Washington Redskins coach Steve Spurrier puts on his headphones in the first quarter. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        LANDOVER, Md. — Steve Spurrier kept ripping off his headset in anger, coaching so hard he was soaking in sweat until, finally, he willed the Washington Redskins to victory in the fourth quarter.

        It was not a good night for the Redskins. They were picked apart by the Pittsburgh Steelers' starters, but Spurrier still managed to keep his exhibition record perfect with Sunday night's 35-34 victory.

        “They could have booed our butts right out of the tunnel in the first half,” Spurrier said. “You can find a lot of things to criticize, but that's OK. We weren't very good overall, but somehow or another those guys made enough plays to get one more point tonight — for whatever it's worth.”

        Sage Rosenfels hit Darnerien McCants for a 5-yard touchdown pass with 2:11 remaining — his third TD throw of the quarter — as the Redskins overcame a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit.

        “I'm trying to learn how to coach exhibitions,” Spurrier said. “I haven't learned yet. I don't know if you try to win or not, but it seems like when we get into battle, we try and win these things.”

        The Redskins are 3-0 and have scored 110 points in exhibitions, but the Steelers dominated 17-0 when the starters were playing in the first half — even though Kordell Stewart and Charlie Batch both were sidelined with minor injuries.

        The Steelers, in essence, had reason to be happy about most everything except the final score.

        “I think we're more disappointed with giving up a great first half,” safety Lee Flowers said. “It's a bittersweet loss. I think we pretty much dominated them.”

        Stewart sustained a mild concussion and Batch cut his chin, but it didn't matter who the Pittsburgh quarterback was early on. Batch capped an 83-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Dan Kreider, and rookie Antwaan Randle El ran 32 yards on a reverse to finish a 99-yard drive — both against the Redskins' first-string defense. The Steelers gained 221 yards in the first half.

        Randle El also caught a 17-yard pass from Tee Martin in the third quarter.

        The Steelers shut down Spurrier's Fun 'N Gun offense until the backups and fringe players took over. The Redskins had six turnovers, the first-team offense had just 123 yards and there was little headway in the three-way quarterback battle until Rosenfels led the late rally.

        “The group they had out there in the fourth quarter was better than the group we had out there,” coach Bill Cowher said.

        But many of those players won't make the final roster, and Cowher said he was happy his starters' play.

        “Yeah, but I don't like losing, though,” Cowher said.

        Rosenfels struggled against Pittsburgh's starters in the second quarter — 6-for-10 for 54 yards with an interception and a fumble — but he returned in the fourth to throw TD passes to Leonard Stephens, Derrius Thompson and McCants. Rosenfels finished 17-for-25 for 244 yards.

        Starter Danny Wuerffel played the first quarter and went 2-for-5 for 24 yards with two drops and a heaved third-down interception that essentially took the place of a punt.

        Shane Matthews, playing the third quarter, had his first pass picked off at the line of scrimmage by linebacker Justin Kurpeikis in an area that didn't appear to have an eligible receiver. The Redskins also had two illegal-procedures penalties on the same play during one drive.

        Finally, aided by a penalty for roughing the passer, Matthews got the Redskins on the board with a 10-yard pass to Thompson. Matthews later added an 8-yard TD pass to Chris Doering and finished 14-for-21 for 137 yards and two interceptions.

        Stewart was hurt in the first quarter as he neared the sideline after scrambling to the right on a rollout. He was grabbed from behind and slammed headfirst into the ground by linebacker LaVar Arrington.

        Stewart, who gained 6 yards on the play, lay on the ground for about a minute. He then walked to the bench and sat with a towel over his head as Batch entered the game in his place.

        The play was similar to the one by Arrington that ended Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman's career in 2000. Arrington rammed Aikman into the turf, giving Aikman his 10th and final concussion. Aikman missed the rest of the season and then announced his retirement.

        Batch was hurt when he was hit high by Del Cowsette after throwing a pass in the second quarter. Cowsette was flagged for roughing the passer, and Batch's return was listed as questionable.

        In between the quarterback injuries, Pittsburgh lost another starter when linebacker Kendrell Bell severely sprained his left ankle and will have to wear a cast for a week. Cowher said he was “cautiously optimistic” Bell will be ready for the season opener.

        Pittsburgh running back Amos Zereoue and Washington running back Ladell Betts both suffered sprained right ankles in the third quarter.

Akili wants turn vs. Saints Backup running backs Keaton, Johnson racking up yards Fans wondering where Colts' offense went Brady mediocre in second exhibition Davis to wear Broncos jersey one last time NFL Camp Notebooks Redskins 35, Steelers 34

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