Keith Srakocic, Associated Press Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward leaps over Philadelphia Eagle safety Brian Dawkins to score his first of two first quarter touchdowns, this one on a 16-yard run. Click photo for larger image.

The Philadelphia Eagles' perfect season became road kill this afternoon, as the Steelers drove for three long touchdowns in the first half and dominated the Eagles for a 27-3 victory.

Jerome Bettis started in place of Duce Staley, out with a hamstring injury, and rumbled for 149 yards on 33 carries. Verron Haynes chipped in another 51 and Willie Parker racked up a quick 14 yards in garbage time.

The degree to which the Steelers crushed the NFC's best team was reflected in first downs -- Steelers 25, Eagles 7 -- and time of possession -- the Steelers controlled the ball nearly 42 minutes to Philadelphia's 18.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw an inerception and fumbled an exchange with Jerome Bettis, but the Eagles were unable to capitalize on the mistakes. Their only score of the game was on a 45-yard drive in the second quarter for a field goal.

Roethlisberger again outplayed a more accomplished quarterback, just as he did the Patriots' Tom Brady, by driving the Steelers to scores on their first three possessions with the help of Bettis' 55th career 100-yard game.

Hines Ward scored on each of the first two drives, a 16-yard reverse and a 20-yard reception, playfully mocked the Eagles by flapping his arms in the end zone each time.

No wonder Eagles star receiver Terrell Owens was screaming instead of strutting a week after celebrating a touchdown by imitating Ravens star Ray Lewis' pregame dance. Owens, coming off five consecutive 100-yard games, didn't catch his first pass until Pittsburgh led 21-0 and could be seen yelling at quarterback Donovan McNabb on the sidelines. Owens ended with seven catches for 53 yards.

With Staley, the former 1,000-yard Eagles rusher, inured, Bettis seemed re-energized behind an offensive line that opened holes big enough for, well, a Bus to run through. Bettis gained 20 yards more this afternoon than he had in Pittsburgh's first seven games.

A week after outrushing New England 221-5, the Steelers outran the Eagles 252-23 -- a 473-28 edge over two of the NFL's best teams in consecutive weeks.

Maybe it was appropriate that many members of the 1979 Super Bowl champion Steelers were in attendance, because this was exactly the kind of commanding performance on both sides of the ball that those Steelers were known for.

Just like the New England game, this one was decided early. The Steelers came out running right at the Eagles, partly to negate Philadelphia's blitz, and Roethlisberger passed only two times on an 11-play, 80-drive finished off by Roethlisberger's 16-yard scramble on third-and-13 and Ward's first career scoring run.

After the Eagles went three and out, Roethlisberger hit Plaxico Burress for 12 yards and Verron Haynes for 18 on another third-and-13. Then the Steelers capitalized on a misdirection play that saw Ward blast 5 yards ahead of cornerback Sheldon Brown before making his touchdown catch.

It would have been even worse if Burress hadn't dropped the ball in the open field while streaking down the sideline on a 47-yard catch early in the third, or if the Steelers hadn't chosen not to try to score after driving to the 8 with 2 1/2 minutes left.

Pittsburgh is the only team in NFL history to beat unbeaten team in consecutive weeks after each had won at least six games. The Steelers and Eagles now have matching 7-1 records.

The 1978 Steelers were the only other team in franchise history to start 7-1, en route to a 14-2 record and a Super Bowl title.