The Steelers had won fourteen games in a row after leading at halftime, but that streak was snapped yesterday by a terrible second half, exemplified by rookie Kaleb Johnson’s mental error in the third quarter, when he let a kickoff roll into the end zone and started jogging off the field, not realizing it was a live ball that ended up being a Seattle touchdown when the Seahawks covered the ball. Seattle went on to beat the Steelers, 31-17.
Sam Darnold threw for 295 yards and two touchdowns for the Seahawks, finding holes throughout the Steelers’ battered defense, which was already down two starters in the secondary and lost four more players in the course of the game. Aaron Rodgers completed 18 of 33 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown for the Steelers, but was intercepted twice and sacked three times.
Coach Mike Tomlin called Johnson’s error on the kickoff “poor judgment by a young player,” but said that one play didn’t cost the Steelers the game.
The Seahawks sacked Rodgers three times and pressured him all afternoon, and the Steelers’ offensive line couldn’t open holes for the running game, which totaled only 72 yards. Tomlin says the o-line was not the only problem area.
Tomlin says the defense has to make plays, no matter who is on the field.
Rodgers says the Steelers can’t panic based on one game.
Linebacker TJ Watt says the Steelers didn’t adjust well to the Seahawks’ game plan.
For DK Metcalf, losing to his former team was no worse than losing to any other team.
The injury report included high ankle sprains by Alex Highsmith and Isaiahh Loudermilk, who both left early in the game and were wearing boots afterward; inside linebacker Patrick Queen had a rib injury and Tomlin said inside ‘backer Payton Wilson left due to “heat-related fatigue”.
The other AFC North action included Baltimore rolling over the Browns, 41-17 and the Bengals edging the Jaguars, 31-27. Bengals QB Joe Burrow suffered a toe injury and may be headed to surgery.
The Steelers play at New England on Sunday afternoon.
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