Roof Caves In on Vikings

Minnesota’s six-game winning streak was built on a steady dose of losing teams.

Then Pittsburgh came to town.

The Steelers forced three turnovers and had a safety in an 18-3 victory over the Vikings on a sluggish Sunday afternoon, with the only touchdown coming on Ben Roethlisberger’s three-yard run in the second quarter.

Willie Parker rushed 14 times for 81 yards for Pittsburgh (9-5), which won its second consecutive game and stayed in step with San Diego (9-5) for the last AFC wild-card spot.

“We did what we had to do,” receiver Hines Ward said. “We’ll take it.”

The Vikings (8-6) cinched their demise at the end of an embarrassing week. Four players, including injured quarterback Daunte Culpepper, were charged Thursday with three misdemeanors apiece in the infamous bye-week boat party.

“Our focus was great all week. I don’t think that had anything to do with it,” said Brad Johnson, who had two passes intercepted in key situations.

“They beat our butts.”

The Vikings griped, too, about beating themselves.

“We are all human beings,” Coach Mike Tice said. “I’d be a fool to say they’re not frustrated.”

The Vikings, whose wild-card hopes diminished, play at Baltimore next week and finish with a home game against division-leading Chicago.

The Steelers’ Jeff Reed made all three of his field-goal attempts, and Joey Porter and Larry Foote teamed up on a fourth-quarter tackle of Michael Bennett in the end zone to give Pittsburgh an extra two points.