The Seattle Seahawks (0-1) are packing their bags for a cross-country trek to face the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday at 10AM on FOX. Fresh off a gut-punch loss to the 49ers, the Hawks are itching to avoid an 0-2 start against a Steelers squad riding high after Aaron Rodgers’ dazzling debut. Here are five key storylines to get you ready for this Week 2 showdown.
1. DK Metcalf’s Homecoming with a Vengeance
DK Metcalf, the Seahawks’ former record-smashing wideout, returns to haunt his old team after a blockbuster offseason trade to Pittsburgh and a shiny five-year, $150 million deal. The man who owns Seattle’s single-season receiving record (1,303 yards in 2020) and two Pro Bowl nods looked every bit the part in Week 1, snagging four catches for 83 yards with his signature after-the-catch explosiveness. Metcalf shrugged off the hype—“just another football game”—but his “seek and destroy” alter ego is ready to rumble. With Jaxon Smith-Njigba stepping up as Seattle’s new WR1 (nine grabs, 124 yards vs. the Niners), expect a fireworks show when these two go head-to-head.
2. Seahawks’ Secondary Takes a Hit
Seattle’s defense is licking its wounds after rookie safety Nick Emmanwori, a 6’3”, 220-pound Combine stud (4.38 40-yard dash), went down with a high-ankle sprain just five snaps into Week 1. Coach Mike Macdonald’s mulling injured reserve, which could shelve the second-rounder for a month. That’s a tough blow for a secondary already leaning on Josh Jobe, who snagged a pick against San Fran. The silver lining? EDGE Uchenna Nwosu and receivers Jake Bobo and Dareke Young might be back in the lineup, giving the Hawks a much-needed boost on both sides of the ball.
3. Aaron Rodgers vs. Seattle’s Gritty Defense
Aaron Rodgers turned back the clock in his Steelers debut, slinging four touchdowns and a 136.7 passer rating against the Jets like it was 2011. His 73.3% completion rate and play-action wizardry (33.3% of dropbacks) scream “Arthur Smith’s new toy.” But Seattle’s defense, which held the 49ers to 17 points, isn’t here to roll over. They gave up 7.9 yards per pass attempt in Week 1—a soft spot Rodgers might exploit—but their run-heavy game plan (52% rush rate) could keep the ball out of his hands. This one’s a chess match, folks.
4. Seahawks’ Road Warrior Mentality
Don’t mess with Seattle in early kickoffs. The Hawks are 27-11 in their last 38 10AM starts and 19-7 in the Eastern time zone since 2018. A win would notch a franchise-record seventh straight road victory, dating back to 2024. Pittsburgh holds an 11-10 edge in the all-time series, with wins in 2021 (an OT thriller) and 2023.
5. Fantasy Plays and Tactical Nuggets
This game’s low-scoring vibe makes it a fantasy football minefield. Seattle’s backfield duo of Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet split touches in Week 1, and they’re eyeing a Steelers run defense that coughed up 134 yards to Jets backs. Both are solid RB2/flex bets. Sam Darnold? He’s a low-end QB2 after a 150-yard, no-TD debut and a head-scratching 4.3% play-action rate. Rodgers, despite his Week 1 heroics, is a QB2 with pop, facing a Seattle D that could lean on T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith to rattle Darnold’s cage. Keep an eye on the trenches—this could get physical.
Prediction
This one’s got all the makings of a defensive dogfight, with both teams itching to pound the rock and Seattle’s road grit keeping it tight. The loss of Emmanwori stings, but a healthier Nwosu could disrupt Rodgers’ rhythm. JSN’s coming-out party continues, but Metcalf’s big-play threat and Pittsburgh’s raucous home crowd tip the scales. Still, I’m riding with the Hawks’ never-say-die spirit to steal one in the Burgh.
Final Score: Seahawks 20, Steelers 17.
Be the first to comment