Numbers of Note, presented by Intuit QuickBooks, takes a look at five key numbers that help tell the story of every Seahawks game. QuickBooks celebrates small businesses that define their own path to success by doing Business Differently. Now, all small businesses can make their money work as hard as they do by getting a business bank account with QuickBooks Money that earns 5.00% APY. Learn more at quickbooks.com/5apy.

The Seahawks lost to the Steelers on Sunday, a result that is damaging, though not fatal, to their playoff hopes with one game still to play. The Seahawks can still make the postseason, though it will require not only a win in Arizona next week but some help.

In addition to the 30-23 final score, here are five numbers that help tell the story of Sunday's loss:

202

Rushing yards gained by the Steelers, marking the fifth time in the last six games a Seahawks opponent has rushed for more than 160 yards. The Steelers also had 468 yards of total offense, a season high.

"We weren't right on defense, in the running game again, so it's been repetitive. I see it," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said after the game. "We played better in the second half, got 40 something yards in the second half but in the first half they had their way with it… The tackling just seemed like it was really off. Seemed like we just did not make the tackles that we had to, didn't knock the piles back like we'd like to. I really want to see the film and see where it was happening to guys other than scheme and make sure that I understand that issue well. Tackling wasn't good enough and we weren't efficient enough. We had shots. We had shots in the line of scrimmage, we had opportunities, and they won the battles better than we did."

71

Offensive plays run by the Steelers, compared to just 49 for the Seahawks. Pittsburgh also enjoyed a 37:33 to 22:27 advantage in time of possession.

"We moved the ball, but we didn't get the ball enough," Carroll said. "We couldn't get the ball back to the offense, minimal amount of drives. It was just the clock was just running in their favor."

1

Sack allowed by the Seahawks, a solid outing considering the opponent. T.J. Watt, who came into the game with 17 sacks, didn't have one, even with starting right tackle Abraham Lucas missing the second half, leaving Stone Forsythe to come in and have to block the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year.

Unfortunately for the Seahawks, that one sack resulted in a critical turnover, a fourth-quarter sack and forced fumble by Nick Herbig that gave the Steelers the ball inside the Seahawks 20 and allowed them to take control of the game with a two-score lead.

That turnover was the first the Seahawks had allowed in the past three games, having played turnover-free ball in wins over the Eagles and Titans.

106

Receiving yards by DK Metcalf on five catches, giving him 1,104 yards this season, his third 1,000-yard season in five years.

"He's playing phenomenal this year," said fellow receiver Tyler Lockett. "He's making the best out of his opportunities. You see the explosiveness whenever he's catching the ball, being able to turn a 10, 12-yard catch into 30, 40-yard catch. The biggest thing for him is he's growing, whether it's mentally or whether it's on the field, he's always getting better at something. That's the coolest part to be able to watch, because each year, you're able to see a different DK, and he's blossoming into who he wants to be as a football player."

3

Field goals made by Jason Myers on three attempts, giving him 33 this season, one short of the career-high he set last year. But while it was a solid day for Myers, those three second-half field goals also represented points left on the field for the offense, which in the second half had drives end at the Steelers 24-yard line twice and at the 5-yard line late in the game. Those drives, along with a 3-for-9 performance on third down, were two key factors quarterback Geno Smith pointed to in his team falling short.

"That's one of the best red zone defenses in football," Smith said. "They've got great players on their side. You're not going to score every single time you touch the ball, although that's the goal. The reality is that sometimes they stop you. I think one of those trips down there we had two chances to score, we had the ball in the right place, and just the play didn't happen. We always say it's a game of inches, and sometimes the ball doesn't bounce your way, and you can't feel sorry about it. You've got to keep going."

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