I don’t mean to paraphrase myself but I wrote the following in a previous post.
Everyone thinks that it is RB Shaun Alexander that makes the Seahawks go. But Seattle’s passing game is so important, especially against a stout rush defense like Pittsburgh. Seattle will not win if Hasselbeck doesn’t play well, and the quarterback from the other team isn’t in quite the same situation. Ben Roethlisberger can play poorly and the Steelers, with their outstanding running game and defense, can still get a win. Seattle’s offense is their strength and the pressure is really on Hasselbeck to play well.
Roethlisberger’s line: 9/21, 123 yards, 2 INTs
Ugh.
Hasselbeck’s line: 26/49, 273 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
But it’s that last stat that turned the game. With the Steelers leading 14-10, and the momentum definitely in Seattle’s favor, the Seahawks had a third-and-18 on Pittsburgh’s 27-yard line. Hasselbeck overshot his receiver and Ike Taylor intercepted the ball. Had he just thrown the ball away, Seattle would have had a chance at another field goal to pull within one. (Keep in mind that the Seahawks were only in this position because of a very questionable holding call three plays earlier on a pass to Jerramy Stevens that would have given the ball to Seattle inside the two yard line.)
After a horrible unnecessary roughness penalty on Hasselbeck’s tackle of Taylor on the interception return, Pittsburgh took over near midfield and eventually scored on the gadget play from Antwan Randle El to Hines Ward, which put them ahead to stay, 21-10.
Hasselbeck had to play perfect and he didn’t – Steelers win.
