SEATTLE — Sept. 26, 1999 - Mike Holmgren was in his first season as head coach, Walter Jones had yet to be named to a Pro Bowl and Russell Wilson was two months shy of his 11th birthday the last time the Seahawks won a game in Pittsburgh.
Seattle will try to change that this weekend, when they take on the Steelers at 10 a.m. local time on Sunday.
The Seahawks are coming off a close 21-20 victory over the Bengals at home to start the season.
Seattle trailed 17-14 at the start of the fourth quarter, until Russell Wilson threw a 44 yard touchdown pass to Tyler Lockett, for what proved to be the game winner.
The Steelers are looking to rebound after falling 33-3 against the Patriots on Sunday Night Football.
On offense, the Steelers are led by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who led Pittsburgh to a 21-10 victory over the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL, and second-year wide receiver Juju Smith Schuster.
The Steelers have a talented offensive line that features former Bellevue High School star David Decastro – who is in his eighth season with the team.
Pittsburgh gave up 465 yards of total offense to the Patriots on Sunday, but still have talent on defense in T.J. Watt, Cameron Hayward and 2019 first round pick Devin Bush.
The Seahawks last played in Pittsburgh in 2011, in Pete Carroll's second season, and lost 24-0. The teams are tied 9-9 all-time.
Watch the Steve Raible Scouting Report at 7 p.m. on Saturday to see Raible's interview with Quinton Jefferson and for a complete preview of Sunday's game against the Steelers.
Here are Raible's three keys to victory for the Seahawks on Sunday:
Seattle opened the season last week as the defending rushing champs and could muster only 72 total yards running the football against the Bengals. Worse still, they also gave up 4 sacks.
The Hawks must be better up front! The best defense against Pittsburgh's offensive weapons is to keep them on the sidelines.
Averaging five yards a carry and keeping the sticks moving will be a great start. And it all starts with the big guys up front.
Also, the Steelers had over 50 sacks last season, led by TJ Watt and Cameron Heyward.
But give Russell Wilson time, and he can pick apart their secondary.
Now I don't mean that literally. Don't hit him in the head and try to knock him out of the game.
But getting pressure and "getting home" is about the only answer to a QB as big and accurate as Roethlisberger.
The Steelers veteran QB, 16 years in the league, had his best numbers a year ago: over 5000 passing yards, 34 touchdowns.
Here are a couple of other numbers: Roethlisberger is 6-5 and almost 250lbs. So even if you hit him, you better wrap up and hang on because he WILL take you for a ride.
His O-line protects him- allowing just 24 sacks last season - Fourth fewest in the league.
And if you let him, he'll stand back there and fire away the whole game.
The last time the Hawks faced him, he threw 55 times for 456 yards, but just one score. Mr. Clowney-- he's all yours.
It wasn't the best day in the back-end for the Hawks defense against the Bengals. Over 400 yards passing and 7.1 yards per completion given up.
Giving too much ground, missing tackles and pick-off opportunities. Sometimes trying too hard according to Coach Carroll made for some tense moments in a game that came down to the wire.
The best thing the Hawks secondary has going for it is the Hawks linebackers.
Bobby Wagner, KJ Wright, and Michael Kendricks are all terrific in coverage.
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