Men Of Steal -- Intercepting 5 Passes, Seahawks Beat Steelers With Surprising Ease

PITTSBURGH - Seahawk linebacker Chad Brown knows Bill Cowher like a brother, having played under the Steeler coach the first four years of his NFL career.

Brown remembers vividly how intense his old boss used to get while delivering his pregame speech inside the Three Rivers Stadium locker room.

Cowher's face contorts and turns crimson; veins bulge from his neck, and a steady stream of spittle flies from his mouth. Pittsburgh players call it the "Cowher Shower."

"One of the last things that Cowher says before taking the field is, `We don't lose at home,' " Brown said. "And he says it again and again - `We don't lose at home.' And he believes it so much that you believe it.

"So knowing that, and knowing how hard it is for other teams to win in this stadium, makes it all the more sweeter. We did something special."

Brown had never been on the winning side of a Seahawk-Steeler game after three attempts, so he couldn't help but grin after Seattle's surprisingly easy 29-10 victory yesterday. Sweeter still, the victory came in a place he used to call home.

No Seahawk knows the Steeler mentality better than Brown. He knew the impact a fast Seahawk start would have on the capacity crowd that jammed the stadium for Pittsburgh's home opener.

So when Seattle defensive back Merton Hanks returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown on the third play of the game, Brown considered it a good sign.

And when rookie Charlie Rogers returned a punt a club-record 94 yards for a touchdown minutes later, Brown felt the energy and spirit of the crowd had been sucked away. Suddenly, their cheers turned into a cascade of jeers, and on this perfect autumn day, they seemed to rain solely on Pittsburgh quarterback Kordell Stewart.

His three interceptions in the first half helped the Seahawks to a 26-0 lead at intermission. When the second half resumed, Stewart was gone. As backup Mike Tomczak ran onto the field, cheers erupted, and Brown had mixed feelings.

"That's always kind of sad," he said. "The fans here are kind of fickle. Whether it's booing me or turning on their own guy, it's disappointing. . . . It's good to get the starting quarterback out (of the game), but these guys have to live with him. He's got to play for them next week, and that doesn't help his confidence."

The Steeler fans weren't the only ones applauding Tomczak. His arrival virtually guaranteed the Seahawks (2-1) would capture their second win of the season.

Essentially, their work was done, and victory was ensured because of a fabulous start. It was the kind of beginning the Seahawks had hoped for all season. They've developed a nasty habit of falling behind in the first half (the Seahawks trailed Detroit 25-7 and Chicago 10-0), and they wanted it to stop.

"That's what we talked about all week, to come out and start fast," quarterback Jon Kitna said. "For us to jump out to a 14-0 lead before the offense even stepped on the field, that was a great confidence boost to us."

But no one could have predicted Stewart's generosity. Stewart provided a gift that kept on giving.

Seahawk free safety Jay Bellamy, who collected an interception late in the second quarter, left the stadium with a football tucked inside his duffel bag. On the ball were the words No. 20-INT scribbled in black marker.

"Momma Bellamy gets that one," he said. "I know Pops is going to try to get it, but it's going straight to her."

Footballs were passed like a baton in a sprint relay. From Stewart to Seahawk defensive backs to their loved ones. Cornerback Willie Williams plans to give the football he intercepted to his mother, Eliza; and strong safety Darryl Williams has similar intentions.

Cornerback Shawn Springs was the exception.

"Naw, I didn't keep my interception," he said with a grin. "Hopefully, I'll get about 60 of them, so I'm not going to need that one."

That'll be difficult since the Seahawks don't play Pittsburgh again this season. Not since San Diego gave up seven interceptions last season has Seattle had so many interceptions.

Hanks started it all, but he needed help from Brown.

The Seahawk linebacker blitzed through middle of Steeler offensive line and hit Stewart just as he threw the football. The pass, intended for receiver Will Blackwell, bounced high, and Hanks snared the loose ball in the midair and ran for a score.

As soon as Hanks crossed the goal line, he inspired other Seahawk defensive backs.

"DBs love this," Bellamy said. "You don't want to be out of these games. Even when I cramped up and came out with six minutes left, I had to get back in there because you still get that feeling like you can get one. I almost had two."

Said Willie Williams: "It's not like you're competing with each other, but it's like a frenzy. It's contagious. One guy gets one. Then somebody else and then somebody else."

The defense so dominated the Steelers (just 272 yards of total offense, including 65 yards rushing) that the Seahawks hardly needed Todd Peterson's five field goals and a rebounding effort from their special teams, which produced 23 points.

Hardly anyone noticed that running back Ricky Watters (98 yards) fell short of 100 yards for a consecutive week. Or that receiver Mike Pritchard, still recovering from knee surgery, played like his former self, catching six passes for 90 yards.

Even Kitna's brilliant return from a week's absence almost went unnoticed. He completed 18 of 29 passes for 265 yards.

"It really is a team game," Bellamy said. "You might notice the picks and everything, but that's only possible if everyone does their job. . . . we did that. Everyone just did their job."