The defending National Football League Super Bowl champion PIttsburgh Steelers have opened the new season with a come-from-behind 28-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
Backup quarterback Charlie Batch threw two touchdown passes in the second quarter, and another in the fourth quarter to twice rally the Steelers. Batch threw for a total of 209 yards in Thursday's contest in Pittsburgh.
Trailing 21-17 in the fourth quarter, Miami missed two chances to come back when newly acquired starting quarterback Daunte Culpepper, formerly of Minnesota, was intercepted on consecutive series. One interception was returned by linebacker Joey Porter for a touchdown, sealing the Steelers' victory.
Batch was playing for starter Ben Roethlisberger who underwent an emergency appendectomy Sunday. Roethlisberger led the Steelers to their fifth Super Bowl victory in February.
Twenty-six NFL teams will see their first action on Sunday, and there will be two Monday night football games.