The Seattle Seahawks snuck into Pittsburgh in Week 2 and stole a victory from the Steelers. Pittsburgh led 14-7 in the first half, aided by a touchdown reception by former Seattle icon DK Metcalf. Metcalf wouldn't win the divorce, though, as Seattle won 31-17.
But it's not the Metcalf move that backfired fully for the Steelers against the Seahawks. Instead, it was the addition of Jalen Ramsey ahead of training camp that did. To be sure, Ramsey is an elite cornerback, but he wasn't in Week 2.
Seattle wasn't afraid to throw toward the three-time First-Team All-Pro as it did so 11 times. Nine of those targets turned into completions, and not just short-yardage ones, either. The cornerback gave up 123 yards receiving and a touchdown. He did have an interception, but that was one of his few highlights.
Seattle Seahawks find a way to make Steelers' Jalen Ramsey look extremely mortal
Jaxon Smith-Njigba was specifically ruthless against Ramey. Quarterback Sam Darnold targeted JSN five times when the Steelers' corner was covering him, and all five were completed for 76 yards. That included a late 43-yard gain when Smith-Njigba used his quickness to create separation and then shielded Ramsey from the ball.
It was a beautiful way of running a route, and one in which JSN excels, but DK Metcalf hasn't. If Metcalf ran routes like Smith-Njigba, the new Steelers receiver would have 1,600-yard receiving seasons every year.
But Jaxon Smith-Njigba wasn't the only wide receiver able to catch passes against Jalen Ramsey. Tory Horton was targeted twice with Ramsey on him, and he caught both, including the Seahawks' first touchdown of the game. His other catch was for a first down.
If Horton is going to gain confidence from the game, and he should, then that should double based on his success against a player as great as Ramsey. Tory Horton now knows he can beat the best, so maybe he will continue to grow as a receiver and be an excellent WR3 threat the rest of the season for Sam Darnold.
Maybe if the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers find a way to play again this season (you know, in the Super Bowl), DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey will be better. But Sam Darnold and his receiving group know that they can succeed against the cornerback. (And, to be clear, the Seattle defense knows it can shut down Metcalf, too.)