Seahawks Bounce Back Against Steelers, 27-7 : AFC: Krieg returns from six-week absence because of injury and passes for 266 yards.

Dave Krieg picked up where he left off before he suffered a broken thumb in the Seattle Seahawks’ season-opener against New Orleans.

Krieg, in the lineup for the first time in six weeks, directed two second-quarter scoring drives as the Seahawks turned a blocked punt and a fumble into a 17-point halftime lead and a 27-7 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

“It was fun to be back in there,” said Krieg, who completed 25 of 31 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns. “Standing on the sidelines isn’t much fun. I got back in there and we were right on the same page as when I left.”

While Krieg was enjoying success, Steeler quarterback Neil O’Donnell couldn’t duplicate the 20-point second-half comeback he led in last Monday’s 23-20 loss to the New York Giants.

O’Donnell, making his first NFL start, completed 14 of 22 passes for 184 yards as the Steeler offense constantly hurt itself with blown assignments, penalties or dropped passes. In one eight-play sequence in the second quarter, the Steelers (3-4) fumbled twice, dropped two passes, committed two procedure penalties and gave up a sack.

“I hope we learn from this and get mad and upset and angry,” Steeler tackle Tunch Ilkin said. “We just can’t sit here and say, ‘Oh, woe is us.’ We’ve had some bad games in the 12 years I’ve been here . . . and this is one of the worst.”

The Seahawks (4-4), who lead the AFC in take-aways, forced three turnovers and in the first half while taking a 17-0 lead.

Krieg completed his first nine passes as Seattle rebounded from a 23-20 overtime loss to the Raiders.

Krieg did not throw an interception and the Seahawks--who led the AFC with 23 turnovers--did not fumble.