Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Charlie Batch hugs Joey Porter after Porter returned a Daunte Culpepper interception for a TD in the fourth quarter last night. Click photo for larger image. Related articles A late flag: Coach's delay hurts Dolphins Celebration, catharsis meet at Heinz Field Steelers Notebook: It's a lovefest with hugs all around Game 1 Report Card: Steelers vs. Dolphins Slideshow: Steelers vs. Dolphins Photojournal: Game 1: Steelers vs. Miami Dolphins Cook: Batch meets the challenge Collier: Porter, Polamalu a big-play pair Also, check out ... Blog 'n' Gold: A blog where PG sportswriters will chronicle the fortunes of the Steelers this season.

As they did so often on their run to a Super Bowl championship last season, the Steelers emerged from beneath the rubble to pull out a win to open the NFL season last night in Heinz Field.

Quarterback Charlie Batch overcame a costly fumble at the Miami 1 in the fourth quarter and threw an 87-yard touchdown pass to tight end Heath Miller to lift the Steelers to a 28-17 victory against the Miami Dolphins.

"Panic never set in on our football team," coach Bill Cowher said. "It was a good start."

Linebacker Joey Porter sealed the win when he intercepted a Daunte Culpepper pass and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown with 2:59 left.

The touchdown to Miller was the third scoring pass of the night for Batch, playing four days after starter Ben Roethlisberger had his appendix removed. The electrifying connection with Miller turned into the longest touchdown pass in Heinz Field history and came with 6:11 to go.

Offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt presented Batch with some options during a break just before the play, and the quarterback chose the pass to Miller. As he barked out signals, he noticed the cornerback and safety moving to cover Hines Ward and virtually ignoring Miller.

"I stared down Hines, hit Heath over the top and the rest is history," Batch said.

Safety Troy Polamalu intercepted a Culpepper pass with 5:51 left, but Jeff Reed missed a 44-yard field-goal attempt. Porter took care of matters by himself a few minutes later with his interception return for a touchdown.

Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Willie Parker picks up yardage against the Dolphins last night at Heinz Field. He rushed for a game-high 115 yards. Click photo for larger image. LISTEN IN Postgame commentary from the Steelers Thursday night: Charlie Batch On Heath Miller's 87-yard touchdown On stepping up as a backup Did not having Ben Roethlisberger change the game planning? Joey Porter On the defensive game planning versus Miami Hines Ward On the importance of this victory

It looked as if Batch, a 31-year-old quarterback from Homestead, would be a goat, but instead he turned in one off the game's best performances. He completed 15 of 25 passes for 209 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

"I thought Charlie played very well, played very efficient," Cowher said.

Batch also threw touchdown passes to Nate Washington and Ward in the second quarter as the Steelers took a 14-10 halftime lead.

His fumble came with 11:58 to go and the Steelers down by three.

"You never want to be the guy who is going to take a step back," Batch said.

Miami's Ronnie Brown ran for two touchdowns of 2 and 5 yards, and Olindo Mare kicked a 26-yard field goal for the Dolphins. But the Steelers slammed the Dolphins' ground game, holding them to 38 yards rushing on 18 carries. Culpepper was 18 of 37 for 262 yards, but no touchdowns, two interceptions and three sacks.

Willie Parker ran a career-high 29 times for yards for 115 yards for the Steelers, the seventh 100-yard game of his three-year NFL career.

Miller caught three passes for 102 yards, a career high.

He caught the touchdown pass from Batch at the 30 and outran linebacker Zach Thomas and cornerback Will Allen.

"I knew he could run that far, I didn't know he could run that fast," Cowher said. "He looked good running by me, but he still had a long way to go."

A sluggish game broke open in the second quarter when the Steelers took a 7-0 lead on Batch's 27-yard touchdown pass to Washington.

Washington, inside the 5, aggressively went for the ball and beat strong safety Travares Tillman for it. Washington landed in the end zone for his first regular-season NFL catch and first touchdown.

Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Steelers fans cheer for the team at the begining of the game. Click photo for larger image.

"He did a really good job of going up and making a play," Batch said. "That's what Nate does."

Miami's tedious offense received a boost when Wes Welker returned a Chris Gardocki punt 47 yards to the Steelers' 15. Culpepper threw a 13-yard pass to Brown on first down, then Brown ran up the middle for a 2-yard touchdown and a 7-7 tie with 5:14 left in the first half.

The Steelers reclaimed the lead, 14-7, on Ward's 7-yard touchdown catch of a pass from Batch in the back of the end zone. It came with 1:49 left in the half.

Parker fuel-injected that seven-play, 77-yard drive with a 32-yard run off right tackle, running through the arms of Thomas. On third down, cornerback Andre Goodman was penalized 23 yards for interference on a deep pass to Cedrick Wilson.

It was Goodman again who failed to cover Ward for the touchdown in the end zone. It was Ward's first catch of the game.

The Dolphins salvaged three points before the half ended, when Mare kicked a 26-yard field goal with 32 seconds left. That score was made possible by Welker's two pass receptions, covering 51 yards.

Marty Booker helped to put the Dolphins on top for the first time when he caught a short pass and turned it into a 52-yard gain when safety Tyrone Carter slipped to the ground.

	Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Ike Taylor defends as the Dolphins' Chris Chambers loses the ball in the second quarter. Click photo for larger image.

Cornerback Ike Taylor then did something all too familiar and frustrating to his coaches. From the Steelers' 5, Culpepper threw too far for his receiver right into the arms of Taylor in the end zone. But Taylor, who admitted to dropping at least 10 interceptions last season, dropped this one too. On the next play, Brown ran 5 yards for his second touchdown and a 17-14 Miami lead.

Then came Batch's fumble at the 1.

"You don't worry about Charlie Batch," Cowher said of his reaction at that point. "He's a very confident guy. Those things happen; they happen, and you move on."

After the Steelers' defense finally forced a Miami punt, Batch requested the play to Miller from Whisenhunt. Replays showed Miller was knocked out of bounds at the 1, but the officials ruled a touchdown.

When Miami coach Nick Saban threw the red flag to challenge the call, the officials did not see it as Reed kicked the extra point, and no challenge was accepted.

Polamalu and Porter then snuffed out the Dolphins' last two tries to pull it out.