Scouting Report: Seahawks to host Steelers in NFL Week 17
Steel City Underground will provide fans in Steelers Nation a pre-game scouting report of each of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ opponents during each week of the 2023 NFL regular season, comprised of items from top storylines and insights.
On Sunday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve – the Seattle Seahawks (8-7) play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7) in a holiday showdown with playoff implications for both teams. Like Pittsburgh, Seattle is entering Week 17 off of a pre-Christmas win. We look at the top storylines and insights surrounding the Seahawks before Sunday’s game.
Controlling their own destiny
Thanks to a Christmas Eve win in Week 16 over the Tennessee Titans, the Seahawks are in the position of control of their own destiny in relation to postseason play. If the team can win their next two games, they’ll get a playoff berth.
Head coach Pete Carroll has credited his team for finding a way to navigate through the most difficult parts of their schedule and his players’ will to continue to compete as a large part of their current situation.
Pete Carroll postgame of rally win at Tennessee says his #Seahawks now have tested resolve after getting through schedule gauntlet, and that’s it’s paying off these late games @thenewstribune pic.twitter.com/mmA7yI3wmm
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) December 24, 2023
Carroll may feel that way, but Seattle fans aren’t feeling quite as relaxed considering the Seahawks were not especially successful through the “gauntlet” mentioned. Prior to beating the Titans in a last minute effort, they squeaked out a close win over the Philadelphia Eagles but had lost to the San Francisco 49ers (twice), lost to the Dallas Cowboys, and were edged by the Los Angeles Rams.
Mentality on games that are close
The Seahawks have had their fair share of close games this season. Quarterback Geno Smith has been asked to dig deep and find a way to emulate what the Seahawks have practiced, as a team, so that everyone is prepared for those exact situations.
“Every single day we go over two-minute, a bunch of different situations and scenarios. It helps when you get out there on the field, you’re used to it, you know what to do. Guys are calm, they know their assignments, and you saw, it doesn’t matter who the quarterback is. Coach prepares us to be in those situations and to make those plays and that’s what we’re about as Seahawks.” – Geno Smith
Carroll has a belief that close games make players stronger, and by extension the team. And his philosophy is unlikely to change. That mentality puts an emphasis on finding ways to keep pushing forward and find ways to finish well.
Tyler Lockett post game. pic.twitter.com/4nFaWTmL5g
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) December 24, 2023
Injury updates
The biggest injury issues for Seattle are in their defensive backfield. Strong safety Jamal Adams has a knee injury that has caused him to miss the past two weeks and Carroll admitted the team may bench him for the remainder of the regular season. Rookie Devon Witherspoon has a hip pointer injury that is reportedly painful and limiting his mobility.
Linebacker Jordyn Brooks aggregated a previous ankle sprain on Christmas Eve, and left guard Damien Lewis is dealing with a knee issue. Devin Bush is expected to fill Brooks’ roster spot should the ankle continue to be an issue.
Fans should keep an eye on the Seahawks’ official injury report as the team prepared for the Steelers for the most current updates.
For the bulletin board
The Week 17 threads. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/imsmK1bJeQ
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 27, 2023
Bobby Wagner responds to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s respect for the #Seahawks LB’s consistency. Says it’s a mutual respect, that he’s long admired Tomlin for how he leads. @thenewstribune pic.twitter.com/lPDM7YVN03
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) December 27, 2023
He's a runner. He's a track star. 🏃♂️ pic.twitter.com/NbBUpst35X
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 27, 2023
Less than 50% chance that @GenoSmith3 would complete each of these three passes. 😳@NextGenStats | @awscloud pic.twitter.com/dChqS6R7DW
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 27, 2023
