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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- No passing game. No sustained drives. No
losses.
The Pittsburgh Steelers turned one of injury-depleted Carolina's
three turnovers into Kordell Stewart's 4-yard scoring run and their
third consecutive preseason victory, 13-0 over the Panthers on
Thursday night.
The biggest loss to the Panthers, however, was wide receiver
Patrick Jeffers for the season with a torn anterior cruciate
ligament. He was injured in the first half when a Steelers player -- possibly, cornerback Chad Scott -- rolled up on his knee as he was
being tackled.
|  | | Wideout Patrick Jeffers is now one of 19 players to be put on the Panthers' injury list.
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Jeffers was the Panthers' second leading receiver last season,
making 63 catches for 1,082 yards and 12 touchdowns.
"It's terrible for us," quarterback Steve Beuerlein said. "I
don't know how devastating it is, but it's a huge loss. But we
can't get down and cry about it. People aren't going to feel sorry
for us. They're going to want to hammer us even harder."
Panthers coach George Seifert was more concerned about losing
Jeffers than he was with a second consecutive poor outing by his
offense, which has been outscored 47-14 in two games.
"I don't think you can ever suggest that losing one player
means you've lost your whole season, so we'll move forward with the
players we have," Seifert said. "It's a blow, but it shouldn't be
a knockout punch."
Eighteen Panthers, or nearly one-quarter of their roster, were
listed on the pregame injury report, including most of their
better-known players: Beuerlein, Reggie White, Eric Swann and
Muhsin Muhammad. Wide receiver Jim Turner also strained a hamstring
during the game.
Kris Brown kicked field goals of 53 and 33 yards, one just
before halftime following another turnover, as the Steelers'
inefficient offense was held to a single touchdown for the second
straight game.
"You don't want to blow this (3-0) out of proportion, but the
big key is we're getting a lot out of the young guys on this
team," safety Lee Flowers said. "We're finding good backups and
finding some guys who can play."
The Steelers have scored 26 points in two games since beating
Dallas 38-10 in their preseason opener, yet managed to win both
times even as Stewart was a combined 1-of-13 passing for 3 yards.
Stewart was 1-of-7 for 8 yards against the Panthers, who left
much of their rebuilt defense back in Carolina with assorted
injuries.
"If we're not clicking in the next game (Aug. 19 against
Indianapolis) with most of the starters in there, that's when it's
time to get worried," wide receiver Troy Edwards said. "We need
to get two or three sustained drives going with the veterans."
Just as they did a week ago in a 34-14 loss to Jacksonville,
quarterbacks Jeff Lewis and Dameyune Craig couldn't move a Panthers
offense that couldn't run with consistency or complete anything
except flare passes that usually gained only a handful of yards.
"Any time they've got a goose egg, that's a good feeling, even
if it is in the preseason," Steelers linebacker Earl Holmes said.
"You must be doing some things right. But it's more important how
you finish up in the next two games."
Lewis, starting for the second week in a row for Beuerlein, was
11-of-14 for 54 yards with no completion longer than 12 yards.
Craig had more rushing yards (29) than passing yards (24) while
going 2-of-11.
"We can't seem to take a snap from center. I think we fumbled
three of those," Seifert said. "We can't function as an offense
like that."
The Panthers threatened only once, driving to the Steelers' 4 in
the second quarter with Lewis in the game before Tim Biakabutuka
fumbled on fourth down while being hit by Holmes and lost a yard.
The Steelers led 7-0 at the time, needing to drive but 11 yards
for the game's only touchdown after Jason Gildon recovered Lewis'
fumble.
Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala gained 7 yards on two carries before
Stewart scrambled to score from the 4 on third-and-3 with 9:05 left
in the first half.
Fuamatu-Ma'afala, who led a 13-10 comeback victory over Miami on
Saturday by running for 122 yards and a touchdown, managed four
carries for 19 yards before leaving with bruised ribs. Steelers
wide receiver Danny Farmer also left with a sprained right ankle.
Brown's 33-yard field goal on the final play of the first half
followed an 11-play drive led by backup quarterback Kent Graham
after Chad Scott's end zone interception of Craig's pass.
Graham, 10-of-18 for 95 yards, also led an 11-play drive at the
start of the third quarter that ended with Brown's 53-yard field
goal at 10:02. Graham kept the drive going by finding Troy Edwards
for 10 yards on third-and-3 from the Panthers' 47.
Anthony Wright followed Stewart and Graham and was 6-of-9 for 59
yards. Steelers free agent Pepe Pearson of Ohio State was the
leading rusher with 52 yards on seven carries, all in the second
half.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Carolina Clubhouse
Pittsburgh Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Mike Golic breaks down the impact of Patrick Jeffers' injury.
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Patrick Jeffers talks about his injury.
wav: 170 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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