• Recap
• Bleachers

Steelers' Reed makes four field goals in preseason finale

Aug 31, 2007 - 4:06 AM By Frank Kay PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) - It a battle of running out the clock, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Carolina Panthers, 19-3, in Thursday's preseason finale.

Starters for both teams played sparingly, if at all, and the game featured 45 total passes thrown, compared to 205 rushing attempts.

The 8 p.m. scheduled kickoff was delayed 20 minutes due to lightning in the area. There was a steady light rain during the warm-up period, but it subsided once the game started.

Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger played the first series of the game, completing 2-of-2 passes for 16 yards. Backup Brian St. Pierre played the majority of the game, going 3-of-10 for 16 yards before leaving with a toe injury in the fourth quarter.

Jeff Reed connected on field goals from 32, 34, 31 and 37 yards to help the Steelers create a 12-3 advantage. Safety Tyrone Carter intercepted Carolina's Dalton Bell and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to make it 19-3.

On the ground, Gary Russell rushed 21 times for 62 yards and Verron Haynes carried 13 times for 47 yards as Pittsburgh (4-1) geared up for the Cleveland Browns in the regular season opener on September 9.

The Panthers (1-3) started the game with backup signal-caller David Carr, who stumbled in his final dress rehearsal, going 8-for-12 for 85 yards and an interception.

Carolina coach John Fox rested the majority of his starters, including quarterback Jake Delhomme and wide receiver Steve Smith. Delhomme was listed with a sore arm, and Smith was reported with a sore leg.

The Panthers' lone score came in the second, when kicker John Kasay hit a 31-yard field goal with 13:55 remaining. But he missed one from 51 yards wide left in the first quarter.