FINAL
Seattle Seahawks 28
10 a.m. | Heinz Field | Pittsburgh
TV: FOX | Radio: 710 AM/97.3 FM | Stream: NFL Game Pass
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QUARTER 4
5:34 | Seahawks 28, Steelers 26 Chris Carson’s second fumble today — and third in two games — gives the Steelers the ball at the 3-yard line, and it only takes one play for them to turn it into six. It’s back to a two-point game, with the ball back in Russell Wilson’s hands (and maybe not Chris Carson’s).
7:15 | Seahawks 28, Steelers 19 What a dime from Russell Wilson and what a catch by DK Metcalf for his first NFL touchdown, putting the Seahawks ahead by two scores.
11:16 | Seahawks 21, Steelers 19 No Ben Roethlisberger, no problem? Well, for the Steelers, that is, it seems. Meanwhile, Mason Rudolph is proving to be a big problem for the Seahawks. The backup QB leads Pittsburgh down the field to pull within a field goal. The Steelers try to tie up and go for two but Rudolph’s pass on the two-point attempt is intercepted in the end zone.
QUARTER 3
Three quick-hit thoughts from Adam Jude after three quarters:
- Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers future Hall of Fame QB, is out with an arm injury. In his place, backup Mason Rudolph, the former Oklahoma State standout (who beat UW in the 2015 Cactus Bowl).This is good news for the Seahawks defense.On his first series, Rudolph threw a pass on target to Donte Moncrief, but the ball slipped through the receiver’s hands and safety Bradley McDougald made a diving interception at the Pittsburgh 40-yard line right in front of the Seahawks sideline.That set up the Seattle offense for its go-ahead score …
- Will Dissly caught his second touchdown pass of the game from Russell Wilson — this a 12-yard reception set up by the McDougald interception and giving the Seahawks a 14-10 lead early in the third quarter.Dissly had a 14-yard TD catch in the first half.The former UW tight end, who suffered a significant knee injury late last September, has played in six career NFL games … and has four TD catches among his 11 receptions.
- On third-and-2 late in the third quarter, Wilson handed off to Rashaad Penny, who ran up the middle before making a nifty cut to his right, getting Anthony Chickillo to whiff on a tackle attempt. As he turned upfield, Penny found a surprising lead blocker — Wilson.The QB blocked two — yes, two — Steelers defenders to pave the way for Penny’s 37-yard touchdown, his first of the season. That gave the Seahawks a 21-13 lead entering the fourth quarter.
2:56 | Seahawks 21, Steelers 13 Rashaad Penny makes this look too easy. The former first-round pick shakes off a defender at the line of scrimmage then bursts through every level of the Steelers defense to go 37 yards for the touchdown.
6:21 | Seahawks 14, Steelers 13 Juju Smith Schuster gets just enough separation from Lano Hill and lays out for a 45-yard reception on a flea flicker to get Pittsburgh into the red zone. But the Steelers’ drive stalls there. They call on Chris Boswell for a 33-yard field goal to make this a one-point game.
9:49 | Seahawks 14, Steelers 10 So the Seahawks weren’t able to score entering halftime. Nor were they on the opening drive of the second half. But Bradley McDougald quickly gets the ball back for Seattle, and the Seahawks capitalize. Russell Wilson finds Will Dissly for 12 yards and his second touchdown catch of the game to give Seattle the lead. That’s also Wilson’s 200th career touchdown pass.
QUARTER 2
Halftime thoughts from Bob Condotta:
It felt like the Seahawks largely had control of the first half, as show by a 202-103 edge in yards. But those yards resulted in only one touchdown, and penalties and other mistakes are the main reason the Steelers have a 10-7 lead.
- Carson’s lost fumble was a killer but Seattle also has seven penalties, one setting up the Steelers’ TD and another helping make for a longer field goal at the end of the half.
- One big key in my eyes was the Seahawks getting their running game to look a little more normal. It has so far as the Seahawks have 68 yards on 14 carries after being held to 72 last week by the Bengals. But included in that total is a play that resulted in Chris Carson’s second lost fumble of the season, a play that was the biggest of the half.
- Second-year receiver Malik Turner entered the game with just two career receptions. He had three in the first half alone including a 30-yarder that keyed Seattle’s drive to end the half, getting the Seahawks out of a first-and-16 hole. Turner was playing more with Jaron Brown appearing to be benched after committing two penalties and also once appearing to line up on the wrong side, compelling Seattle to have to call a time out.
