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Steelers host Seahawks in rematch of Super Bowl XL

Oct 7, 2007 - 10:29 AM Seattle (3-1) at Pittsburgh (3-1) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Ken Whisenhunt gained a measure of satisfaction last week when his Arizona Cardinals defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers.

On Sunday, the Steelers face another team looking for revenge when they host the Seattle Seahawks in a rematch of Super Bowl XL.

Sunday's game also is a battle of first-place teams as the Steelers lead the AFC North and the Seahawks pace the NFC West.

The Steelers' offensive coordinator for the last three seasons, Whisenhunt thought he was in line to replace Bill Cowher in Pittsburgh. Instead, the Steelers tabbed Mike Tomlin as Cowher's successor and Whisenhunt took the Arizona job.

Whisenhunt and the Cardinals handed the Steelers their first loss of the Tomlin era with a 21-14 victory. Pittsburgh was denied its first 4-0 start since 1979.

Arizona slowed down a Steelers team that had outscored its first three opponents by a combined margin of 97-26.

Willie Parker, the NFL's leading rusher after three games, was held in check for the first time this season. He was limited to 37 yards against the Cardinals after surpassing the century mark in each of Pittsburgh's first three games and has dropped to fourth in the league with 405 yards.

Now, the Steelers face another team with a score to settle. In February, 2006, Pittsburgh defeated Seattle, 21-10, to claim its fifth Super Bowl title but the Seahawks were unhappy with the officiating.

After struggling through a 9-7 season last year, the Seahawks look like they could once again be one of the top teams in the NFC.

Seattle is coming off its best performance of the season, routing the San Francisco 49ers, 23-3, for its second straight victory.

After enduring a injury-plagued 2006 season, Shaun Alexander appears to be getting closer to his 2005 form, when he rushed for a career-high 1,880 yards.

Alexander ran for 78 yards on 25 carries against the 49ers and is ninth in the league in rushing (353 yards).

Matt Hasselbeck also has been steady for Seattle, completing 23-of-31 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns last week.