Recap: Pittsburgh vs. Carolina

By Sports Network

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Jeff Reed hit a field goal as time expired, and the Steelers beat the Carolina Panthers, 19-16, in preseason action at Heinz Field.

Byron Leftwich got most of the snaps for the Steelers (3-1), going 6-of-14 for only 82 yards. Rookie Rashard Mendenhall rushed for 79 yards on 21 carries, while Reed went 4-of-5 on his field goal attempts.

Ben Roethlisberger appeared in only one series, attempting no passes but recovering a fumble. Willie Parker rushed for 34 yards on four carries.

Matt Moore was the primary signal-caller for the Panthers (2-2), completing 15-of-27 passes for 164 yards and two interceptions. Brett Basanez came in late and went 6-of-11 for 106 yards and a touchdown. John Kasay converted on all three of his field goal attempts.

Steve Smith didn't appear in the game and will now begin serving a two-game suspension, which was given to him after a training camp incident in which he broke the nose of teammate Ken Lucas. Jake Delhomme, Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams all did not see action in the preseason finale.

Basanez led the Panthers down the field for the game-tying score with under two minutes in the fourth. Starting at his own 33, Basanez hit Dominique Thompson on two 17-yard passes to get the Panthers to the Steelers' 33. After scrambling up the middle for four yards, Basanez found Chris Hannon in the endzone for a 29-yard score, tying the game.

But the Steelers would win the game at the last second. Dennis Dixon systematically drove Pittsburgh down the field, starting at his own 28. He hit Eddie Drummond for two five-yard passes before gaining 11 yards himself. Dixon then completed a 10-yard pass to Micah Rucker and a 12-yard pass to Marvin Allen to get the Steelers within field goal range.

After two Gary Russell rush plays, Reed hit a 43-yard field goal as time expired to complete the eight-play 47-yard drive and give Pittsburgh the win.

Kasay got the scoring started for Carolina, hitting a 32-yard field goal a little more than five minutes into the game.

Carey Davis put the Steelers on top on the following drive, capping a five- play 77-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown run for a 7-3 lead.

Reed added a 41-yard and a 49-yard field goal in about a seven minute span to extend the lead to 13-3.

Carolina cut the lead to 13-6 at halftime as Kasay nailed a 32-yard field goal with 33 seconds left on the clock.

Both teams traded field goals to start the second half to make the score 16-9.

The Steelers will stay at home to play the Texans in Week 1, while Carolina heads to San Diego to play the Chargers.