Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers
· National Football LeaguePickett's game-winning drive helps Steelers beat Seahawks
Pickett, Pittsburgh’s first-round pick in 2022, is competing with Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph to replace retired two-time Super Bowl winner Ben Roethlisberger as the Steelers starting quarterback.
Roethlisberger guided the franchise for 18 seasons and led the Steelers to three Super Bowl appearances.
Pickett, the former University of Pittsburgh standout, played the second half and finished 13 of 15 for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Pickett was sacked, forcing a turnover on downs, but had a chance to win the game when Pittsburgh’s Mark Robinson sacked Seattle’s Drew Lock and forced a fumble on the next play.
Pickett responded with a five-play, 43-yard drive capped by his touchdown pass to Vaughns. He received a loud ovation and chants of “Kenny, Kenny, Kenny” when he first took the field in the third quarter and before the eventual winning drive.
Pickett could certainly hear the appreciation from the fans.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t,” Pickett said. “It was an incredible feeling. It was really cool. It was special.”
Lock and Geno Smith are in a competition to replace Russell Wilson as Seattle’s starting quarterback. Wilson was traded to Denver in the offseason. It’s the first quarterback competition for the Seahawks since 2012, when Wilson won the job as a rookie.
Smith and Lock didn’t have DK Metcalf or Tyler Lockett on Saturday. Smith played the first half, going 10 of 15 for 101 yards and a rushing touchdown. Lock was 11 of 15 with 102 yards and two scores, but a crucial fumble that led to Pittsburgh’s winning touchdown.
“Both quarterbacks were efficient,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “Geno could’ve been perfect and we moved the ball pretty good with Drew.”
All three Steelers quarterbacks threw touchdown passes. Trubisky and Rudolph threw touchdown passes in the first quarter, while Pickett converted on his first-ever NFL series and led the Steelers on a game-winning drive.
Trubisky, who played most of the first quarter, finished 4 of 7 for 63 yards with a touchdown. Rudolph ended the half, going 9 of 15 for 93 yards and a score.
Trubisky, was the No. 2 overall pick in 2017, while Rudolph served as Roethlisberger’s backup the past four seasons.
Pickett, who threw for 42 touchdowns and led the University of Pittsburgh to the program’s first ACC title, finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting and was the ACC Player of the Year in 2021.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was happy with his three quarterbacks after one preseason game.
“They moved their units,” Tomlin said. “They did the informal things associated with the position from a leadership and communication standpoint. It was a good first time out for all three.”
Smith, entering his fourth season with the Seahawks, briefly filled in last season when Wilson went down with a hand injury. He kept Seattle competitive, but also made critical mistakes in losses against Pittsburgh and New Orleans.
Lock, entering his fourth season, was part of the deal Seattle received in return for sending Wilson to the Broncos. Lock has started 21 of 24 games, but has been inconsistent through his first three seasons.
The Seahawks punted on the first two series of the game, including a three-and-out, but Smith settled in the second quarter with a pair of scoring drives.
Smith ran an effective two-minute drill at the end of the half, as he led the Seahawks on a nine-play, 61-yard touchdown series in 1:27. He eluded a sack on third-and-2 and later scored a 2-yard touchdown to pull the Seahawks within 17-10 at halftime.
Lock twice tied the game in the second half with touchdown drives, but his late fourth-quarter fumble proved costly for the Seahawks.
“I could’ve handled that better,” Lock said. “As a quarterback, you’re able to fix (protection). I’ll always take it on the chest and I could’ve been better there.”
Trubisky was backed up to his 10-yard line to start the game, but he responded by leading the Steelers on a seven-play, 90-yard drive in less than three minutes. Trubisky moved the offense to midfield on his second series before the Steelers were forced to punt.
Rudolph played three series, leading the Steelers to a touchdown, field goal and three-and-out.
Rudolph recovered his own fumble and was sacked on his first snap, but he tossed a 26-yard touchdown pass to George Pickens two plays later. Rudolph used 17 plays and nearly nine minutes to lead the Steelers to the 3-yard line on his second drive. He nearly threw an interception midway through the drive, but the series ended with a 21-yard field goal.
Pickett led the Steelers on a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in his first series.
INJURIES
Seahawks: Wide receiver Cody Thompson left with a shoulder injury. Cornerback Artie Burns, the Steelers former first-round draft pick, was held out with a groin injury.
