SEATTLE – Ask a Seahawks fan about the Pittsburgh Steelers and chances are the first thing out of their mouth will be the 21-10 loss in Super Bowl XL.
The conversation will focus heavily on the officiating and whether it favored Pittsburgh. It may work it's way to how 90 percent of the fans in the stands wore black and gold. A handful might recall how tight end Jerramy Stevens ran his mouth in the days before the game only to finish with four dropped passes, three catches and a touchdown.
That painful result still overshadows the more recent history between these two teams. They have met twice since the Super Bowl.
Both games were in Pittsburgh. Both games ended with Seattle being shut out by the Steelers.
The Steelers defeated the Seahawks 21-0 in 2007 on 102 yards rushing from Willie Parker and 18-of-22 passing for 206 yards and a touchdown from Ben Roethlisberger. Najeh Davenport carried the ball seven times for 58 yards and two touchdowns. Matt Hasselbeck went 13-of-27 for 116 yards and an interception for Seattle. Shaun Alexander was held to 25 yards rushing as his career was well into its decline. Seattle gained 144 yards on offense.
Four years later, the Seahawks would lose 24-0. Tavaris Jackson, now serving as Russell Wilson's backup, started that game. He went 20-of-29 for 159 yards. Marshawn Lynch was held to 11 yards on six carries and Seattle was held to 164 yards of offense. Roethlisberger went 22-of-30 for 297 yards. His lone touchdown went to Mike Wallace who had eight catches for 126 yards. Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman combined for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
The last time the Seahawks beat the Steelers was 2003, 23-16. It was also the last time Seattle faced the Steelers at home.
Most Seahawks fans will have Super Bowl vengeance on their minds Sunday. But even a field goal will give the Seahawks something they haven't had in nearly 10 years – points on the board against Pittsburgh.
