Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Duce Staley runs for a touchdown against his former teammates. Click photo for larger image. More game photos in the Steelers photo journal

PHILADELPHIA -- The Steelers' refreshed offensive line last night looked good enough to pave the rattletrap Pennsylvania Turnpike from here to Pittsburgh, and it helped Duce Staley return in triumph to Philadelphia.

Running through holes the size of Hummers, Staley zipped 37 yards on seven carries, including the game's first touchdown, a 14-yard run.

He and the rest of the first-team offense continued their impressive preseason run, helping the Steelers to a quick start and a 27-21 triumph against the Eagles in Lincoln Financial Field.

"All of the credit goes to my line," Staley said.

The team's first offense played so well, that coach Bill Cowher gave Staley and quarterback Tommy Maddox the rest of the night off after just one quarter.

"I was very pleased with the offensive performance in the first half," Cowher said. "It was hard to find a lot of fault. We were able to run the ball. We made some key third-down conversions and we did not turn the ball over. I thought the line played well."

Maddox completed 4 of 6 passes for 53 yards in just two series. He's 12 of 18 for 185 yards in three quarters over three games. He has no interceptions and one touchdown. If rookie Ben Roethlisberger's one series with the first team last night counts, the Steelers' first unit has scored six times in eight series through three exhibitions.

"I thought we came out with a lot of emotion and we played very well," Maddox said. "The offensive line ... pushed them around; we were able to run the football a lot and completed some big balls when we had to."

Staley, making his first return to Philadelphia since he left the Eagles as a free agent this year, gave way to Jerome Bettis at the start of the second quarter.

It was rookie Willie Parker, though. who led the Steelers with 106 yards, all in the second half.

"It felt great," Staley said. "I have a lot of good memories from when I played here ... I just think the [Steelers' offense] fits me well because I have a chance to get the ball in a rhythm play after play, and it lets you know a coach believes in you."

If the Steelers could bottle one drive and put it on a mantle as a showcase for what they hope will be their 2004 offense, it was their first series last night.

This is what Bill Cowher has been talking about -- 10 plays, 59 yards, more than six minutes on the game clock and a touchdown. Grind it out, pick up the short third downs, toss in a few key passes and let 'er rip.

Staley -- his old fans in Philly saluting him with a "Duuuuuuce" serenade -- ran six times for 33 yards. That included the final carry when he swept left and cut up behind a block by guard Alan Faneca and fullback Dan Kreider for the 14-yard touchdown.

"Those guys worked hard on that drive," Staley said of his line. "They worked hard all during camp, and it's starting to show now. So I'm very appreciative of them."

The drive began inauspiciously when defensive end Jevon Kearse slipped past tackle Oliver Ross to sack Maddox for a six-yard loss. Maddox completed an 11-yard pass to Staley on the next play, but center Jeff Hartings was caught for holding.

"We kind of got into a bind on the first drive and got out of a long-yardage situation," Maddox said.

It was second-and-20, and Plaxico Burress bailed them out by making a one-handed catch for a 29-yard reception to Philadelphia's 46. Staley pretty much took care of the rest on the ground except for a second key pass on of 11 yards on third down to Antwaan Randle El, who left in the second quarter with a calf injury.

But if that was the perfect drive on offense for the Steelers, they allowed just the kind of drive by their defense on the ensuing series. The Eagles mirrored the Steelers' opening drive, moving 12 plays for 60 yards in 6:28 with Reno Mahe ramming off right tackle for the final two yards and a touchdown.

Early in that series, linebackers Larry Foote and Alonzo Jackson had Donovan McNabb in their grasp on consecutive plays, but the Eagles' quarterback squirmed away to avoid the sack. Later in the second quarter, McNabb escaped the grasp of Ike Taylor and scrambled 20 yards.

The Steelers' first-team defense does not have a sack through three exhibition games.

"We had trouble tackling McNabb," Cowher said. "We had him in our grasps a number of times. I like the pressure we were able to get on him, but ... we have to do a better job."

Bettis took his turn on the Steelers' second series and picked up 14 yards on five carries to help put them in position for Jeff Reed's 48-yard field goal and a 10-7 lead.

That was it for Maddox, whose is having his best -- and briefest -- preseason. Roethlisberger replaced him and completed 7 of 11 passes for 74 yards with one interception that was not his fault.

Roethlisberger, playing with the entire first team except for reserve running back Dante Brown, helped to move them 54 yards on six carries for another score, Brown's 1-yard run giving the Steelers a 17-7 lead.

Burress made another important third-down catch on that series, for 16 yards, and a big play in the end zone that wasn't tacked onto his stats. He drew a double team and a 24-yard pass interference penalty in the end zone that put the ball on the one. Burress finished with two catches for 45 yards.

The Eagles closed the gap to 17-14 with 1:48 to go in the first half when they rolled 72 yards on 11 plays. Tight end L.J. Smith caught McNabb's 11-yard pass at the goal-line for a touchdown on third down.

Philadelphia snatched its first lead, 21-17, with 2:05 left in the third quarter on Jeff Blake's 14-yard touchdown pass to Greg Lewis.

Parker ran for a 3-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter with Roethlisberger at quarterback as the Steelers regained the lead, 24-21.

Roethlisberger suffered his first two sacks as a pro, and he was intercepted for the second time this summer when his pass glanced off the hands of receiver Fred Milons and cornerback Brandon Haw intercepted it.

Reed kicked his second field goal from 43 yards late in the game.