Steelers: Safety Karl Joseph left with an ankle injury, while CB Ahkello Witherspoon sustained a shoulder injury. ... Pittsburgh also held out RB Najee Harris (foot), WR Diontae Johnson (hip), WR Chase Claypool (shoulder), TE Pat Freiermuth (hamstring), RB Benny Snell (knee), LB Alex Highsmith (ribs) and OL Kevin Dotson (ankle) among others.
UP NEXT
Seahawks: Host Chicago on Thursday.
Steelers: Visit Jacksonville next Saturday.
How can I watch Seahawks vs. Steelers?
- TV Channel: Seahawks at Steelers 2021-22 NFL, week 2 is broadcasted nationally on NFL NET.
- Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
In Canada, viewers can watch Seahawks vs. Steelers on DAZN.
Scoring Summary
TD | 1st Period 12:15 | Gunner Olszewski 13 Yd pass from Mitch Trubisky (Nick Sciba Kick) | |
TD | 1st Period 1:39 | George Pickens 26 Yd pass from Mason Rudolph (Nick Sciba Kick) | |
FG | 2nd Period 12:50 | Jason Myers 33 Yd Field Goal | |
FG | 2nd Period 4:28 | Nick Sciba 21 Yd Field Goal | |
TD | 2nd Period 0:21 | Geno Smith 2 Yd Run (Jason Myers Kick) | |
TD | 3rd Period 10:37 | Dareke Young 3 Yd pass from Drew Lock (Jason Myers Kick) | |
TD | 3rd Period 6:44 | Jaylen Warren 3 Yd pass from Kenny Pickett (Kenny Pickett Pass to Connor Heyward for Two-Point Conversion) | |
TD | 4th Period 13:32 | DeeJay Dallas 17 Yd pass from Drew Lock (Drew Lock Pass to Travis Homer for Two-Point Conversion) | |
TD | 4th Period 0:03 | Tyler Vaughns 24 Yd pass from Kenny Pickett (Nick Sciba Kick) |
Statistics
SEA | PIT | |
---|---|---|
21 | 1st Downs | 24 |
10 | Passing 1st downs | 15 |
11 | Rushing 1st downs | 8 |
0 | 1st downs from penalties | 1 |
5-11 | 3rd down efficiency | 7-13 |
0-0 | 4th down efficiency | 0-1 |
59 | Total Plays | 67 |
339 | Total Yards | 409 |
5.7 | Yards per Play | 6.1 |
11 | Total Drives | 11 |
180 | Passing | 224 |
21-30 | Comp-Att | 26-37 |
5.5 | Yards per pass | 5.6 |
0 | Interceptions thrown | 0 |
3-23 | Sacks-Yards Lost | 3-27 |
159 | Rushing | 185 |
26 | Rushing Attempts | 27 |
6.1 | Yards per rush | 6.9 |
3-4 | Red Zone (Made-Att) | 2-3 |
3-35 | Penalties | 2-15 |
1 | Turnovers | 0 |
1 | Fumbles lost | 0 |
0 | Interceptions thrown | 0 |
0 | Defensive / Special Teams TDs | 0 |
28:05 | Possession | 31:55 |
Game Information
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Attendance: 48,197 · Capacity:
2023 NFC West Standings
TEAM | W | L | PCT | T | PF | PA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
San Francisco | 12 | 5 | .706 | 0 | 491 | 298 |
Los Angeles | 10 | 7 | .588 | 0 | 404 | 377 |
Seattle | 9 | 8 | .529 | 0 | 364 | 402 |
Arizona | 4 | 13 | .235 | 0 | 330 | 455 |
2023 AFC North Standings
TEAM | W | L | PCT | T | PF | PA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baltimore | 13 | 4 | .765 | 0 | 483 | 280 |
Cleveland | 11 | 6 | .647 | 0 | 396 | 362 |
Pittsburgh | 10 | 7 | .588 | 0 | 304 | 324 |
Cincinnati | 9 | 8 | .529 | 0 | 366 | 384 |
NFL News
Frank Gore Jr.'s NFL draft profile
Check out some of the best highlights from Southern Miss RB Frank Gore Jr.
Jordan Travis' NFL draft profile
Check out some of the best highlights from Florida State QB Jordan Travis.
Kedon Slovis' NFL draft profile
Check out some of the top highlights from BYU QB Kedon Slovis.
Erick All's NFL draft profile
Check out some of the top highlights from Iowa TE Erick All.
The numbers behind Trey Hendrickson's impact with the Bengals
Check out how valuable Trey Hendrickson has been for the Bengals as he requests a trade out of Cincinnati.