The Pittsburgh Steelers kept pace with the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans in the AFC playoff picture, as they defeated the Seahawks in Seattle on Sunday, 30-23. With this win, Mike Tomlin has now gone 17 straight seasons without a losing campaign. It's the third-longest streak all time behind Tom Landry (21) and Bill Belichick (19).
Mason Rudolph made his second straight start in place of Kenny Pickett, and his offense racked up a whopping 468 yards of total offense while Pittsburgh recorded its second victory in a row with 30 points scored after having zero such wins in the first 15 weeks of the season. Rudolph completed 18 of 24 passes for 274 yards and George Pickens caught seven passes for 131 yards, but it was really the run game that carried Pittsburgh. Najee Harris rushed 27 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns, and Jaylen Warren added 75 yards and another score on 13 rushes. In all, the Steelers rushed for 202 yards.
As for the Seahawks, they couldn't pull off a third straight come-from-behind victory. Geno Smith completed 23 of 33 passes for 290 yards and one touchdown, while DK Metcalf caught five passes for 106 yards. Kenneth Walker III rushed 10 times for 53 yards and a touchdown, but was nursing a shoulder injury. In fact, injuries were unfortunately something Seattle had to deal with on Sunday, as offensive tackle Abraham Lucas left early with a knee injury, and center Evan Brown was later ruled out with a concussion.
The Seahawks controlled their own postseason destiny. They just needed to win the final two games on their schedule, and they would be back in the playoffs. Now, they absolutely need a win next week against the Arizona Cardinals.
Let's take a look at what transpired in Seattle on Sunday.
Rudolph wasn't throwing touchdowns to Pickens this week, but the offense was just as effective. Pittsburgh has averaged 32.0 points per game over the past two contests after averaging 15.9 points per game in the first 14 games. The 468 total yards the Steelers recorded are the most since Week 12 of the 2018 season!
The Steelers won because of how consistent Harris and Warren were on the ground. They racked up 197 rushing yards, and scored all three of the Steelers' touchdowns.
Something's wrong if the Steelers are recording 468 yards of total offense on you. Seattle has a bottom five rush defense this year, and it showed up on Sunday. We had a close affair in the second half, but Seattle failed to get into the end zone in the final two quarters, and had a costly turnover as well.
Up seven points with about seven minutes remaining in regulation, the Steelers forced the lone turnover of the game -- and it was a big one at that. Rookie pass rusher Nick Herbig got to Smith, stripped him of the football and recovered the loose ball as well. The turnover gave Pittsburgh possession inside the red zone, and allowed Tomlin to run some clock before the Steelers pushed their lead to double digits with a 21-yard field goal.
On a third-and-7 in the fourth quarter, Rudolph dropped back and threw this beauty to Pickens -- who made a diving, fingertip catch. Special.
A big running back with long hair wearing No. 22 that came out of the University of Alabama, Najee Harris can look like Derrick Henry at times. This tough stiff arm certainly looks like one Henry would deliver.
The Steelers wrap up the regular season against the rival Ravens in Baltimore with a postseason berth still on the table. As for the Seahawks, they travel to Arizona to play the Cardinals in Week 18 and will need a win and some help to get in.
PIT: 2 straight games with 30+ pts (0 30-pt games in 1st 14 games of season)
Wow! Instead of running it, Rudolph goes to Pickens on first down! Picks up 24 yards. I absolutely love it. Pittsburgh now in the red zone.
Seahawks go 69 yards on 11 plays, but D.K. Metcalf drops a touchdown in the end zone on third-and-goal. Myers is good from 24 yards out.
30-23 Steelers with 2 minutes remaining in the game.
Seattle has 2 TOs to use. Need a defensive stand here.
6 plays, 13 yards, 3 Steelers points.
30-20 Pittsburgh with 3:24 remaining. Seahawks looking to go uptempo. Think that's a good idea.
Now THAT may be a turning point. On the Seahawks' first play of the possession, Herbig strip-sacks Smith, and recovers the loose ball. Steelers take over inside the red zone up 7 points with 7 minutes remaining.
Steelers go 65 yards on 13 plays, and Boswell is good from 26 yards out. Pittsburgh lead is back up to 7 points with 7:07 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Biiig splash plays for Seattle as we end the third quarter. A 32-yard catch-and-run from Metcalf, and then a Geno Smith 25-yard run.
Drive stalls right outside the red zone. Myers is good from 42 yards out. Caps a 7-play, 62-yard drive.
PIT 24 SEA 20 13:30 remaining in the fourth quarter
Seahawks go three and out, and we see what was just the third punt of the game. Thought it could be a turning point, but Seattle's defense stands on its head. Steelers pick up 19 yards on five plays, and have to punt for the first time today.
The Seahawks have now ruled out C Evan Brown (concussion). Another OLine starter down for Seattle. And Kenneth Walker is nursing an injured shoulder too.
This Steelers offense is really clicking. Four straight scoring drives if you don't count the last few seconds before the halftime break. This time, Rudolph and Co. go 71 yards on six plays, and Najee Harris carries the entire Seahawks D with him into the end zone for his second score of the game.
Diontae Johnson had a nice 42-yard pickup to get Pittsburgh into the red zone.
24-17, Steelers up. 6:57 remaining in the third quarter
Steelers defense finally gets off the field. Seahawks go 41 yards on eight plays. Geno had Lockett on the left side open for a first-down conversion on third-and-4, but he just missed him.
Myers is good from 43 yards out.
17-17 apiece, 10:47 remaining in the third quarter.
Pretty elite company for Warren and Harris. One of the RB duos they join is the iconic duo of Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier, the second pair of teammates in NFL history to each run for over 1,000 yards in a season.
First downs: PIT 14 SEA 9
Total yards: PIT 257 SEA 178
Third downs: PIT 4-7 SEA 2-4
TOP: PIT 19:25 SEA 10:35
Mason Rudolph 9/13 120 yards
Geno Smith 9/13 124 yards 1 TD
Najee Harris 13 carries 74 yards 1 TD
Jaylen Warren 7 carries 67 yards 1 TD
Kenneth Walker III 6 carries 45 yards 1 TD
George Pickens 3 catches 52 yards
Diontae Johnson 3 catches 34 yards
DK Metcalf 2 catches 54 yards
We have now seen points scored on five straight possessions. Steelers go 75 yards on nine plays, and Najee Harris scores from 9 yards out.
Steelers have 145 yards on the ground so far.
17-14 Steelers, 1:36 remaining in the first half.
WOW what a touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba on third-and-11.
Caps an 8-play, 75-yard drive. Seahawks on top 13-10 with 5:30 remaining in the second quarter.
Seahawks in the midst of another long drive. Both defenses struggling early.
Joey Porter Jr. is injured. Not sure how serious.
Surprisingly, Fant has been a key player on offense for Seattle early. 3 catches, 36 yards
On third-and-8 from the SEA 13-yard line, Rudolph is sacked by Leonard Williams. Loss of 8. Here comes a 39-yard FG. Aaaaaaaand It's good. Caps a 6-play, 54-yard drive.
10-7 PIT with 10: 27 remaining in the second quarter
Rudolph finds Pickens downfield for a gain of 37 yards, but he fumbled out of bounds. Second Steelers WR that's fumbled out of bounds today.
Jaylen Warren came to play. 23 yards on the first-down run. Just refused to go down.