- The Seahawks suffered one injury of note in the first half as right guard D.J. Fluker left in the late going with an ankle injury. His return was listed as questionable. Fluker was replaced by Ethan Pocic who was the starter in week one at left guard but this week was a backup with Mike Iupati back.
2:28 | Steelers 10, Seahawks 7 After the Steelers’ drive stalls, they call on Chris Boswell for a 41-yard field goal with just over two minutes to go in the half. Juju Smith-Schuster just missed coming down in bounds with what would’ve been an impressive touchdown catch. Seattle has the chance for a double dip here. If they can score here, the Seahawks also get the ball coming out of halftime.
8:40 | Seahawks 7, Steelers 7 Russell Wilson leads Seattle on a long march down the field to answer the Steelers touchdown with one of their own. Wilson finds Will Dissly in the end zone from 14 yards out, after an unnecessary roughness penalty on a field goal attempt moved the ball halfway to the goal line.
14:44 | Steelers 7, Seahawks 0 Mychal Kendricks’ pass interference bites the Seahawks twice. He pushed Jaylen Samuels on a shot to the corner of the end zone and a yellow flag was thrown. Then Pete Carroll tossed a red one, challenging a PI call for the second straight week. And for the second straight week it proved misguided and cost Seattle a timeout. The penalty put the ball at the 1, and James Connor pushes it for six.
QUARTER 1
Three quick-hit thoughts from Adam Jude after one quarter:
- Chris Carson lost a fumble in the Seahawks’ opener against Cincinnati at home last week — and he’s already lost another one here in Pittsburgh. This one could prove especially costly. Carson fumbled after a handoff near the Seahawks’ 30-yard line, and Pittsburgh’s Mark Barron scooped up the ball and returned it for a touchdown — only to be called back after ran illegal block in the back during the return. So Seahawks caught a break there, but the Steelers opened the second quarter at the Seahawks’ 22-yard line.
- The Seahawks’ offensive line had a rough game against the Bengals, and things didn’t get much better early against the Steelers. Russell Wilson was sacked three times in the first quarter, including back-to-back plays on their second series. Germain Ifedi and D.J. Fluker were particularly bad in pass protection — and Ifedi drew two flags in the first quarter.
- At least the Seahawks defensive line showed up. Pittsburgh-area native Branden Jackson ended the Steelers’ first drive with a sack of Ben Roethlisberger, and Jadeveon Clowney batted down a third-down pass to end Pittsburgh’s second possession. Even without Poona Ford (inactive with a calf injury), it’s a positive start for the D-line.
5:00 | Seahawks 0, Steelers 0 First-round pick L.J. Collier steps onto the field for the first time on Pittsburgh’s third possession of the game, coming after another measly showing by the Seahawks offense. Last week’s porous offensive line seems to have leaked into this week, too. Russell Wilson is under constant duress and already taken two sacks.
12:58 | Seahawks 0, Steelers 0 The Seahawks force a three and out on Pittsburgh’s first possession of the game, with Branden Jackson getting to Ben Roethlisberger for a loss of seven yards and his first sack of the season.
PREGAME
9:37 a.m. Mike Iupati will get the start at left guard in place of Ethan Pocic for the Seahawks against the Steelers on Sunday while Quinton Jefferson will move inside to start at defensive tackle in place of Poona Ford.
Ford is inactive with a calf injury. Jefferson is listed as a tackle and generally plays some of both end and tackle.
Iupati signed as a free agent in the offseason with the plan being that the four-time Pro Bowl selection would take over for the departed J.R. Sweezy at left guard.
But Pocic started against the Bengals with Iupati still recovering from foot and calf injuries.
Pregame warmups also confirmed that Lano Hill will start at strong safety with Bradley McDougald at free safety with Tedric Thompson inactive with a hamstring injury. — Bob Condotta
8:31 a.m. Seattle’s seven inactives for Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh include defensive end Ziggy Ansah, who will miss a second straight game while still working his surgically repaired shoulder into football shape.
Ansah signed a one-year deal worth a base value of up to $9 million last spring. It includes incentives of $93,750 for every game he is active.
Seattle’s other inactives include safety Tedric Thompson, who is battling a hamstring injury. Lano Hill is expected to start at safety in place of Thompson alongside Bradley McDougald.
The other five inactives are receivers Gary Jennings and David Moore, cornerback Neiko Thorpe, offensive lineman Joey Hunt and defensive tackle Poona Ford.
Ford has a calf injury, Thorpe a hamstring, Hunt a sprained ankle and Moore is still recovering from a broken humerus bone. Jennings is the only healthy scratch. — Bob Condotta
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