Fast Facts: Seahawks fall 32-25 to Steelers as QB battle on display
Aug 13, 2022, 7:17 PM | Updated: 8:56 pm
The preseason giveth, and the preseason taketh away. At least that was the case for the Seahawks as they opened exhibition play Saturday night.
The Seahawks created a big turnover on downs inside the final minute of a tie game, only for the Steelers to get the ball right back on a fumble lost by Seattle quarterback Drew Lock and score the game-winning touchdown with three seconds to go and prevail 32-25.
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TOUCHDOWN @STEELERS. @kennypickett10's TD pass in the final seconds puts Pittsburgh ahead!
📺: #SEAvsPIT on @NFLNetwork (check local listings)
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/cINB23wRfG pic.twitter.com/QezXd8IFcl— NFL (@NFL) August 14, 2022
The fumble came on a sack by linebacker Mark Robinson and was the biggest blemish on what was otherwise a good night for Lock, who is entrenched in a battle with veteran Geno Smith to succeed Russell Wilson as the starting Seahawks QB. Lock had the more impressive showing, at least in the box score, but Smith probably faced a stiffer version of the Steelers’ defense and has the benefit of not committing a turnover, which will certainly go a long way with coach Pete Carroll.
The @Steelers get it right back! Mark Robinson making a big play. 💪
📺: #SEAvsPIT on @NFLNetwork (check local listings)
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/cINB23wRfG pic.twitter.com/JxJNFs63hq— NFL (@NFL) August 14, 2022
The key play for the Seahawks on defense was by rookie Boye Mafe, who came up big on fourth-and-1 at the Seahawks 44, running down rookie Steelers QB Kenny Pickett on a play-action bootleg for a sack to give Seattle the ball in Steelers territory with the score knotted at 25. The next play, unfortunately for the Hawks, was Lock’s fumble.
What a clutch sack by the rookie @boye_mafe 😤
📺: #SEAvsPIT on @NFLNetwork (check local listings)
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/cINB23wRfG pic.twitter.com/vR40Lmynum— NFL (@NFL) August 14, 2022
Here’s a look at the fast facts from the game.
Notable Seahawks stats
Smith completed 10 of 16 attempts for 101 yards and an 85.7 rating in his two quarters of action, but his biggest play was a 2-yard scramble and keeper for a touchdown just before halftime that should help his cause. Smith is considered the less mobile of the two QB options.
.@GenoSmith3 punches it in 👊
📺: #SEAvsPIT on @KING5Seattle pic.twitter.com/Fo0Kz6ARL9
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) August 14, 2022
Lock came out strong when he took over after halftime, completing 3 of 5 passes for 55 yards and a TD on his first drive. He finished the game 11 of 15 for 102 yards and two scores, though he was sacked twice (Smith was sacked once).
Running back Travis Homer had a big first half, rushing for 41 yards on four carries for an average of 10.3 yards. His longest run was for 16 yards. He also had two receptions for 33 yards and caught a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter.
DeeJay Dallas was Seattle’s leading rusher with 73 yards on 10 carries, getting most of his playing time in the second half. He also had a 17-yard TD catch.
.@DallasDeejay got 𝙐𝙋 for the touch𝘿𝙊𝙒𝙉
📺: #SEAvsPIT on @KING5Seattle pic.twitter.com/bOnRGtBxgz
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) August 14, 2022
Rookie RB Ken Walker III had 19 yards on five rushes.
Bo Melton, a rookie wide receiver, hauled in a pair of catches for a team-high 47 yards.
Dareke Young, another rookie receiver, had four catches for 30 yards, including a 3-yard TD from Lock.
First NFL TD for @DarekeYoung4 ☑️
📺: #SEAvsPIT on @KING5Seattle pic.twitter.com/0ezt7iaXSD
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) August 14, 2022
Mafe, a pass rusher, was a standout on defense with three tackles, two sacks and a tackle for loss.
Scoring
Seattle 0 10 7 8 – 25
Pittsburgh 14 3 8 0 – 25
First quarter
PIT – Gunner Olszewski 13 pass from Mitch Trubisky (Nick Sciba kick), 12;15
PIT – George Pickens 26 pass from Mason Rudolph (Sciba kick), 1:39
Second quarter
SEA – Jason Myers 33 FG, 12:50
PIT – Sciba 21 FG, 4:28
SEA – Geno Smith 2 rush (Myers kick), :21
Third quarter
SEA – Dareke Young 3 pass from Drew Lock (Myers kick), 10:37
PIT – Jaylen Warren 3 pass from Kenny Pickett (Connor Heyward pass from Pickett), 6:44
Fourth quarter
SEA – DeeJay Dallas 17 pass from Lock (Travis Homer pass from Lock), 13:32
PIT – Tyler Vaughns 24 pass from Pickett (Sciba kick), :03
Up next for the Seahawks
The Seahawks will return to Lumen Field for the first time in over seven months for their lone home preseason game, and it will be a short turnaround when they host the Bears on Thursday, giving them just four days to prepare. The game will air live on Seattle Sports Station 710 AM and KIRO Radio Newsradio 97.3 FM, with pregame starting at 3 p.m. and kickoff set for 5.
Weather will be, well, just a little different than the last time the Hawks and Bears met at Lumen Field. The previous time, as you may remember, was the snow game in freezing temperatures last December. The Weather.com forecast for Thursday lists a predicted high of 85 degrees, roughly 65 degrees higher than the last meeting.
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