HEINZ FIELD Steelers fall to Eagles in long game

Pittsburgh lost 21-16 in a game delayed by lightning and penalties.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Philadelphia Eagles' only problem is the NFL season doesn't start for another three weeks. The Pittsburgh Steelers must be wondering if that's enough time to get their problems solved.
Donovan McNabb and A.J. Feeley directed long first-half drives and the Eagles benefited from an instant replay reversal that took away a Pittsburgh touchdown in beating the Steelers 21-16 Saturday night.
The slow-moving game, delayed by replay reviews and 147 yards of penalties just in the first half, was halted by lightning for 31 minutes in the third quarter and didn't end until more than four hours after starting.
The Eagles went three-and-out on their first two possessions before putting together drives of 66 and 87 yards to open a 14-3 lead on Correll Buckhalter's 1-yard run and Feeley's 1-yard completion to Kori Dickerson. Just before halftime, Freddie Milons' 82-yard kickoff return set up Feeley's second 1-yard scoring pass, to Billy McMullen.
McNabb, playing only the first quarter, was nearly as sharp as he was in going 5-for-5 for 58 yards on a 75-yard scoring drive in a 27-17 victory Monday at New Orleans.
Eagles touchdown
McNabb was 8-of-10 on the 66-yard drive, with completions of 13 and 11 yards to James Thrash a 19-yard throw to Chad Lewis at the 2. On third-and-1, Buckhalter was spun around by a Kendrell Bell hit and looked to be stopped short of the goal line, but his touchdown was upheld on review.
Steelers coach Bill Cowher was visibly upset with that call, twice arguing with referee Walt Anderson, but was at full regular-season rage after Antwaan Randle El's apparent 14-yard touchdown catch was overturned in the second quarter.
Randle El, who had just completed a 12-yard pass while lining up at quarterback, caught Tommy Maddox's pass in the left corner of the end zone and got both feet down before hitting the chalk line. However, Anderson determined following a lengthy review that Randle El was juggling the ball.
The call forced the Steelers to settle for the first of Jeff Reed's two field goals, and Philadelphia responded by going on a second consecutive touchdown drive after Feeley replaced McNabb.
Chad Scott was twice called for pass interference on that drive, including a 29-yard infraction for tugging at McMullen's arm that gave the Eagles a first down at the 12.
The Steelers brought back Scott and Dewayne Washington as their cornerbacks despite repeated coverage problems last season that saw the NFL's top defense in 2001 slip to 20th in pass defense. Reserve cornerback Chidi Iwuoma also drew a 12-yard interference penalty on the drive that started with Milons' return.
Steelers struggle
The Eagles had a substantial edge in yardage when only starters were on the field, though some regulars played for both teams for most of the first half.
With the Steelers' work-in-progress offensive line still struggling, Maddox didn't complete a pass until midway through the second quarter. Maddox was 6-of-13 for 46 yards, mostly during a 75-yard drive ended by Jerome Bettis' 4-yard run.
Bettis, coming off a second straight injury-interrupted season, carried three times for five yards and has only 24 yards on 11 carries through two preseason games.
It didn't help Bettis that center Jeff Hartings sat out with a knee injury and right guard Kendall Simmons, who missed nearly three weeks of camp because of diabetes, played only briefly.
Feeley was 9-of-17 for 41 yards before giving way to Tim Hasselbeck late in the third quarter. Charlie Batch replaced Maddox and was 10 of 18 for 94 yards.