Steelers plagued by mistakes, injuries in loss to Seahawks

Giving up 30 points for the second game in a row wasn’t how the Pittsburgh Steelers, armed with the NFL’s highest-paid defense, were expected to start the season.

For all the money being paid to the collection of All-Pros, Pro Bowlers and former first-round draft picks, the Steelers aren’t getting the requisite bang for their buck on defense.

Such was the case Sunday when the Steelers again couldn’t stop the run and, aided by a special teams gaffe, melted down in the fourth quarter of a 31-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in their home opener at Acrisure Stadium.

Seattle, after scoring on its opening drive of each half, used 17 points in the fourth quarter to hand the Steelers a loss that offset the season-opening victory against the New York Jets.

The Steelers have yielded 63 points after two games and, if not for Chris Boswell’s record 60-yard field goal in the opener, would be searching for their first victory.

“We’re way too talented, and we have way too good of schemes, to allow this to continue to happen week after week,” outside linebacker T.J. Watt said.

A week after the Jets rushed for 182 yards, the Seahawks gained 117 on the ground, with Kenneth Walker’s 105 rushing yards on 13 attempts leading the way. Walker sealed the win for the Seahawks with a 19-yard touchdown run — on third-and-goal, no less — with 3 minutes, 41 seconds left in the game to establish the 14-point final margin.

It was the 17th play by the Seahawks that gained more than 10 yards — a disturbing trend for a defense coach Mike Tomlin said had a chance to be “historic.”

“It’s frustrating,” second-year linebacker Payton Wilson said. “We have some of the most talented guys to ever play their positions in here and for it to happen to them …”

The Steelers allowed the Seahawks, who put up just 13 points in their opener, to rack up 395 yards of offense, one more than the Jets gained seven days earlier.

“I don’t like people just having their way,” linebacker Patrick Queen said. “We did that again today, let them have their way.”

Sam Darnold had 295 yards passing and two touchdown passes that offset two interceptions, which led to 11 of the Steelers’ points. He exploited the middle of the defense, throwing eight completions that gained at least 16 yards. One was a 21-yard touchdown pass to Tory Holton on the opening drive that came after a miscommunication in the secondary. Another was a 43-yard bomb to Jaxon Smith-Njigba to the Steelers 10 that set up Walker’s clinching touchdown.

“It’s about being consistent,” defensive tackle Cameron Heyward said. “Our defense is predicated on everyone doing their job play-in and play-out. We have to learn from this. We have guys who are going to get more snaps because of injuries, but it doesn’t change.”

The Steelers began the game with starting strong safety DeShon Elliott and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. standing on the sideline. They were joined in the first half by Isaiahh Loudermilk, subbing for injured first-round pick Derrick Harmon, and outside linebacker Alex Highsmith. They each suffered a high ankle sprain.

“It’s a challenge,” Tomlin said. “We’re certainly capable of being better than that. We’ll keep working.”

The game turned on a gaffe by the special teams after Jason Myers kicked a 54-yard field goal with 12:46 to play, giving the Seahawks a 17-14 lead. Myers placed his kickoff inside the landing zone, and the ball bounced over rookie Kaleb Johnson and carried into the end zone.

Johnson turned toward the sideline, incorrectly thinking the ball was dead or that it had rolled out of the end zone.

Nobody else from the Steelers immediately retrieved it, and Seattle’s George Holani won the race for the ball, pouncing on it for a touchdown that left the crowd stunned and the Steelers facing a 24-14 deficit.

“If I wasn’t sure or I was sure (of the rule), it doesn’t matter,” Johnson said. “I’ve still got to go in there and execute the way it should be executed.”

Boswell’s 45-yard field goal — his third of the game — with 7:49 to play reduced the deficit to one score. The Steelers got no closer. Walker weaved through the defense for a 19-yard score that pushed him across 100 yards for the game.

“We have to be more situationally aware,” Heyward said.

A week after throwing four touchdown passes in his Steelers debut, Aaron Rodgers completed 18 of 33 attempts for 203 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

His first turnover of the season came in the third quarter with the score tied 14-14. The Steelers were at the Seattle 4 when Rodgers’ throw intended for Pat Freiermuth in the left corner of the end zone was deflected by teammate Calvin Austin III. Seahawks cornerback Derion Kendrick corralled the ball for the interception.

“That changes the whole scope of the game,” Rodgers said.

Rodgers had just 37 yards passing in the first half, yet the Steelers held a 14-7 lead when interceptions by Jalen Ramsey and outside linebacker Nick Herbig led to 11 points.

Similar issues resurfaced for the offense. Jaylen Warren’s 48 yards led the Steelers, who averaged 3.4 yards per rush. Rodgers also was sacked three times and hit on nine occasions.

“I’m concerned about a lot of things,” Tomlin said when asked about Rodgers’ lack of protection. “We didn’t perform to the level we desired, not only in that space, but in a lot of spaces. There is a lot that has my attention.”