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Suisham's late FG lifts Steelers past Eagles

Oct 8, 2012 - 12:02 AM Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Shaun Suisham kicked a 34-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Pittsburgh Steelers over the Philadelphia Eagles, 16-14, in a close Week 5 intrastate battle.

The Steelers (2-2) welcomed back several injured starters Sunday, including running back Rashard Mendenhall, who revitalized a stagnant running game and finished with 101 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown.

"I felt comfortable throughout the week," Mendenhall said. "I wanted to play the best I could and I was able to do that."

Mendenhall picked up 31 yards on a game-winning drive that lasted the final 6:33 after the Eagles had taken a one-point lead on Brent Celek's two-yard touchdown catch.

Ben Roethlisberger finished with 207 yards on 21-of-37 passes for Pittsburgh, which used an early bye week to get healthy and recover from a 34-31 loss to the Raiders in Week 3.

The Eagles (3-2) have dropped two of their last three after opening the season with two wins.

LeSean McCoy, a University of Pittsburgh alum who played his collegiate home games at Heinz Field, gained 80 yards from scrimmage and caught a touchdown pass from Michael Vick, who threw for 175 yards and lost two fumbles in the first half.

The Steelers did not score off Vick's early miscues, but still led, 10-0, at halftime and were ahead, 13-7, before the Eagles embarked on a go-ahead scoring drive that took up 8:18 of the fourth quarter.

Twice on the 17-play, 79-yard march McCoy ran for a first down on 4th-and-1, the first coming from Philadelphia's own 30-yard line. There were also a pair of third-down conversions, including on 3rd-and-goal from the two when Vick found Celek just over the goal line with 6:33 to play.

Pittsburgh began the final drive at its own 20 and moved backwards on a holding infraction on first down -- one of nine penalties by the hosts. Faced with a 3rd-and-12 from the 18, Roethlisberger found an open Antonio Brown over the middle for a 20-yard gain.

Mendenhall, who had not played since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in the final game of the 2011 regular season, and Isaac Redman took over from there. Since the Eagles had just one timeout remaining heading into the drive, the Steelers were able to run out the remaining time and set up Suisham with the game-winning kick.

Vick nearly ran for a touchdown in the first quarter, but Ryan Clark hit the quarterback just before the end zone and forced a fumble that Pittsburgh recovered in the end zone.

"I wish I could take back the fumble on the goal line, but I can't," Vick said. "I have no explanation for it."

Lawrence Timmons then stripped Vick just before the first-quarter buzzer, and though the Steelers turned the ball over on downs after the takeaway, they broke the scoreless tie on Mendenhall's 13-yard run with 5:01 left in the half.

The touchdown -- the result of a designed screen that was ruled a lateral -- capped a 12-play, 75-yard possession, and another lengthy drive just before the break resulted in Suisham's 20-yard field goal.

The Eagles' first drive of the second half was aided by two personal foul penalties on the defense, and McCoy did most of the work on his 15-yard touchdown catch midway through the third quarter.

After trading three-and-outs, the Steelers padded their lead on Suisham's 34- yard field goal in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.

Game Notes

Mendenhall carried the ball 14 times for 81 yards -- the most running yards by a Steelers running back this season ... Roethlisberger is 14-1 versus the NFC at home ... Brown led all receivers with seven catches and 86 yards ... Steelers safety Troy Polamalu aggravated a right calf injury that caused him to miss the previous two games ... James Harrison (knee) played his first game of the year, but fellow linebacker Lamarr Woodley went down with a right hamstring injury ... The Eagles have a minus-seven turnover margin this season ... Vick completed 20-of-30 throws.