who threw a pass to quarterback Aaron Rodgers and threw it in for an 80-yard touchdown.

Pittsburgh’s defense of the 1970s was known as the Steel Curtain, and they have won six Super Bowls, including six with the New England Patriots.

This would have been a performance to celebrate the Steelers’ late president, Dan Rooney, who served as the US ambassador to Ireland from 2009 to 2012. The franchise has remained renowned for its defense.

The Steelers stifled back-up quarterback Carson Wentz throughout despite the Steelers’ more first downs, more yards, and more possession time for Minnesota.

The 32-year-old was sacked six times and intercepted twice, and TJ Watt’s second pick, which came late in the third quarter, drew one of the biggest cheers of the day as the Steelers’ star linebacker hurried to the sideline and kicked the ball into the Croke Park crowd.

After the addition of the four-time MVP and star receiver Metcalf during the off-season, Rodgers said Pittsburgh’s offense is still “developing,” and he said on Friday that the “next big improvement will be the run game, getting over 100 yards.”

Rodgers and Metcalf connected for the type of highlight-reel play the Steelers hope to consistently produce this season, while their previous best this year was 72, but they managed 131 in Dublin. Gainwell scored 99 on his own.

Rodgers, a veteran, completed an impressive 18 passes for 200 yards on 22 attempts, but Pittsburgh’s defense responded once more as Minnesota threatened a comeback in the dying seconds.

After helping Minnesota thrash Cincinnati last week, Journeyman Wentz started in his second straight start in place of JJ McCarthy.

Coach Kevin O’Connell has not lost his starting quarterback before, which has earned him the nickname of “queen whisperer.”

However, Pittsburgh capitalized on the Vikings’ offensive line’s lack of offensive players. Wentz attempted 46 passes for Minnesota, who was under pressure for the majority of the afternoon, but only managed 70 yards on the ground, which meant they had to lean more on him.

Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson both recorded 240 in the two weeks following their return from suspension. With two minutes remaining, Minnesota scored the touchdown on an 81-yard play, and Jefferson, who had not slipped on the Croke Park turf, might have scored the touchdown.

After the game, Jefferson expressed his frustration, but at least the Vikings, who are now 2-2, have all week to work on improving their offense before “hosting” the first of the London games of the season on Sunday.

Blue is a sign of recovery, but not for fans.

The rest of the Ibrox traveling supporters suddenly remembered the script they’d rather be singing from after a dramatic last-minute winner, which caused some supporters to pour onto the pitch.

moments of cheering and jeering. Almondvale’s third quarters reverberating to the tune “Martin, Martin, get tae.”

Many Rangers supporters now have a personal relationship with them. They turned their back on Russell Martin once more in order to prevent him from enjoying the final few moments before winning his first Scottish Premiership.

Former Scotland international James McFadden commented on Sky Sports, “You could hear clearly what the fans felt toward the manager even after the goal went in.”

“I’m not too sure what it does for Russell Martin, but it’s big for the players.”

Not very much, according to Kris Boyd, a fellow pundit who was a former Rangers striker.

You’re away from home against a team that just promoted, Martin said, but he keeps talking about anxiety. “Rangers have more talented players than Livingston,” he said.

In some ways, both are correct: one win does not alter his abominable start to power. And three points against a team from the previous season’s division won’t change many people’s minds.

However, Martin had to win this battle, and he did so in the end. Is the tanker he mentioned a few weeks ago beginning to turn slowly?

The first 45 minutes of Almondvale would serve as the defense’s case.

This Rangers had a different appearance in the first half. stronger, aggressive, and direct. They posed a lot of questions to a side that is notoriously challenging to break up.

James Tavernier scored a strong goal before being denied by Livingston goalkeeper Jerome Prior from the penalty spot. In the first half, Prior was a busy boy, further demonstrating Rangers’ dominance.

