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STEELERS AT EAGLES SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 AT LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD - KICKOFF 4:15 P.M.**
POST-GAME NOTES
Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles
Post-Game Notes
September 21, 2008
Team Notes:
• Pittsburgh is 26-47-3 all-time against the Eagles, including a 8-26-2 mark in Philadelphia.
• The Steelers are 13-3 in their past 16 games against teams in the NFC. Pittsburgh is 88-54-1 all-time against NFC teams.
• Pittsburgh has lost eight straight to the Eagles in Philadelphia.
• After LB James Farriorforced a fumble, the Steelers drove 61 yards in 12 plays to take a 3-0 lead as K Jeff Reedbooted a 37-yard field goal late in the first quarter.
• The Eagles responded on the ensuing drive as RB Correll Buckhalter caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from QB Donovan McNabb with 9:23 left in the first half.
• Philadelphia forced a QB Ben Roethlisbergerfumbled and took the ball and grabbed a 10-3 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the second quarter as K David Akers booted a 31-yard field goal.
• CB Bryant McFaddenpicked off his second pass of the season (seventh career) with under two minutes remaining in the half, which led to a career-long 53-yard field goal by Reed late in the quarter to trim the lead to 10-6. The 53-yard field goal surpassed his previous career long of 51 yards, which he had three times (most recently on Oct. 17, 2004 at Dallas). It tied for the fourth-longest field goal in team history.
• The Steelers had just 66 yards of total offense in the first half, including 17 rushing and 49 passing. The Eagles had 169 first-half yards, including 34 rushing and 135 passing.
• QB Ben Roethlisbergerwas sacked six times in the first half.
• Neither team punted in the first half.
• With eight minutes left in the game, Roethlisberger was flagged for intentional grounding in his own end zone, giving the Eagles a safety and a 12-6 lead.
• Akers finished the scoring with a 31-yard field goal with just over two minutes remaining in the game.
• Pittsburgh finished with 180 total yards of offense, including 33 on the ground and 147 through the air. Philadelphia had 260 yards of total offense (65 rushing, 195 passing).
• The Steelers had 14 first downs to the Eagles' 16.
• Pittsburgh was just 2-for-13 (15 percent) on third downs. Philadelphia finished 6-for-14 (43 percent).
• Pittsburgh had three takeaways, including two interceptions and one fumble.
• The Steelers held the ball for 27:26 to Philadelphia's 32:34.
• QB Dennis Dixon (3rd QB), WR Limas Sweed, DB Deshea Townsend, LB Bruce Davis, OT Tony Hills, OT Trai Essex, LB Donovan Woodsand DE Brett Keiselwere inactive.
Individual Notes:
QB Ben Roethlisberger
• Finished 13-of-25 with 131 yards passing with one interception (50.6 passer rating).
• Rushed four times for six yards (1.5 avg.) but was sacked eight times.
• Owns a 13-3 record against teams from the NFC and is 41-17 all-time as a starter.
QB Byron Leftwich
• Came in for the final series after Roethlisberger left with a right hand injury.
• Finished 4-for-7 for 60 yards (85.4 passer rating).
RB Willie Parker
• Finished with 20 yards rushing on 13 attempts (1.5 avg.).
• Had his 1,000th career rushing attempt in the first quarter.
RB Rashard Mendenhall
• Had one reception for 11 yards and two kickoff returns for 48 yards (24.0 avg.).
WR Hines Ward
• Caught four passes for 34 yards (8.5 avg.).
• Has now caught a pass in a team-record 149 straight games.
WR Santonio Holmes
• Had three catches for 32 yards (10.7 avg.), including a long of 16 yards.
WR Nate Washington
• Had a team-high five catches for 51 yards (10.2 avg.), including a long of 16 yards. It marked his first receptions of the season.
TE Heath Miller
• Had four catches for 63 yards (15.8 avg.), including a 21-yarder.
TE Sean McHugh
• Made his first start with Pittsburgh as the Steelers opened up with a three tight-end set.
DE Travis Kirschke
• Made his first start of the season (31st career) in place of the injured DE Brett Keisel.
• Posted a half-sack (with LB Larry Foote) on QB Donovan McNabb on the last play of the first quarter, giving him 0.5 on the year and 10.5 for his career.
• Finished with a team-high (tied) seven tackles (six tackles).
LB LaMarr Woodley
• Posted his second sack of the season as he brought down McNabb late in the third quarter.
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*LB James Farrior
• Forced his first fumble of the season and the 19th of his career.
• Finished with a team-high (tied) seven tackles (all solo).
LB Larry Foote
• Finished with four tackles and 1.5 sacks. It marks the first time in his career he has posted more than one sack in a game.
• Had a half-sack (with DE Travis Kirschke) on QB Donovan McNabb on the last play of the first quarter.
• Had a sack on McNabb with four minutes left in the first half, giving him 1.5 on the year and 14.5 for his career.
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*CB Bryant McFadden
• Made his second start of the season (12th career) in place of the injured CB Deshea Townsend.
• Recovered his fourth career fumble on the Eagles' first drive of the game.
• Posted his second interception of the season and the seventh of his career late in the first half.
• Finished with six tackles (five solo).
S Troy Polamalu
• Tallied five tackles.
• Picked off his third pass of the season (13th career), giving him one interception in each of the three games this year.
S Ryan Clark
• Finished with five tackles (all solo).
P Mitch Berger
• Punted five times for 207 yards (41.4 avg.), including a long of 53 yards.
• Downed three punts inside the 20-yard line.
K Jeff Reed
• Was a perfect 2-for-2 in field goal attempts.
• Hit a career-long 53-yard field goal late in the first half to make it 10-6. It surpassed his previous career long of 51 yards, which he had three times (most recently on Oct. 17, 2004 at Dallas). It tied for the fourth-longest field goal in team history.
• Booted a 37-yard field goal in the first quarter to give Pittsburgh a 3-0 lead.
