Roethlisberger had a chance to be the hero with the Steelers (6-5) driving in the final minutes and trailing by five points.
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Antwon Blake is the goat of the game with two special teams penalties and allowing the game-clinching touchdown by Seattle late in the fourth quarter. “We thought we would be a lot better as a team, not just as a defense”. Seattle would score a touchdown two plays later. Seattle gained 144 yards on offense.
Wilson’s first TD toss to Baldwin in the fourth quarter was a response to Markus Wheaton’s 69-yard touchdown reception that had put the Steelers in front 27-26. Rawls is the future of the Seahawks’ offense, and getting him extra action early won’t hurt.
It was as seesawing and thrilling a game as Seattle’s hosted in years.
Ahead of their meeting against the Seahawks, Pittsburgh should be well rested as they are coming off a bye week and an energized squad should be ready to play in a hostile environment in Seattle.
And the victory inexplicably moved Seattle into playoff position. On the other side, the Seahawks are 5-5 straight up but just 3-6-1 at the betting window, including 2-3 ATS at home.
But after beating the Steelers and improving to 6-5, the Seahawks now have a lead for the second wild card in the NFC after the Atlanta Falcons lost for the fifth time in the last six games. Graham stayed down on the ground while being attended by the Seattle medical staff.
The downside for Seattle was the loss of tight end Jimmy Graham for the season to a patellar tendon injury in his right knee that will require surgery. Graham’s season is over and his availability for training camp and the start of next season will likely be in doubt well into next summer.
– Jeremy Lane had a memorable return.
Seahawks’ quarterback Russell Wilson at a press conference to kickstart Super Bowl XLVIII.
The Steelers have played in Seattle just once since 1994 and haven’t won in the Northwest since 1983. Three of the Seahawks’ five touchdowns came after interceptions.
The first decision came at the beginning of the second quarter. One of the team’s best run stoppers, Ryan Shazier, is listed as questionable for the game.
The good news for the Steelers is that starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is healthy again after contending with knee and foot injuries. He went 20-of-29 for 159 yards. The Seahawks ruled out receiver Paul Richardson (hamstring) against the Steelers. But Wilson was able to hit Baldwin on a passing route, Baldwin stiff-armed a defender, then raced up the right sideline for an 80-yard touchdown that clinched the contest. Said Rawls: “Trying to kill this little cold I’ve got”. I know that’s not a stat that sticks out on weekly basis, but it’s something that I’ve paid attention and that us as an offense has paid attention to. “Have we wanted to throw more touchdowns?”
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Sherman, who has been dominant over the last two seasons, struggled through the first half of this season, allowing opposing quarterbacks a 100.3 quarterback rating, 15.3 yards per catch and a 66.7 percent completion percentage when thrown to as of only a few weeks ago.
