Here we go Steelers~

[wvumaryjane]

The Steeler D just shut out Seattle!

Whooo Hoo!

[rainman]

After a slow start the Steelers scored on three straight possessions to build an insurmountable lead and defeat the Seattle Seahawks 21-0 at Heinz Field.

The win improves the Steelers record to 4-1 as they head into their bye week, while Seattle dropped to 3-2.

Heath Miller pulled in a 13-yard touchdown reception on the team’s final drive of the first half and Najeh Davenport added two rushing touchdowns on the next two possessions.

Willie Parker had his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season, carrying the ball 28 times for 102 yards. Ben Roethlisberger completed 18 of 22 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown.

The defense was swarming all day, not allowing the Seahawks to ever establish an offensive attack. Matt Hasselbeck completed 13 passes for 116 yards and an interception, before being replaced mid-way through the fourth quarter by Seneca Wallace. Shaun Alexander had 11 carries and was held to a mere 25 yards on the ground.

The Steelers opened the game with one wide receiver on the sideline with Hines Ward inactive and soon had another one joining him. Santonio Holmes surprisingly did not start because of a hamstring injury. The team was also without starting safety Troy Polamalu and nose tackle Casey Hampton, both inactive due to injures.

The Seahawks opened on offense with Hasselbeck connecting with Deion Branch for a seven-yard gain. Hasselbeck found fullback Leonard Weaver for a three-yard gain for a fist down at the Seattle 31-yard line. Hasselbeck threw incomplete to Maurice Morris, but Alexander came back with a six-yard carry. The Seahawks weren’t able to convert on their second third down attempt of the game and were forced to punt.

With both of their starting wide receivers on the sideline the offense went to work. Roethlisberger didn’t waste any time going to Nate Washington, who started for Ward, for a 14-yard gain. Parker struggled to get yardage, with a two-yard gain and then being knocked for a four-yard loss. Roethlisberger went to Davenport for a seven-yard gain, but it wasn’t enough and they punted on their first possession as well.

Alexander was stuffed for a one-yard gain and incompletion set the Seahawks up for a long third-and-nine. Hasselbeck looked over the middle and found Bobby Engram for a 14-yard gain to the Seattle 30-yard line. The defense then put the clamps on and Seattle had to punt for the second time.

The Steelers offense continued to struggle to get moving. Parker went off right tackle for a six-yard gain, but two incomplete passes forced a three-and-out.
The defensive battle continued with neither team being able to do anything with the ball on their next possessions and the first three drives of the game for both teams ending in punts.

The Seahawks showed signs of life on offense on their next drive, going into Steelers territory, the first time either team crossed the 50-yard line in the game. On third-and-13 from the Steelers 38-yard line the defense stepped up again when James Farrior sacked Hasselbeck for a seven-yard loss.

Seattle backed the Steelers up on their own one-yard line on the ensuing drive. It looked like they wouldn’t go anywhere, but on third-and-three Roethlisberger hit Willie Reid for a 25-yard gain to their 33-yard line. Cedrick Wilson pulled in an eight-yard reception and Parker had a one-yard run, setting up third-and-one. Roethlisberger took it himself, going up the middle for the first down. Julian Peterson sacked Roethlisberger for a nine-yard loss on the next play. On third-and-19 the Steelers came up short when Roethlisberger was forced by blanket coverage to dump it off to Davenport for only six yards,

The defense stepped up again and help the Seahawks, putting the ball right back into the hands of the offense and they made it count.

Parker had a four-yard gain, but then got hit for a one-yard loss. Miller fought for the first down on an eight-yard catch to keep things moving for the Steelers. Lofa Tatupu blitzed on the next play and was untouched when he sacked Roethlisberger for an eight-yard loss. Davenport gave the offense a spark when he broke free of defenders for a 45-yard run to the Seahawks 20-yard line. Parker got a three-yard carry and Roethlisberger went to Carey Davis for a four-yard gain, giving the Steelers a third down at the two-minute warning.

Roethlisberger went back to Miller, who pulled in the 13-yard pass in the end zone for a touchdown, giving the Steelers a 7-0 lead.

Seattle responded on offense with Hasselbeck driving them down the field thanks to a 30-yard completion to Ben Obamanu. Hasselbeck was sacked for a four-yard loss. Hasselbeck hit Marcus Pollard for a 22-yard gain, and safety Anthony Smith was flagged for a 15-yard roughing the passer call, giving Seattle the ball at the Steelers 14-yard line.

With the pressure on them, the defense responded. Ike Taylor, who earlier had his hands on a potential interception, intercepted Hasselbeck at the goal line to send the Steelers into the half up 7-0.

The Steelers started the second half at their own 20-yard line and despite being hampered by three holding penalties, multiple third-and-longs and a 10-yard sack, the Steelers kept the drive alive. On third-and-17 Wilson pulled in a 17-yard reception to the Seahawks 20-yard line. Parker took off running on the next play, but the apparent touchdown was called back to the one-yard line after Seattle challenged the call. Peterson stopped Davenport for no gain on the next play, but he wouldn’t be denied. He got the call again and this time there was no denying the score, giving the Steelers a 14-0 lead.

A fired up defense and a loud Heinz Field crowd forced a false start by the Seahawks to start their drive. After that, the Seahawks weren’t able to go anywhere and punted after failing to covert on third-and-three.

It was back to work for the offense with contributions coming from all directions. Miller had a 10-yard reception and Wilson added an 18-yard catch. Davenport pulled in a short catch and turned it into a 17-yard gain. Parker broke for a nine-yard carry to the 10-yard line and added a five-yard carry. On second-and-goal Davenport went around right tackle untouched for the touchdown, extending the lead to 21-0.

The Steelers continued their stellar defensive play, shutting down the Seahawks on another drive and forcing the punt.

After scoring on their last three drives, the Steelers too had to punt away on their next possession.

Wallace came in at quarterback for the Seahawks with just over seven minutes to play in the game and was hassled by the defense, completing just one of three passes with a sack.

Charlie Batch came in to close the game for the Steelers.