Steelers hold off Eagles in preseason action

Aug 27, 2007, 16:47 GMT

Pittsburgh, PA - Ben Roethlisberger completed 13-of-25 passes for 247 yards as the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-13, in preseason action at Heinz Field.

Willie Parker had 10 carries for 32 yards and a touchdown, and also added three receptions for 40 yards for the Steelers, who improved to 3-1 in the preseason. Hines Ward had three catches for 41 yards, while Heath Miller had two catches for 50 yards.

Rookie Kevin Kolb finished 26-for-37 for 260 yards and a touchdown under center for the Eagles. Donovan McNabb started the game and completed 5-of-11 passes for 60 yards before departing in the second quarter.

Correll Buckhalter rushed 10 times for 43 yards and Lee Vickers had six catches for 66 yards and score for the Eagles, who fell to 1-2 in the preseason.

After failing to capitalize on an early Roethlisberger interception, Philadelphia broke though on its second possession, starting from the Steelers 20-yard-line after Daniel Sepulveda's punt went out of bounds.

Buckhalter picked up four yards on a pitch to the left side before McNabb threw complete to Jason Avant. Then, on first-and-goal, Buckhalter spun to the four-yard line. McNabb threw out of bounds on the next play, however, and Kevin Curtis failed to haul in a pass on third down, stalling the drive.

Akers finally booted a 22-yard field goal and the Eagles led 3-0 with 5:31 to go in the first quarter.

Pittsburgh answered in the second, as Roethlisberger had plenty of time working out of the shotgun on 3rd-and-5, hitting Santonio Holmes over the middle for a 22-yard gain to the Philadelphia 18-yard-line. Parker followed that up by plowing through the middle, cutting left and waltzing into the end zone nearly untouched at 5:39.

Jeff Reed connected on a 37-yard field goal on the Steelers next drive, then added a 40-yarder with eight seconds remaining in the half to make it 13-3.

Kolb led an Eagles scoring drive in the third quarter, but the team had to settle for another Akers field goal -- this one from 44 yards out -- after Kolb was sacked by LaMarr Woodley on third down.

The Steelers, however, scored again behind Charlie Batch, who engineered a seven-play, 79- yard TD march. On 3rd-and-1, Batch hit Carey Davis on a screen to the right side for a 17-yard gain, and two plays later Kevan Barlow plowed into the end zone from a yard out.

Kolb marched the Eagles back down the field and hit Vickers over the middle for a touchdown with 4:19 remaining, but Pittsburgh's Jovon Johnson scored on a 78-yard return of a fumble in the final two minutes.

Both teams finish up exhibition play on Thursday night.

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