Game Preview
Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles
sunday, september 21, 2008 - 4:15 pm
*Health of Roethlisberger still a concern as Steelers visit Eagles*
Pittsburgh (2-0) at Philadelphia (1-1), 4:15pm EDT
PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The health of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger remains an issue for the Pittsburgh Steelers heading into Sunday's all-Pennsylvania battle against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Coach Mike Tomlin disputed a report claiming that Roethlisberger has a separated shoulder. The Steelers have officially classified the injury as an AC sprain.
"I have no idea where that report came from," Tomlin said. "It didn't come from me and my medical staff. The guy has a sore shoulder."
Roethlisberger was limited in practice last week and still felt the effects of the injury in last week's 10-6 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
"Hopefully, he will progress like he did last week," Tomlin added. "I met with him and he said he feels better this week than he did a week ago, which is good."
Roethlisberger did not need to do much against the Browns, however, as the Steelers relied on their defense and an effective ground game on a rainy night in Cleveland with winds swirling as high as 30 miles per hour.
Willie Parker surpassed the century mark for the second time in as many games this season, rushing for 105 yards.
The Eagles (1-1) have reason to be optimistic as their quarterback - Donovan McNabb - appears fully recovered from his 2006 ACL tear. In Monday's 41-37 shootout loss to the Dallas Cowboys, he looked like the McNabb of old, passing for nearly 300 yards and a touchdown.
With the Eagles again missing their top two receivers, Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown, rookie DeSean Jackson reel in six catches for 110 yards. Jackson joined former Eagle Don Looney (1940) as the only players in NFL history with 100 or more receiving yards in each of his first two career games.
Sunday's contest shapes up as a classic contrast in styles, with the Steelers' stout defense pitted against the Eagles' high-octane offense which has scored an NFC-high 75 points.
Leading, 37-34, the Eagles were in position to beat the Cowboys, but a turnover midway through the fourth quarter led to Dallas' winning score, a 1-yard TD run by Marion Barber with 4 1/2 minutes remaining. It was the game's seventh lead change.
"We're not where we want to be right now, but we played against a very good football team," Eagles running Brian Westbrook said. "We didn't know the score was going to be this high."
Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel will miss Sunday's game with a calf strain suffered last week.
