FINAL: Seahawks Suffer Playoff Hope Heartbreak in 30-23 Steelers Defeat
It is gameday in Seattle as the Seahawks are set to face off with the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game that could see the victor put themselves in prime position to make the postseason.
For the Seahawks, a win at home versus Pittsburgh and then another one on the road against the Arizona Cardinals will mean they'll have a spot in the postseason for the 11th time under coach Pete Carroll. Although, for the Steelers, the path to the playoff picture isn't quite as clear.
Even with a win over the Seahawks on Sunday and another over the Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers' ticket to the postseason still won't be punched, as they'll need help elsewhere. However, even with a loss to the Seahawks, the Steelers aren't totally out of contention for the postseason.
That fact may give Seattle an edge, as they've shown an unwillingness to back down in recent weeks. Each of the Seahawks' last two wins have come after trailing for most of the game.
Dec 24, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Seattle Seahawks tight end Colby Parkinson (84) celebrates with quarterback Geno Smith (7) after scoring the game-winning touchdown during the second half against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium.
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
First, it was their Week 15 clash with the Philadelphia Eagles, who at one point held a 10-0 lead over a Seahawks team already dealing with the adversity of not having starting quarterback Geno Smith due to injury.
Instead, Smith's backup, Drew Lock, was the one forced to bring the Seahawks back, helping them score 10 unanswered in the fourth quarter, including a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba to pull the upset.
Then, just six days later, they were on the road facing the Titans, who, after a long 15-play drive, had taken a 17-13 lead late in the fourth quarter. This time, it was Smith's turn to lead the game-winning drive, as he found Colby Parkinson for a five-yard touchdown.
The Seahawks will hope to keep their win streak alive as they face the Steelers in a game with playoff implications.
First Quarter
The Seahawk's defense forced an early stop as the Steelers decided to go for it on fourth and five. On fourth-down, Rudolph decided to look long for Pickens, which ended up incomplete as Tariq Woolen broke up the pass.
Change of Possession
The Seahawks opened the game with a three-and-out punt.
Change of Possession
The Steelers struck first as Mason Rudolph led a 14-play drive that started with a 16-yard completion to Johnson, which was almost a turnover as he fumbled the ball out of bounds. Instead, the Steelers found the endzone with an 18-yard run from Jaylen Warren.
TOUCHDOWN STEELERS
Steelers 7, Seahawks 0
Change of Possession
Second Quarter
The Seahawks offense struck back quickly, driving 75 yards in just seven plays as Kenneth Walker found the endzone with a 13-yard touchdown run. On the drive, Smith completed three of his four passes for 47 yards before Walker capped it off with two straight runs that totaled 24 yards.
TOUCHDOWN SEAHAWKS
Steelers 7, Seahawks 7
Change of Possession
A 23-yard run for Warren opened the drive, before Rudolph found Pickens for a big 37-yard gain, as the Steelers quickly found themselves in the redzone. Yet, despite bending, the Seahawks' defense didn't break as they forced Pittsburgh to settle for a field goal after a third-down sack.
FIELD GOAL STEELERS
Steelers 10, Seahawks 7
Change of Possession
Smith completed four of his five passes for 65 yards as he found rookie receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the back of the endzone for a 12-yard touchdown. Smith's touchdown pass capped off a near-perfect drive as he led the Seahawks to the endzone in just eight plays.
TOUCHDOWN SEAHAWKS
Seahawks 14, Steelers 10
Change of Possession
The back-and-forth affair continued as the Steelers found a touchdown of their own as Najee Harris took a run nine yards for the score.
TOUCHDOWN STEELERS
Steelers 17, Seahawks 14
Change of Possession
The streak of scoring drives ended as Seattle went three-and-out.
Change of Possession
The Steelers ran two more plays before halftime.
Third Quarter
Smith completed five of his six passes on the drive, with the only incompletion being the third-and-four pass intended for Noah Fant, which forced the Seahawks to settle for a 43-yard field goal.
FIELD GOAL SEAHAWKS
Steelers 17, Seahawks 17
Change of Possession
The Steelers retook the lead as Harris found the endzone again, this time on a four-yard rushing touchdown.
TOUCHDOWN STEELERS
Steelers 24, Seahawks 17
Change of Possession
The Seahawks suffer another three-and-out before a punt.
Change of Possession
The Seahawks' defense found a way to get off the field after five plays to force a punt.
Change of Possession
Fourth Quarter
The Seahawks could only manage a field goal despite the big opportunity to tie the game early in the fourth quarter. A seven-play Seattle drive ended after Smith's pass to Charbonnet only picked up seven yards on third-down.
FIELD GOAL SEAHAWKS
Steelers 24, Seahawks 20
Change of Possession
The Seahawks get the hold they needed, as the Steelers settled for a 26-yard field goal from Chris Boswell.
FIELD GOAL STEELERS
Steelers 27, Seahawks 20
Change of Possession
However, the stop was all for naught, as Smith was stripped on a Nick Herbig sack on the first play of the drive for Seattle.
Change of Possession
The Steelers added to their lead but only with a field goal from Chris Boswell.
FIELD GOAL STEELERS
Steelers 30, Seahawks 20
Change of Possession
Smith completed six of his nine passes for 71 yards, with all three incompletions coming in a row as the Seahawks' drive stalled in the redzone. Seattle settled for a 24-yard field goal from Jason Meyers.
FIELD GOAL SEAHAWKS
Steelers 30, Seahawks 23
Change of Possession
The Seahawks' defense couldn't get the stop they needed to force a punt as the Steelers got the two first downs they needed to run out the clock.
FINAL: Pittsburgh Steelers 30, Seattle Seahawks 23
