Saturday was an all-around triumph for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team opened a new stadium with a steady offense and an imposing defense, they played turnover-free football and they beat the Detroit Lions, 20-7, in front of a sellout crowd at brand new Heinz Field.

"I was really pumped," RB Jerome Bettis said. "It was a great feeling, starting in a new place and getting the opportunity to run out there with all the fans. It's just a new environment. It felt different, but it was a great feeling."

Jerome Bettis is run out of bounds against Detroit on Saturday

Bettis looked sharp in limited work Saturday, helping the team along in a 96-yard opening drive that ate up much of the first-quarter clock and put the Steelers ahead on the scoreboard to stay. He finished the day with seven carries for 24 yards and a touchdown.

QB Kordell Stewart, too, played well in his Heinz Field debut. He played most of the first half and completed 12 of 15 passes for 135 yards with seven rushing yards, no turnovers and just one sack.

"We have our fans here and we want to put on a good show for them and give something to cheer about," Stewart said.

It was a homecoming of sorts for both Detroit quarterbacks. Both starter Charlie Batch and backup Mike McMahon played high school football in the Pittsburgh area. Until a late touchdown pass from McMahon to Scotty Anderson, however, the QBs received a cold reception.

Fans filled Heinz Field to the tune of 57,829

Batch was hurried all day by the Steelers defense, throwing several passes to empty areas of the field. He completed eight of 17 pass attempts for 96 yards. McMahon didn't fare any better, completing five of 16 passes for 78 yards. Aaron Smith, Rodney Bailey and Kendrell Bell each recorded sacks on the Detroit quarterbacks.

After taking a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, Pittsburgh tacked on a Kris Brown field goal in each of the next two periods while blanking the Lions. QB Tommy Maddox set up both scoring drives while looking capable again after a bad experience in Minnesota last week.

In the fourth quarter, Maddox again had the Steelers rolling down to the Detroit 33-yard line. He dropped back, looked right and hit WR Demetrius Brown with a perfect strike down the sideline for a touchdown and a 20-0 lead. Earlier, Maddox had connected with WR Bobby Shaw over the middle for a 44-yarder that Shaw took to the one-foot line. A false start penalty helped to keep the Steelers out of the end zone.

Game Notes

Aaron Smith, Rodney Bailey and Kendrell Bell all recorded sacks. The Steelers had scoring drives of 96, 20, 79 and 69 yards. Pittsburgh held Detroit to 21-percent efficiency on third down, but the Lions were 2-for-2 on fourth down.

Maddox completed 11 of 17 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown. QB Kent Graham also took a turn at the helm of the Steelers offense in the fourth quarter, completing four of five passes for 30 yards.

Several backups performed admirably filling in for injured starters in the secondary and at fullback. Matt Cushing and Ron Janes handled the fullback chores after Jon Witman again injured his back Friday.

"Jon bent down to put his shoes in his bag and his back went out so he wasn't able to go today," Coach Bill Cowher said.

FB Dan Kreider is also injured, necessitating the signing of Janes and moving Cushing from tight end in Training Camp.

With starting cornerback Dewayne Washington already out of the game after a concussion last Thursday, starter Chad Scott went down in the first quarter with a knee injury. Deshea Townsend, Hank Poteat and Jason Simmons hardly missed a beat in covering the Detroit receivers.

The Pittsburgh pass catchers, meanwhile, had to make amends for several dropped ball against the Vikings.

Jerome Bettis is run out of bounds against Detroit on Saturday

"I just made light of it in the meeting last night," offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey said. "I said, 'Why would you use all of your drops up in two games? We have none left for the rest of the season.' Whether that made a difference or not, they picked up their game."

Edwards led the crew with six catches for 45 yards. He also returned two punts for 28 yards.

The Steelers finish up the preseason Thursday night at Heinz Field against the Buffalo Bills - another team that Pittsburgh will meet in the regular season. The Steelers play the Lions again in Pittsburgh this December.