News
Email
Print
Steelers slip past Panthers 19-16
AP Photo
Jeff Reed of the Steelers kicks the game-winning field goal.
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: August 29, 2008
PITTSBURGH
Jeff Reed kicked his fourth field goal of the game and his eighth in less than a week, a 43-yarder on the last play, and the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Carolina Panthers' backups 19-16 last night in the final exhibition game for both teams.
Carolina, holding out its starters, didn't do much offensively except for three John Kasay field goals until No. 3 quarterback Brett Basanez threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Chris Hannon with 1:54 remaining. Rather than trying to win in regulation, Coach John Fox opted to kick the extra point and try for overtime -- something most coaches try to avoid in games that don't count.
Steelers rookie Dennis Dixon made sure that didn't happen by going 4 for 4 for 32 yards and running 11 yards for a first down on the 47-yard drive that ended with Reed's decisive field goal.
The Steelers went 3-1 in the preseason but probably can't keep winning like this. They scored one touchdown in their final two games, Carey Davis' 6-yard run in the first quarter, yet won both games. They beat Minnesota 12-10 on Saturday as Reed kicked four field goals, and he made four more of 41, 49, 41 and 43 yards against Carolina.
Davis' touchdown came two plays after a 37-yard pass interference penalty on Richard Marshall at the Carolina 7 during the second and final series for Pittsburgh's starters.
Maybe the Panthers' starters felt they didn't need any more work in games that don't count -- in the previous two games, they outscored their opponents 58-3, including a 47-3 win against Washington on Saturday.
DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, both of whom gained 100 yards-plus against Washington, did not get off the Panthers' bench, and none of their replacements gained even 40 yards. Carolina went 2-2 in the preseason.
Matt Moore played the first three quarters for starter Jake Delhomme, going 15 for 27 for 164 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions, before leaving with an unspecified left leg injury. Steelers safety Anthony Smith rolled into Moore's leg as he was throwing a pass late in the third quarter, and Moore was assisted to the sideline.
Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger played long enough to test a no-huddle offense, and it wasn't exactly a success. Justin Hartwig, the former Carolina center who has won the starting job in Pittsburgh, snapped prematurely on a third-and-5 play from the Pittsburgh 25 and Roethlisberger retreated to the 4 to recover the ball.
The Steelers came out in a conventional formation on their next series, but Roethlisberger did not attempt any passes before being lifted. Byron Leftwich came on to go 6 for 14 for 82 yards.
Carolina 3 3 0 10 -- 16
Pittsburgh 10 3 3 3 -- 19
First Quarter
Car--FG Kasay 32, 9:43.
Pit--C.Davis 6 run (Reed kick), 6:47.
Pit--FG Reed 41, :57.
Second Quarter
Pit--FG Reed 49, 8:42.
Car--FG Kasay 32, :33.
Third Quarter
Pit--FG Reed 41, 6:01.
Fourth Quarter
Car--FG Kasay 48, 11:33.
Car--Hannon 29 pass from Basanez (Kasay kick), 1:54.
Pit--FG Reed 43, :00.
A--50,485Car Pit
First downs 17 18
Total Net Yards 323 302
Rushes-yards 25-62 44-178
Passing 261 124
Punt Returns 3-6 1-5
Kickoff Returns 5-96 4-106
Interceptions Ret. 0-0 2-42
Comp-Att-Int 21-38-2 11-23-0
Sacked-Yards Lost 1-9 0-0
Punts 5-40.2 4-35.8
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-1
Penalties-Yards 8-80 4-20
Time of Possession 27:21 32:39
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS:
RUSHING--Carolina, Birmingham 9-38, Toefield 13-18, Basanez 1-4, Fleming 1-2, Moore 1-0. Pittsburgh, Mendenhall 21-79, Russell 14-43, Parker 4-34, C.Davis 3-11, Dixon 1-11, Roethlisberger 1-0.
PASSING--Carolina, Moore 15-27-2-164, Basanez 6-11-0-106. Pittsburgh, Leftwich 6-14-0-82, Dixon 5-9-0-42.
RECEIVING--Carolina, Jarrett 6-56, Thompson 5-74, Barnidge 3-33, T.Taylor 2-25, Fleming 2-20, Hannon 1-29, Rosario 1-21, Birmingham 1-12. Pittsburgh, Baker 2-35, Allen 2-22, Drummond 2-10, Moore 1-26, Russell 1-13, Rucker 1-10, C.Davis 1-5, Sherrod 1-3.
MISSED FIELD GOALS--Pittsburgh, Reed 43 (WR).
Email
Print
ADVERTISEMENT
N.C. Politics
Federal Politics
Advertisement
