• Recap
• Bleachers

Steelers knock off Eagles

Aug 27, 2007 - 3:39 AM By Mike Reilly PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - Veteran quarterbacks Donovan McNabb and Ben Roethlisberger struggled in the Pittsburgh Steelers' 27-13 preseason victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night.

McNabb left the game in the second quarter, completing 5-of-11 passes for 60 yards. The Eagles could only muster a 22-yard field goal by David Akers for a 3-0 lead.

Seeing a full half of action, Roethlisberger picked up his game after a slow start and finished by leading Pittsburgh (3-1) to 13 points in the second quarter.

Roethlisberger had a 38-yard completion to Heath Miller to the Steelers 1, but Willie Parker fumbled the ball away. Parker atoned by capping the Steeler's next drive with an 18-yard touchdown scamper to give Pittsburgh a 7-3 lead.

Jeff Reed added field goals of 37 and 40 yards for a 13-3 halftime lead. Roethlisberger finished 13-of-25 for 247 yards and one interception.

The backups had limited success. Philadelphia rookie Kevin Kolb led the Eagles to a field goal and a touchdown. His 4-yard TD pass to Lee Vickers in the fourth quarter pulled the Eagles within 20-13, but the Steelers' Jovon Johnson capped the scoring by returning a fumble 78 yards for a touchdown.

Kolb completed 26-of-37 for 242 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.

Pittsburgh's Charlie Batch led a third-quarter touchdown drive that was capped by Kevan Barlow's 1-yard run for a 20-7 lead. Batch was 3-of-3 for 65 yards.

Pittsburgh's early possessions were disasters. Linebacker Trent Cole intercepted Roethlisberger. Then Pittsburgh rookie punter Daniel Sepulveda left the Eagles in scoring position with a 13-yard punt, shanking the ball out of bounds at the Steelers 20. Akers added a 44-yard field goal to open the second half for the Eagles.