The Steelers run game overwhelmed the Seahawk’s defense in the visitors 30-23 win .

An unstoppable bruising run game by the Pittsburgh Steelers left the Seahawk’s Playoffs hopes in taters  after Sunday’s 30-23 win. Both teams needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. For the Seahawks a win over the Steelers would need a victory over the Arizona Cardinals to secure a play-off berth.  With so much on the line  the Seahawks lethargic effort was perplexing and  disappointing  for head coach Pete Carroll.

“Really disappointing missing this opportunity right here, at home. Everybody was ready. This was a great one, and we missed it. We weren’t right on defense, in the running game again, so it’s been repetitive. I see it. We played better in the second half, got 40 something yards in the second half but in the first half they had their way with it, said Carroll after the game.

The steelers finished the game with 468 offensive yards 202 of which were on the ground. The one two punch of  Pittsburgh running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren combined for 145 first-half yards.  Harris finished the game with 122 and Warren  75 yards in the dominant performance.

SAME OLD  MISCUES

Adding to  Carroll’s consternation was the number   of missed tackles by the defense when they  manage to arrive at the point of attack.

“The tackling just seemed like it was really off. Seemed like we just did not make the tackles that we had to, didn’t knock the piles back like we’d like to. I really want to see the film and see where it was happening to guys other than scheme and make sure that I understand that issue well, said Carroll after the game. “ Tackling wasn’t good enough and we weren’t efficient enough. We had shots. We had shots in the line of scrimmage, we had opportunities, and they won the battles better than we did.”

THIRD DOWN CONVERSION

The season long on going issue of third down execution played it’s roll in the disappointing loss. The Seahawks offense was 3 of 9 on third and as a result ran just 49 plays compared to the  Stealers 71. According to Geno Smith teams are intentional playing keep away with the Seahawks offense.

“I think just overall, if you’re going to be honest, teams are playing keep away. You’ve got teams running the ball, milking the clock in the first quarter. That’s been the past two weeks. I think that’s the ultimate sign of respect when teams are doing that,” Smith said in his post-game press conference. “I think when they’re playing a bunch of zones they’re not going to play us in man coverage, they’re going to try their best to keep us on the side-line because they know how explosive we are. I think, again, not turning the ball over, that’s a big factor in the game, and then overall being better on 3rd downs. I think we were 3 for 9. That’s not up to our standard. Then finishing in the red zone. That’s some things that we talk about every week, but it’s got to be better, and that’s all we can do is continue to fight and get better.”