Derek Cornelius’ goal was disallowed, and Bojan Miovski’s sitter went unallowed as well. This wasn’t a crisis-fighting team, either.

Rangers’ continued dominance after 90 minutes will be a new building block for Martin.

Players who don’t know the manager’s back might not feel their last strain when they realize his job is in jeopardy.

In the final moments of the game, Rangers forced late free kicks and corners until Max Aarons was able to score a winner. After receiving a red card in Bruges, his team-mates were exposed to a powerful Champions League humbling.

No one knew the shape or tactics of Rangers, but somehow they managed to win the game, ex-Northern Ireland international Stephen Craigan told Sportsound.

The desire of those to whom he turned is something Martin cannot dispute. Under the strain of Livingston’s comeback, a weak-willed squad might have fallen.

It would be crude to nitpick too much when the outcome is much more important than the performance. The rank and file still chastises the Rangers for their previous Premiership victories this term, which included four draws and a defeat.

Their vicious repercussions for their own manager will only get worse if they experience a significant run of victories both domestically and internationally.

Before there even starts to get a buy-in from some fans, two challenging assignments in Graz and Falkirk will need to be negotiated.

However, this victory has saved some money. Ask Neil McCann, who served as Barry Ferguson’s assistant in the previous season of the Ibrox dugout.

Russell Martin said on Sky Sports, “It’s so important for him.” His relief was obvious from the outside. Just about winning today. Get three points and leave the game.

The head coach did both of those, telling BBC Scotland that he quickly ducked into the tunnel at full-time to allow his team to celebrate with the fans without further chanting at him.

He continued, “I’m so happy for the players; they really worked at it.” A team that is actually fighting for both the coaching staff and the other was seen by the fans.

Because I can’t control it, I have nothing to say about [the fans chanting at him]. I went down the tunnel so quickly because of it. It’s directed at me, but today’s topic is “the players,” not me.

Thus, this late victory over Livingston comes after a strong performance against Hibernian the week before to advance to the League Cup semi-final. Genk’s narrow defeat came before Rangers played for 50 minutes with 10 men.

Whisper it, but there are some recovery-colored shoots. Should Rangers be undone once more at home or abroad, they could be killed off by the icy blast of further mediocrity.

Scott, Martin, leave my club right away.

Peter: Could Rangers kindly employ someone to edit the head coach’s post-game rants? It’s embarrassing.

Steve, I still believe Martin needs to leave. Second half demonstrated that he isn’t capable of leading this team.

Steven: Seeing through the gaps. Poor, with no rhythm, no formation, and lucky ending.

Brian: That win eases Martin’s pressure and makes him stay for the time being, which is not to my liking.

Too much negative passing at the back, George. Martin is not the smartest person to alter the way his system operates. His tea must be oot, surely?

Callum, I hope Martin doesn’t feel the pinch because of the result. The sooner he leaves, the sooner we can return to some form of normality, even though he is still the club’s worst manager ever.

Blue shoots of recovery but not for the fans.

Within seconds of celebrating a dramatic last-minute winner, which caused some supporters to pour onto the pitch, the rest of the Ibrox travelling support suddenly remembered what script they’d rather be singing from.

From cheers to jeers in moments. Three quarters of Almondvale reverberating to the sound of “Martin, Martin, get tae…”.

It’s become personal for many among the Rangers support. Rather than give under-pressure manager Russell Martin a chance to enjoy the final few moments before finally securing his first Scottish Premiership win, they turned on him once again.

“You could hear clearly what the fans felt towards the manager, even after the goal went in,” former Scotland forward James McFadden said on Sky Sports.

“It’s big for the players, but I’m not too sure what it does for Russell Martin.”

Not very much, according to his fellow pundit, former Rangers striker Kris Boyd.

“Martin keeps speaking about anxiety, but you’re away from home against a team that’s just been promoted,” he said. “Rangers have better players than Livingston.

