Pittsburgh, PA -- (Sports Network) - Ben Roethlisberger led the Steelers on an eight-play, 80-yard opening drive culminating in a 19-yard touchdown toss to Santonio Holmes and the Steelers used two Jeff Reed field goals down the stretch to upend the Eagles 16-10 in the preseason opener for both teams.
It wasn't all bad for the Eagles as the team agreed to terms with running back Brian Westbrook on a significantly upgraded new contract prior to the game.
According to the Philadelphia Daily News, Westbrook will be guaranteed $13 million over the next two years and should make $21 million over the three years he had remaining on his previous deal. That number could grow to as much as $24 million should Westbrook remain at a pro-bowl caliber level of play. Westbrook was to receive $11 million over the next three years.
It wasn't all good for the Steelers as quarterback Charlie Batch left the game with a broken right collarbone in the second quarter.
A pair of Steelers rookies fared well in their debuts as receiver Limas Sweed led the receiving corps with three catches for 23 yards and running back Rashard Mendenhall carried seven times for 34 yards.
Donovan McNabb was 10-of-13 for 97 yards and a touchdown in leading two scoring drives before giving way to Kevin Kolb while rookie receiver DeSean Jackson had five catches for 51 yards in his Eagles (0-1) debut.
Kolb played admirably despite being unable to muster a scoring drive, connecting on 12-of-21 pass attempts for 81 yards.
After Pittsburgh's impressive opening drive, the Eagles responded with a 14- play, 70-yard drive on their first possession coming away with three points on a 28-yard boot from David Akers. McNabb looked sharp on the drive, connecting on 6-of-8 passes for 46 yards.
Philadelphia decided to leave the starters in with the team's second drive finding a rhythm as the first quarter expired. McNabb, again, was the focal point of an eight-play drive, with the QB finishing off the 65-yard march with a third-and-goal touchdown conversion to Jason Davis, who slipped out of the backfield and settled in the flat.
Reed added a 20-yard field goal for the Steelers (1-0) late in the second quarter to knot the game at 10-10 heading into the second half.
The game slowed down in the second half as both teams went scoreless in the third stanza before Reed registered field goals from 24 and 50 yards in the fourth quarter.
The Eagles attempted a last gasp effort after getting the ball back with 1:34 remaining. A.J. Feeley took the Eagles 37 yards, helped by a 23-yard pass interference call, but came up short on a fourth-and-two incompletion in the end zone with 22 seconds remaining.
