Rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn't need a pep talk. He joined former Steeler Mike Kruczek as the only quarterbacks in modern NFL history to win their first six starts. Roethlisberger completed 11 of 18 passes for 183 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception.
The game's most explosive receiver was Pittsburgh's Hines Ward, who scored two touchdowns in the first quarter. On the first, he fooled the Eagles' defense with a 16-yard reverse run for a score. On the second, he caught a short sideline pass and raced 20 yards into the end zone. He celebrated by spoofing Owens, bending over and flapping his wings like an eagle.
"I wasn't trying to show him up," said Ward, who first decided Monday he would do the dance. "I see him having fun while he's doing it. What better way than to do it while he's out there?"
Many Pittsburgh players think Ward doesn't get the attention he deserves, despite the fact he has been to three consecutive Pro Bowls. Even Ward was surprised by the statistic he has had 30 more catches than Owens since 2001.
"Really? I didn't know that," he said. "For me, that's a great feeling because I'm on a running team, and I've got another great wideout [Plaxico Burress] opposite me. It's just great having my name up there mentioned with Terrell and Marvin [Harrison] and those guys."
In the end, though, most of the praise was reserved for Bettis, who might have been released this summer had he not taken a huge pay cut. He agreed to have his base salary reduced from about $3.5 million to $900,000 in order to stay with the Steelers. This was his first start of the season; Staley was bothered late in the week by a nagging hamstring injury.
"It boggles me that people were concerned that Duce was not in there, and what we were going to do," said Bettis, who is sixth on the NFL career rushing charts. "I have been getting it done for a long time. I'm not on the all-time list because I look like this."
According to Stats Inc., the Steelers came into the game running the ball 58.4% of the time, most in the league. Their numbers Sunday -- 20 pass plays (including two sacks) and 56 runs -- did nothing to change that trend. Pittsburgh ran the ball 43.7% of the time last season, ranking 20th in that category.
An improved offensive line, Bettis said, is the reason.
