PITTSBURGH—The Seahawks were the dominant team on the stat sheet in the first half of Sunday's game, but trailed by a touchdown thanks to two costly turnovers that led to 11 Pittsburgh points. In the second half, however, the Seahawks took control, using two takeaways, a standout defensive performance, one special teams touchdown, and big plays by several playmakers to pull away for a double-digit win.

Here are seven rapid reactions from Seattle's 31-17 win over the Steelers:

1. Sam Darnold overcame a pair of picks in an otherwise stellar performance.

The Seahawks opened the game in impressive fashion, driving 65 yards on eight plays for their first opening-drive touchdown since late in the 2023 season, with Sam Darnold connecting with rookie Tory Horton for the score. On the next possession, however, Darnold was intercepted by Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey trying to hit Cooper Kupp on a deep play-action shot on the first play of the drive. Seattle's defense got a quick stop, but Pittsburgh was still able to get three points off the turnover in the form of a 48-yard field goal.

Later in the half, after two punts and a missed field goal, the Seahawks were facing 4th-and-1 in Steelers territory, and elected to go for it. Unlike earlier in the game when Seattle converted on 3rd-and-short with an AJ Barner sneak, the Seahawks decided this time to throw, and Darnold's pass attempt was tipped by defensive tackle Cameron Heyward and intercepted by Nick Herbig, who returned it 21 yards to Seattle's 21-yard line. That turnover set up a 2-yard touchdown pass to DK Metcalf, and with a successful 2-point conversion, the Steelers had a 14-7 halftime lead despite gaining just 69 yards and six first downs while averaging 2.6 yards per play in the half.

The Seahawks were able to overcome those turnovers, however, thank in part to a big play on special teams and another great game by the defense, but also because Darnold was, other than those two plays, outstanding throughout the game, completing 22 of 33 attempts for two touchdowns, two interceptions and an 89.8 passer rating. Darnold came through in a big way on Seattle's final touchdown drive that put the game out of reach: first, he escaped pressure on third down and found AJ Barner for a big gain to extend the drive, then, with the Steelers playing aggressive to stop the run, Darnold took a deep shot, hitting Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 41-yard gain. That led to an eventual Kenneth Walker III touchdown run that all but ended Pittsburgh's hopes.

2. Seattle's defensive front was dominant.

On a standout day for Seattle's defense, no group was more impressive than the defensive line and outside linebackers, who had Aaron Rodgers under near constant pressure while also bottling up the running game.

The Steelers rushed for just 72 yards, averaging 3.4 yards per carry, while Rodgers was harassed all day, taking three sacks and one intentional grounding call while throwing several balls in the dirt to avoid getting hit. The Seahawks recorded nine quarterback hits, including three each by Derick Hall and Bryron Murphy, and had three sacks, including 1.5 from Murphy.

3. A short-handed secondary held up very well against DK Metcalf and company.

The Seahawks were without Pro-Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon, as well as rookie safety Nick Emmanwori on Sunday, and were facing a tough task going against Aaron Rodgers, who threw for four touchdowns in a win last week, as well as former Seahawk DK Metcalf.

But despite those notable absences, Seattle's defense got the job done, limiting Rodgers to an 18-for-33 performance for 203 yards that included two picks, one in the end zone by Derion Kendrick, who was filling in on nickel duties with Witherspoon out, and another by Coby Bryant to clinch the win late in the fourth quarter.

Metcalf, meanwhile, was able to find the end zone against his former team, but was held to just 20 yards on three catches.

4. Jaxon Smith-Njigba had another big game, but it wasn't just "the Jax Show" this time around.

While Jaxon Smith-Njigba enjoyed a big performance in Week 1, catching nine passes for 124 yards, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald and others noted the Seahawks wanted to get more players involved going forward, as the Seahawks had only 150 total passing yards in the game.

On Sunday, Smith-Njigba had another big game, leading the Seahawks with eight receptions for 103 yards, but this time he was hardly the only productive pass catcher. Veteran receiver Cooper Kupp had seven catches for 90 yards, while rookies Tory Horton and Elijah Arroyo added 32 and 31 yards, respectively, and AJ Barner chipped in with two catches for 26 yards, including a touchdown.

5. Kenneth Walker III had a breakout game.

The Seahawks struggled to run the ball consistently in last week's loss, and for much of the game Zach Charbonnet was getting more success on the ground. This week, however, Walker bounced back in a big way, rushing for 105 yards on 13 carries, including a 19-yard score late in the game that helped put the game on ice.

6. Welcome to the NFL, Tory Horton.

A week after going without a catch, or even a target, in his NFL debut, rookie receiver Tory Horton was involved in the action early on Sunday. Horton got his first career catch out of the way early in the game, hauling in his first career touchdown on a 21-yard pass from Sam Darnold, a play that also gave Darnold his first touchdown pass in a Seahawks uniform.

Horton later added an 11-yard catch, giving him 32 yards in the game, and on punt return duty, he had 30 yards on two returns, with a long of 22 yards.

7. Dynamic kickoff, indeed.

The NFL drastically overhauled their kickoff rule last year, then tweaked it again this year in an effort to create more returns and in general make the play more exciting.

But it's hard to imagine too many people foresaw what took place in the fourth quarter on Sunday, when the Seahawks quickly turned a three-point lead into a 10-point margin by recovering a kickoff in the end zone. With touchbacks coming out to the 35-yard line this season, more teams are trying out different forms of short kicks this year, and Jason Myers hit a low, wobbly kick that bounced in front of Steelers returner Kaleb Johnson, glanced off his hands, then trickled to the back of the end zone. George Holani won the race to the loose ball, falling on it in the end zone for a touchdown.