Steelers Defeat Seahawks 24-0 For 1st Win Of Season
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) - After an embarrassing 35-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, the Pittsburgh Steelers returned home to Heinz Field Sunday in search of their first win of the season.
And in a dominating performance, the Steelers bounced back from that terrible opening week loss to shut down the Seattle Seahawks for 24-0 victory.
The Seahawks put up little resistance and didn't take an offensive snap on Pittsburgh's side of the field until midway through the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, Ben Roethlisberger was able to shake off a right knee injury to complete 22 of 30 passes for the Steelers. Mike Wallace caught eight passes for 126 yards and a score.
The Steelers began the game with the ball at their own 18 yard line.
Facing a 3rd-and-2, Roethlisberger found Emmanuel Sanders for a 30-yard completion, but the Steelers were not done there. Two plays later, Roethlisberger went deep to Wallace. The pass was incomplete in the end zone, but a pass interference penalty set them up with a first down at the 1 yard line.
Rashard Mendenhall was stuffed on first down and Roethlisberger was sacked on second down. On third down, Roethlisberger was flushed out of the pocket and took off for the end zone, but was stopped just short.
The Steelers elected to go for it, but Mendenhall, who ran for 67 yards and a touchdown, was stopped just inches from the goal line. Head coach Mike Tomlin challenged the call, but it was upheld.
Backed up against their own goal line, the Seahawks went three-and-out and were forced to punt.
On the ensuing drive, the Steelers were able to find the end zone to draw first blood in the game.
Mendenhall capped off a nine-play, 60-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 3:28 to play in the first quarter.
The highlight of the drive was Sanders hooking up with Hines Ward for a 15-yard pass.
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After forcing the Seahawks to punt again, the Steelers quickly added to their lead.
On 2nd-and-7 from the Seattle 20 yard line, Isaac Redman exploded through a hole and sprinted for the end zone to put Pittsburgh up 14-0 with 12:41 to play in the half.
The touchdown run capped a six-play, 53-yard drive for the Steelers.
On their next possession, the Steelers moved the ball with ease, but there was a scary moment. On 2nd-and-8 from the Seattle 20 yard line, Roethlisberger found Heath Miller for a 16-yard completion. However, Raheem Block slid into Roethlisberger's knee and the Steelers' quarterback stayed down for several moments.
He was able to get up and walk to the sidelines under his own power, but Charlie Batch was brought into the game in his place. He remained in the game for two plays before Roethlisberger was able to return.
Shaun Suisham completed the drive with a 20-yard field goal to put Pittsburgh up 17-0 with 1:52 left in the half.
Seattle began the second half with the ball, but they were forced to punt it away for the fourth time.
The teams traded possessions for most of the third quarter, but the Steelers were finally able to break through and extend the lead.
Roethlisberger, who threw for 298 yards, found Wallace in the corner of the end zone for a 2-yard strike to build the lead to 24-0 with 3:30 to play in the third quarter.
The touchdown capped a 10-play, 71-yard drive that took just under six minutes off the clock.
Early in the fourth quarter, Suisham missed a 41-yard field goal that would have put the Steelers up 27-0.
The Steelers limited the Seahawks to just 164 total yards.
Next week, the Steelers head to Indianapolis where they will take on the Colts on Sept. 25 at 8:20 p.m.
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