"It was a very interesting game for us tonight," said head coach Mike Tomlin. "Very rarely can a team get a win when you don't win the time of possession and you lose the turnover battle. I like the way we smiled in the face of adversity tonight, but unfortunately, some of that adversity we created for ourselves, particularly early on, but I like the way this team fights. They stayed together and fought through a lot of tough situations, but that is just the nature of football."


The starting offense had their good points, but struggled some, including an interception thrown by Roethlisberger and a fumble by Parker at the goal line.

"We got in a rhythm that last drive," said Parker who came out in the second quarter after he scored. "I told them I messed up but I'm going to give my all on this drive and that's what we did. We all gave it our all and we went out there fighting. The line did a great job taking me through and I had to get in the end zone. I didn't play up to my potential today so I had to do something to benefit the line and help them get something accomplished today.


"Right now, no I wouldn't say we're ready, but we overcame adversity tonight. I got into the end zone and I fumbled down at the end zone. I overcame adversity but I'm really not satisfied with how I played. I have to take it back to the practice field and see the tape from tonight. "

The Steelers offense was clicking early, opening with a nine-yard reverse by Cedrick Wilson. Parker took it up the middle for six yards, followed by a 16-yard reception from Roethlisberger. On the next play the Eagles pressured Roethlisberger who tried to dump it off to Parker in a crowd, but Trent Cole stepped in for the interception.

It was the same story for the Eagles offense getting off to a quick start with Donovan McNabb hitting Kevin Curtis for an 11-yard gain. Brian Westbrook had a two-yard gain, followed by a nine-yard completion to Thomas Tapeh. The defense then brought the heat, with Clark Haggans sacking McNabb for a seven-yard loss and Troy Polamalu and James Farrior combining to sack McNabb for an eight-yard loss and forcing the punt.

The Steelers offense stalled on their next season and the Eagles got the ball back in great field position after Daniel Sepulveda shanked a punt that went out of bounds after traveling only 14 yards.

The Eagles had great field position starting at the Steelers 20-yard line, but couldn't get the ball in the end zone despite advancing to the four-yard line and settling for a 22-yard field goal by David Akers to give them a 3-0 lead.

It looked like the Steelers offense was getting back in sync on their ensuing drive when it opened with a 22-yard reception by Dan Kreider. Parker pulled in a four-yard catch, and then Roethlisberger hit Ward for a 13-yard gain. Roethlisberger then went deep to Miller, who made the reception at the 17-yard line, shook off the defenders and then took it to the one-yard line for a 38-yard gain. On second and goal Parker tried to punch it in to the end zone, but was hit by Takeo Spikes who forced a fumble, and Quintin Mikell recovered.

The Eagles weren't able to do anything after the turnover and both teams followed with quick possessions before the Steelers got on a roll.

Roethlisberger hit Parker for a 20-yard gain and then three plays later, on third-and-five, hit Wilson for a 14-yard gain. Faced with another third down, Roethlisberger hit Santonio Holmes deep over the middle for a 22-yard gain to the Eagles 18-yard line. Parker took it from there himself, scooting up the middle for an 18-yard touchdown to give the Steelers a 7-3 lead.

The Steelers held the Eagles on their next drive and kept their momentum going, taking over on their own 23-yard line. Roethlisberger connected with Davenport for a 33-yard gain to the Eagles 49-yard line, and an additional 15-yards was tacked on after Sheldon Brown was hit with a personal foul on the play. Roethlisberger then went to Miller for a 12-yard gain to the Eagles 22-yard line. Two incomplete passes brought on Jeff Reed, who came through with a 37-yard field goal, extending the lead to 10-3.

The Eagles went three-and-out and the Steelers took over with just over a minute to play at their own 25-yard line. Roethlisberger hit Davenport for a 25-yard gain, and three plays later found Ward for 18 yards. Ward added another 10-yard reception, putting the Steelers in position for a 40-yard field goal by Reed to give the Steelers a 13-3 lead going into the half.

Kevin Kolb came in at quarterback for the Eagles to start the second half, leading the Eagles on a field goal drive to pull them to within a touchdown at 13-6.

It was the same for the Steelers as they pulled some of their starters to begin the half, with Batch in at quarterback. Kevan Barlow had a four-yard carry, and then Batch connected with Nate Washington for an 18-yard gain. It was back to Barlow for carries of six and three yards, before Batch hit Carey Davis for a 17-yard gain. Batch went right back to the air, finding Nate Washington for a 30-yard gain to the Eagles one-yard line. Barlow pounded it in to the end zone, extending the Steelers lead to 20-6.

Both teams exchanged possessions twice before Kolb got the Eagles moving again, taking them on a 12-play, 78-yard drive that culminated in a four-yard pass to Lee Vickers, to pull the Eagles back within a touchdown at 20-13.

Bryan Randall came in late in the fourth quarter to try and protect the lead, but the Eagles held them to three-and-out.

Philadelphia took over at their own 21-yard line drove down into Steelers territory. Kolb hit Zach Collie for a six-yard completion, but he was hit by William Gay who forced a fumble, which Jovon Johnson recovered and returned 78 yards for a touchdown, to give the Steelers a 27-13 edge.