In one sense, both are correct – one win does not change what has been an appalling start to his tenure. And three points against a team that was in the division below last season won’t change too many minds.

Martin had to win this game, though, and he ultimately delivered. So is that tanker that he spoke about a few weeks ago slowly beginning to turn?

The case for the defence would be the first 45 minutes at Almondvale.

During the opening half, this was a different-looking Rangers. Faster, more aggressive, more direct. They asked plenty of questions of a side that can be notoriously difficult to break down.

James Tavernier scored a good goal, then watched Livingston goalkeeper Jerome Prior deny him from the penalty spot. Prior was a busy boy in that first half, further evidence of Rangers’ domination.

There was also a disallowed goal by Derek Cornelius and a sitter missed by striker Bojan Miovski. This didn’t look, or feel, like a team in crisis.

Another building block for Martin will be the way Rangers kept going beyond 90 minutes to secure the win.

Players who don’t have the manager’s back might not strain every last sinew when they know his job is hanging by a thread.

Rangers forced late free-kicks and corners until Max Aarons was able to sweep in a winner in the game’s dying embers. A touch of redemption for him after his red card in Bruges left his team-mates exposed to an almighty Champions League humbling.

“Rangers were disjointed, nobody knew the shape or the tactics, but somehow they found a way to win the game,” said former Northern Ireland international Stephen Craigan on Sportsound.

What Martin can’t question is the desire of those he turned to. A weaker-willed squad could have folded under the pressure of Livingston’s comeback.

When the result is far more important than the performance, it would be churlish to nit-pick too much. That Rangers have four draws and a defeat to show for their other Premiership outings this term is what still rankles with the rank and file.

Their abusive chants towards their own manager will only fade if a significant run of victories ensues both at home and abroad.

Two tough-looking assignments in Graz and Falkirk in the next few days will have to be negotiated before there’s even the beginning of a buy-in from some fans.

Some time has been bought by this win, though. Ask Neil McCann, who occupied the Ibrox dugout last season as Barry Ferguson’s assistant.

“It’s so important for Russell Martin,” he said on Sky Sports. “You could see the relief on his face. Today was just about winning. Take three points and get off the pitch.”

The head coach did both of those, telling BBC Scotland he ducked quickly down the tunnel at full-time to allow his team to celebrate with the fans without the mood being soured by further chanting towards him.

“I’m so happy for the players – they really stuck at it,” he added. “The fans saw a team that’s really fighting for each other and for the coaching staff.

“I’ve nothing to say about [the fans chanting at him] because I can’t control any of it. It’s why I walked down the tunnel so quickly. It’s aimed it me but it’s not about me today, it’s about the players.”

So this late win against Livingston follows a good performance against Hibernian the week before to claim a League Cup semi-final spot. In between, there was a narrow defeat by Genk in which Rangers played 50 minutes with 10 men.

Whisper it but there are some blue shoots of recovery. They may be killed off by the icy blast of further mediocrity should Rangers be undone again at home or abroad.

Stevie: I saw two different sides of Rangers today. First half was amazing – edge of your seat. Second half was what we have been seeing for weeks now. Dodgy and unpredictable. Thought we were lucky to walk away with three points.

Scott: Get out of my club now, Martin.

Peter: Can Rangers please employ someone to edit the post-match interview drivel that spouts from the head coach? It’s embarrassing.

Steve: I still think Martin still needs to go. Second half proved that’s he’s still not good enough to lead this team.

Steven: Papering over the cracks. So bad, no rhythm, no formation and got lucky at the end.

Brian: It gives me no pleasure to say but that win is the wrong result for Rangers as it eases the pressure on Martin and means he will stay for the time being.

George: Far too much negative passing at the back. Martin’s system does not work and he is not clever enough to change it. Surely his tea’s oot?

Callum: I hope Martin doesn’t think he’s off the hook because of one scrappy result. He’s still the worst manager the club have ever had and the sooner he goes the sooner we get back to some form of normality.