Sunday, September 21, 2008

STEELER FOOTBALL WEEK #3



Final Score: Philadelphia 15, Pittsburgh 6

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Donovan McNabb threw for 196 yards and the game's only touchdown on 24-of-35 passing to lead the Philadelphia Eagles to a tough 15-6 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

McNabb, who was intercepted once, also set a franchise record for career touchdown passes. He was tied with Ron Jaworski coming into the contest, but the TD toss gives McNabb the new mark of 176.

The news was not all good for the Eagles (2-1), as star running back Brian Westbrook left the game at the start of the second quarter with a strained right ankle and did not return. Westbrook will have an MRI exam on Monday.

Correll Buckhalter took Westbrook's place and ran for 43 yards on 10 carries, while catching six passes for 44 yards and a score. Hank Baskett caught a career-high eight passes for 85 yards for Philadelphia, which also got a pair of field goals from David Akers.

Ben Roethlisberger went 13-for-25 passing for 131 yards, was intercepted once and lost two fumbles as the Steelers (2-1) struggled to just 180 total yards -- with just 33 of them coming on the ground. Roethlisberger also left the game late in the fourth quarter with a right hand injury and will need an X-ray to determine the extent of the damage. Jeff Reed kicked a pair of field goals to account for the Pittsburgh points.

The game was marked by grinding, physical play. The Eagles notched nine sacks -- 2 1/2 by Juqua Parker -- while the Steelers had three, while McNabb left the game with a chest injury, but later returned.

Reed's 37-yard field goal provided the only points of the first quarter. Following that score, the Eagles embarked on a drive that bridged the first two quarters. But on the first play of the second stanza, Westbrook rushed around the left side and stumbled while trying to hurdle a fallen teammate. He landed on his right foot, which twisted slightly, and he immediately went into the locker room.

Philadelphia continued the drive and, despite Westbrook's absence, found the end zone. McNabb connected with Baskett for 20 yards, while Buckhalter broke a nine-yard run up the middle.

The Eagles eventually got to the Pittsburgh 20-yard line, where on first down, McNabb found Buckhalter on the left side of the field for a short pass. Buckhalter took the ball and darted to the goal line, jumping over a defender to reach the end zone as the Eagles took a 7-3 lead.

Pittsburgh had success on its ensuing series, reaching the Philadelphia 49. But Roethlisberger was pressured and sacked by Parker, and fumbled the ball away to the Eagles' Brodrick Bunkley.

Philadelphia took over in prime territory, but only managed a 31-yard field goal from Akers with 2:36 to play in the half. During the drive, McNabb completed his 15th pass in 15 attempts to break his own franchise record for consecutive completions to start a game.

Both Roethlisberger and McNabb were intercepted on their respective teams' next series, leading to a Steelers possession at midfield with about 1 1/2 minutes on the clock.

They drove to the Philadelphia 36, where Reed kicked through a 53-yarder to make it a 10-6 game at halftime.

McNabb briefly left the game, as he stayed in the locker room coming out of halftime. He suffered a chest injury on the final play of the second quarter, when a number of Pittsburgh players landed on him. However, he went back to the field for the Eagles' second possession of the third quarter, sending Kevin Kolb back to the sideline. Neither team, however, managed to put points on the board in the third stanza.

The teams then engaged in a series of punts to start the fourth, with Philadelphia's Sav Rocca managing to land one at the Pittsburgh six-yard line with 9 1/2 minutes left in the game.

The Steelers looked to run out of the precarious position, but lost two yards on a Willie Parker run. After a one-yard gain by Carey Davis, Roethlisberger was pressured again and scrambled into the end zone. Surrounded by Eagles players, he managed to get off a weak throw. It was ruled as intentional grounding, resulting in a safety to extend Philadelphia's lead to 12-6 with eight minutes left.

Pittsburgh still had a chance to win the game, needing only a touchdown. But another Rocca punt pinned the Steelers at their own seven-yard line. Roethlisberger found Rashard Mendenhall for an 11-yard gain to the 28, and a false start penalty moved Pittsburgh back five yards to set up a 3rd-and-15. Roethlisberger was again sacked, and again fumbled.

Brian Dawkins recorded both the sack and the fumble, as Roethlisberger left with his hand injury. The Eagles took over at the Steelers' 18, but didn't pick up a first down. Akers' 31-yard kick put his team up by nine with just 2:26 left.

Byron Leftwich then led the Steelers downfield, completing passes of 21 and 17 yards to tight end Heath Miller. But he threw an incompletion on a fourth down at the Eagles' 22, and Philadelphia ran out the clock from there.

Game Notes

Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton left the game with a groin injury...Kolb finished 2-for-3 for 18 yards and was intercepted once...Leftwich went 4-for-7 for 60 yards...Pittsburgh last beat the Eagles in Philadelphia in October 1965.

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