By Mike DeFabo, Michael-Shawn Dugar and Zach Powell The Seattle Seahawks picked up their first win of the season Sunday afternoon, capitalizing on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ critical fourth-quarter muffed kick return to earn a 31-17 win at Acrisure Stadium. The Seahawks gained a three-point lead, 17-14, when kicker Jason Myers connected on a 54-yard field goal with just over 13 minutes left in the fourth quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Steelers rookie Kaleb Johnson attempted to field the ball when he made contact with it. And as the ball bounced over his head and sailed into the end zone, George Holani recovered it for a touchdown, giving the Seahawks a 10-point lead.
The Seahawks just recovered a kickoff in the end zone for a touchdown!
— NFL (@NFL) Even after the Steelers retained possession with approximately 12 minutes left, and Pittsburgh veteran kicker Chris Boswell later kicked a 45-yard field goal, the fumble on the kickoff was a momentum swinger. Kenneth Walker III rushed in a 19-yard score for Seattle to slam the door shut on any potential Pittsburgh comeback. Advertisement In the loss, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers achieved a milestone, tying ex-Green Bay Packers teammate Brett Favre for with 508. Rodgers found former Seahawk DK Metcalf on an out-route for a 2-yard TD, Rodgers’ lone one of the game. He finished 18 of 33 for 203 yards and two interceptions. Here are four takeaways from the game: Steelers offense comes back to Earth On a day that Rodgers matched his Green Bay predecessor and Metcalf enjoyed a touchdown against his former team, the Steelers’ offense largely came back to earth.
On the ground, the Steelers managed just 72 yards and 3.4 yards per carry — a second consecutive game in which the running game did little to take the pressure off their QB’s right arm. In both cases, those stats were inflated by garbage-time production.
The biggest glaring mistake from Rodgers was a significant one. With the score tied at 14 early in the second half, the Steelers faced third-and-goal from the 4-yard line. Rodgers’ pass intended for Pat Freiermuth was deflected by Calvin Austin III and intercepted by Seahawks DB Derion Kendrick. — Mike DeFabo, Steelers beat writer
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) Seahawks defense limits Pittsburgh on the ground Seattle held Pittsburgh’s three running backs to 56 yards on 19 carries. For the second straight week, Mike Macdonald’s defense did its job against the run. The second objective every week is to get the ball. The defense did that, too. For the second straight week, Seattle recorded a pair of interceptions. Backup nickel Derion Kendrick caught a tipped ball in the end zone and safety Coby Bryant hauled in an overthrown pass on Aaron Rodgers’ final series of the game. — Michael-Shawn Dugar, Seahawks beat writer Advertisement Seahawks find rhythm in rushing game, particularly in second half Seattle finally found its groove on the ground, and it paid dividends in the second half. Ken Walker III had 79 of his 105 yards on the ground in the third and fourth quarters, and his touchdown on third-and-goal from the 19 gave Seattle a 31-17 lead with 3:41 remaining. Walker went over 100 yards rushing for the first time since Week 1 of last season. Seattle had other meaningful contributions from Jaxon Smith-Njigba (103 receiving yards) and Cooper Kupp (90 yards), along with a defense that held firm most of the game. But the part of the game that stands out from an offensive perspective is the team’s ability to find its identity. — Dugar
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) Turnovers can’t make up for defensive miscues The Steelers’ defense tied for the league lead in turnovers forced in 2024. On Sunday, that unit helped set the stage for a pair of scores. Early in the first quarter, Jalen Ramsey’s first interception as a Steeler led to a field goal. Then, late in the first half, Cameron Heyward deflected Sam Darnold’s pass, and outside linebacker Nick Herbig intercepted it. His 41-yard return set the table for the Steelers’ first touchdown of the game. That splash was overshadowed by numerous Seattle chunk plays and inconsistent tackling. The Steelers defense allowed 18 plays of 10 yards or more, including four plays of 20-plus yards. Several of those plays gashed the Steelers in the middle of the field. Meanwhile, on the ground, the Steelers continued to struggle to stop the run. Walker led the way on the ground with 105 yards and 8.1 yards per carry, as the Seahawks racked up 117 rushing yards and 4.0 yards per carry. — DeFabo (Photo: Justin K. Aller / Getty Images)
