NFL Picks Week 2: Why Seattle Seahawks Will Make It Interesting in Pittsburgh

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SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 12: Defensive end Chris Clemons #91 of the Seattle Seahawks encourages the cheering crowd during the NFL season opener against the San Francisco 49ers at Qwest Field on September 12, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule

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On Sunday the 18th of September, the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers will battle it out at Heinz field in front of a lot of rowdy "terrible towel" wavers.

It seems no one is giving the Seahawks any chance to win, but I say that you shouldn't overlook the 'Hawks and their ability to shock the world.

Here are three reasons why the Seahawks will make this game much closer than the experts believe.

Pittsburgh’s Defensive Struggles

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 11: Dennis Pitta #88 of the Baltimore Ravens is brought down by Ryan Clark #25 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the season opener at M&T Bank Stadium on September 11, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Imag

Rob Carr/Getty Images

To start it off, I fully realize that Seattle’s offense is terrible. Trust me, I realize that too.

Pittsburgh’s defense was absolute horrid in their opening game against the Baltimore Ravens and had one of their worst performances in recent memory.

The Steelers allowed the Ravens to put up 35 points on the scoreboard and 385 total yards.

It was the ground game of the Ravens that killed the Steelers, as Baltimore rushed for 170 yards on the day.

Seattle will have to try and control the line of scrimmage and pound the ball against an inconsistent Steelers’ D-line.

Seattle’s Pass Defense

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Brandon Browner #39 of the Seattle Seahawks is called for pass interference in the endzone on Braylond Edwards #17 of the San Francisco 49ers during the season-opening game at Candlestick Park on September 11, 2011 in San

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The Seahawks weren’t completely horrible on defense against the 49ers in week one. In fact, their secondary had a more than decent outing. The Seahawks held the 49ers to only 125 yards through the air, making them the fourth most efficient pass defense in the NFL after a week of play.

With how good Ben Roethlisberger and the rest of Pittsburgh’s aerial attack, Seattle’s corners (Marcus Trufant and Brandon Browner/Walter Thurmond III) will need to shut down Hines Ward and the rest of Pittsburgh’s receivers.

Nobody Is Giving Seattle a Chance

SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 08: Head coach Pete Carroll and Will Herring #54 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrate a fourth down stop by the Seahawks in the third quarter against the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Qwest Field on Ja

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Want to know how little chance the experts at Vegas are giving the Seahawks? The Steelers are 14-point favorites, most of any game in week two.

Sometimes it’s not a bad thing to be the team on the outside looking in. In the playoffs last season, the Seahawks proved many doubters wrong, not only winning a playoff game with a regular season 7-9 record but by beating the defending champion New Orleans Saints.

I’m not saying the Seahawks are necessarily going to win, but I will not question Pete Carroll and Seattle’s ability to make some magic. I expect this game to be much closer than the experts think.

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