PRO FOOTBALL : Has-Beens Become Heroes as Eagles Beat Steelers : Interconference: Newly acquired Roy Green catches six of McMahon’s passes in 23-14 victory.

Two players thought to be at the end of their careers had career days Sunday for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jim McMahon, given a chance after Randall Cunningham’s season ended because of a knee injury, completed 22 of 31 passes for 286 yards and scored a touchdown as the Eagles beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 23-14.

The 31-year-old McMahon threw six of those passes for 114 yards to 34-year-old wide receiver Roy Green, whose catches set up two field goals and a touchdown.

Green was released by the Phoenix Cardinals and failed to make the cut with the Cleveland Browns during preseason. He also tried out with the Washington Redskins before the Eagles signed him Wednesday to replace the injured Calvin Williams.

Green said he had a lot of help in learning the system in four days.

“All week guys were tutoring me, helping me out. It’s not a simple offense to get a grasp of,” Green said.

“But it’s not like I’m a freshman out of college. It’s just a matter of getting the terminology and letting everything else take over. It’s a matter of opportunity. Take what the defense gives you.”

“Jim really threw the ball well. I ran the routes and he just put the ball there.”

The Eagles (3-1) fell behind by 7-0 and 14-7 in the first quarter, but rallied behind three field goals by Roger Ruzek, McMahon’s one-yard touchdown and a two-yard scoring run by Robert Drummond.

After the first quarter, the Eagles’ defense shut down the Steelers, sacking Bubby Brister three times.

The Steelers (2-2) got four first downs and 93 yards after the first quarter, most coming in the final minutes when the game was decided.

Brister completed 12 of 25 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Eric Green caught eight passes for 158 yards and an eight-yard touchdown, which is the second game of 100 or more yards in his career.

Steeler Coach Chuck Noll had a simple explanation for what happened to his team after the first quarter.

“We didn’t score any points and they did,” he said. “Our offense didn’t move the football and our defense didn’t stop them. We couldn’t get them off the field. They played well.”