Seahawks’ Ahtyba Rubin makes crucial, unexpected pick of Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger
Nov 30, 2015, 1:55 PM | Updated: 2:40 pm
(AP)
Of the four Seahawks interceptions during Sunday’s 39-30 win over Pittsburgh, the most unlikely came from 325-pound defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin.
The pick came late in the third quarter with Seattle trailing by seven. Replays showed the ball slip out of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s hand. Rubin said he was pushing the pocket, got off the ball and saw Roethlisberger throw the ball over his head.
“I got a hand up, turned around and just picked it off,” Rubin told the postgame show on 710 ESPN Seattle.
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Rubin now has two interceptions in his career, the first coming in 2010 as a member of the Browns, picking off then-Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel. He doubled his interception-return yards with Sunday’s pick, managing to rumble forward two yards.
“It’s awesome to feel all that energy coming off the 12s and picking off the ball,” he said. “It’s incredible.”
Rubin, who is in his first year with Seattle after seven seasons with Cleveland, told the media that he would keep this interception ball in a trophy case, calling the snag against Roethlisberger “very special.”
“It means a lot,” he told reporters. “That guy deserves to get picked.”