Dave Boling: Biggest reason Seahawks beat Steelers? They were more physical. – Sun, 14 Sep 2025 PST

Key Takeaways:

• The Seattle Seahawks won their second game of the 2025 season.
• Physical play was the defining factor against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• Dave Boling credited Coach Mike Macdonald’s promised identity.
• The Seahawks’ toughness became evident in the second half.
• This performance underscored a vision set at the end of 2024.

The Second Game and a New Identity

The Seattle Seahawks’ second game of the 2025 season offered a glimpse into what Coach Mike Macdonald had predicted nearly a year earlier. According to Dave Boling’s piece, the team shed its lingering inconsistencies in the second half and committed fully to the hard-nosed style that Macdonald had long promised.

Finding Their Stride After Halftime

“It took them until the second half of the second game,” Boling notes, but at last, the Seahawks assumed “the exact identity” envisioned by their head coach. The watershed moment came when Seattle began to emphasize physical defense and relentless blocking, neutralizing the Pittsburgh Steelers’ own robust game plan.

Why Physicality Mattered

Boling highlights that the defining reason for the Seahawks’ victory was their willingness to match and then surpass Pittsburgh’s physical approach. Rather than relying on flashy plays or trick tactics, Seattle dominated the trenches, setting a tone that proved too much for the Steelers to overcome.

Carrying the Promise Forward

With the second game in the books, the Seahawks have shown they can deliver on the vow that closed out the 2024 season. Though the complete details remain limited, Boling’s commentary underscores that Seattle, when playing tough, can shape matchups in its favor. If this improved identity continues, it may well define the rest of their 2025 campaign.