The Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks both entered the Week 16 game with their playoff hopes alive. For Pittsburgh, they were hanging by a thread, but alive nonetheless. If the Steelers were able to beat the Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens in consecutive weeks, and get some help, they would be in as the No. 7 seed in the AFC Playoffs.

But there was business to tend to first in the great northwest, and the Steelers started with the football after losing the opening coin toss and the Seahawks deferring their possession to the second half. A great mix of run and pass moved the ball into Seattle territory on the opening drive, and when a 3rd and 5 pass to George Pickens fell incomplete, it was assumed the Steelers would punt the ball in an attempt to pin the Seahawks deep in their own end. However, after a timeout Mike Tomlin elected to go for it, and the pass intended for Pickens also fell incomplete, turning it over on downs.

Following a Seattle three-and-out, the Steelers offense started to get into a rhythm, and mainly on the ground. Going against a bottom tier rush defense, the Steelers used both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren to move the ball into the red-zone. Once, there, it was a beautiful Jaylen Warren run for the first score of the game.

No traffic when you create your own lane 💨 @Nunless2

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— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 31, 2023

Chris Boswell’s point-after was good, making the score 7-0 with 1:47 left in the opening quarter.

Seattle’s second drive carried into the second quarter, and it was a big Geno Smith to DK Metcalf connection which moved the ball near the red-zone. From there, it was all Kenneth Walker as back-to-back runs equated in the tying score, making it 7-7 with 13:50 left in the half.

Jaylen Warren was the ignitor for the Steelers’ next drive, with a 23-yard pinball style run which got the Steelers to midfield. A Rudolph to Pickens pass moved them into the red-zone, but that was when the drive stalled. The end result was a Boswell field goal to make the score 10-7 with 10:27 remaining in the first half.

The Pittsburgh defense did little to slow down the Seahawks offense. Following the opening drive three-and-out, the Seattle offense had their way with the Steelers. Kenneth Walker runs, and Geno Smith finding DK Metcalf and Noah Fant quickly moved the ball into Pittsburgh territory. On a critical red-zone third down, Smith hit Jackson Smith-Njigba for the touchdown. The extra point made the score 14-10 with 5:30 remaining in the half.

Looking for an answer, the Steelers took their next possession and drove the ball quickly down the field. Hard runs by Najee Harris, and a crucial 3rd down conversion to Pat Freiermuth resulted in a red-zone trip at the two-minute warning. Two runs later, it was Najee who wouldn’t be denied and dove to get the football over the goal line.

.@ohthatsNajee22 powers his way in for 6️⃣

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— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 31, 2023

The extra point was good, making the score 17-14 with 1:36 left in the first half. Seattle’s next drive wasn’t able to add to their point total, and the 17-14 score carried into halftime.

Seattle received the kickoff to start the 3rd quarter, and kept doing what they had been doing the entire first half. They moved the ball through the air, mainly to their tight ends, to get the ball into field goal range. Facing a critical 3rd and 4, Smith’s pass to Tyler Lockett was high and they had to settle for a Jason Myers field goal from 43 yards away. The kick made the score 17-17 with 10:47 left in the third quarter.

The Steelers offense kept doing what they’d been doing the entire game, running the football. But when the team needed a chunk play, it was Rudolph hitting Diontae Johnson over the middle for the 41-yard gain. In a 1st and goal situation, it was Najee Harris, with a little help from his friends, which plunged into the end-zone for the score.

Powers his way in for six 💪 @ohthatsNajee22

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— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 31, 2023

Boswell was good, making the score 24-17 with 6:57 left in the 3rd quarter.

The Seahawks’ offense continued to move the ball in chunk plays, this time to Metcalf, to move the ball quickly into field goal territory. However, the Steelers bend don’t break defense was up to the task and forced another Myers field goal, this one from 42 yards, to make the score 24-20 with 13:13 left in the 4th quarter.

Pittsburgh’s offense saw an opportunity to continue to add to their point total, and not rely on the defense to have to win the game. On a big 3rd down, Mason Rudolph stood tall in the pocket and delivered this beauty of a pass which was hauled in by George Pickens.

GP IS OUT OF THIS WORLD 🛸

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— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 31, 2023

The catch put the offense in field goal range, but the Steelers were able to kill valuable time off the clock before Bozwell was called on to add tot he point total. When the drive ended, the kick made the score 27-20 with 7:07 left in regulation.

The Seahawks next play from scrimmage was the game’s first turnover when Nick Herbig came off the edge and was able to strip sack Geno Smith and recover the football.

STUD @nickherbig_

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— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 31, 2023

Coming off the turnover an end-around to George Pickens moved the ball to the 5-yard line, but the drive only ended in another Boswell field goal to make the score 30-10 with 4:31 remaining in regulation.

As the Steelers’ defense went into their prevent defense, the Seahawks quickly moved the ball into scoring range. However, much as had been happening all game, the Pittsburgh defense got better as the field got shorter. On 3rd and goal, a pass went off DK Metcalf’s hands, and fell incomplete. With 2:09 remaining, the Seahawks elected to take the chip shot Myers field goal, making the score 30-23. Seattle went for the onside kick, and Diontae Johnson recovered at the two-minute warning.

The first play from midfield was a strike from Rudolph to Pickens which moved the ball into the red-zone. Out of timeouts, the Steelers were able to ice away the game with the final score 30-23.

The win moved their record to 9-7 on the season, and kept their playoff hopes alive for another week. Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the regular season finale vs. the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18.