CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Steelers finally produced two, good touchdown drives from their offense last night, but they weren't from Ben Roethlisberger and the first team.

	Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Linebacker James Farrior stops Carolina's Stephen Davis early in last night's preseason finale in Charlotte, N.C. Click photo for larger image.

Charlie Batch replaced Roethlisberger in the second quarter and drove his backup offense to two touchdowns, including a 45-yard scoring toss to Sean Morey with 1:35 left to beat the Carolina Panthers, 21-17.

Earlier, Batch deftly moved his second unit 82 yards on 14 plays for a touchdown in the second quarter as the Steelers completed the preseason at 3-1.

The last warmup for the regular season, though, turned cold again for Roethlisberger, 2004's rookie of the year, and his offense. They failed to produce a touchdown in four preseason games.

Playing into the second quarter, Roethlisberger nearly had as many yards rushing as he did passing. He scrambled out of the pocket twice for 20 yards and completed just 2 of 6 passes for 24 and was sacked once. Batch, fighting to become the No. 3 quarterback, played the rest of the way and completed 16 of 29 for 182 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Over four preseason games, Roethlisberger completed 16 of 36 passes for 145 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions and a 32.8 passer rating. Coach Bill Cowher said the offense has not been in sync all preseason, and it looked worse last night, at least when the first team was on the field.

Actually, the performance by the Steelers' first units on both sides of the ball was ugly.

Roethlisberger's first pass fizzled when his arm was hit. Cornerback Ken Lucas sacked him on the game's second play, but the Steelers received a reprieve because of a penalty. Hines Ward dropped the next pass. On third and 19, Roethlisberger scrambled and completed an 11-yard pass to Antwaan Randle El.

Carolina took the ball for its first crack and drove 63 yards on nine plays for a touchdown. That was the kind of drive the Steelers have been looking for all summer from their own offense and did not get it, at least not from the first unit.

Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Ricardo Colclough hurdles Carolina's Aaron Boone on a punt return in the fourth quarter last night at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. Click photo for larger image.

Jake Delhomme threw a 1-yard pass to Ricky Proehl for the score after cornerback Willie Williams fell down.

Back came Roethlisberger and down he went again, this time on a sack that counted when All-Pro tackle Kris Jenkins beat All-Pro guard Alan Faneca with a neat spin move inside.

Randle El ran a short crossing route on second down, and the pass was behind him, incomplete. On third-and-16, Roethlisberger dumped one off to rookie halfback Noah Herron for nine yards, forcing a punt.

Although Carolina coach John Fox yanked his first-team offense with 5:46 left in the first quarter, Bill Cowher sent his back onto the field for a third try with 59 seconds left against the Panthers' second-team defense.

Under pressure, Roethlisberger threw a weak pass that was tipped by safety Marlon McCree, incomplete. Roethlisberger scrambled 13 yards for a first down, but the series --and another unsatisfying night -- ended for the Steelers' first offense when the quarterback scrambled for 7 yards three plays later and came up one yard short.

Batch took over at quarterback on the next series for the Steelers and had immediate success. He drove the second offense 82 yards on 14 plays for a touchdown, scored by rookie Noah Herron on a one-yard run. Rookie tight end Heath Miller, kept under wraps in the first three games, caught two passes for 37 yards on that scoring drive, including one of 29 yards. Miller, the 30th player taken in the draft, caught two passes for nine yards in the first three games.

With halfbacks Duce Staley and Jerome Bettis out with injuries and Willie Parker out on a protection-from-injury order by Cowher, Herron led them in rushing with 68 yards on 24 carries.

In the meantime, safety Mike Logan looked like Ronnie Lott in the first half. Logan started at free safety for Chris Hope, who was held out with a slight shoulder injury. Logan had six tackles, two forced fumbles and a sack. He hit rookie back Eric Shelton in the second quarter to cause a fumble that led to Jeff Reed's 25-yard field goal that gave the Steelers a 10-7 lead.

Carolina's John Kasay kicked a 35-yard field goal to tie the game with one second left in the first half.

Drew Carter put the Panthers in front, 17-10, midway through the second quarter when he beat safety Tyrone Carter to catch a 43-yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Stefan LeFors.

Batch led the Steelers on another scoring drive in the third quarter of 88 yards on 10 plays that ended with Reed's 23-yard field goal. Batch threw a perfect fade pass from the five that rookie Nate Washington dropped in the end zone.

Following Morey's touchdown catch, the Steelers scored a two-point conversion when Batch threw to Washington in the end zone.

NOTES -- Travis Kirschke started at right defensive end for Kimo von Oelhoffen, who has a sore back. ... Staley, who had been running only in water, ran with teammates on the field before the game. ... Quarterbacks Tommy Maddox and Brian St. Pierre did not play, an ominous sign for the latter . ... Wide receiver Lee Mays' left hamstring was injured in the second quarter, and he did not return.