NFL EXHIBITION ROUNDUP : Bombs Away for Falcons in Their New Home

Quarterback Chris Miller was quoted in Sunday’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution as saying he wanted the first play in the Atlanta Falcons’ new home, the Georgia Dome, to be a long one for a touchdown.

On the Falcons’ first play, Miller connected with Michael Haynes on a 76-yard scoring pass play to erase a 3-0 deficit in a 20-10 exhibition victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

“I read about it in the newspaper this morning, but it just slipped my mind,” Eagle linebacker Seth Joyner said. “I don’t think that the other guys knew about it unless they read it in the paper.”

Haynes raced cornerback Izel Jenkins to catch the long pass just inside the Philadelphia 35. Safety Rich Miano gave futile chase.

“We decided the best way to have a new dome is on the very first play go for a touchdown,” Coach Jerry Glanville said.

Atlanta (1-2) also scored on Miller’s 20-yard scoring pass to Tony Jones. Miller completed 15 of 28 passes for 263 yards.

Randall Cunningham led the Eagles (2-2) to the early lead by running 40, 11 and three yards in the game’s first possession to set up Ian Howfield’s 33-yard field goal. Cunningham left later with a pulled groin.

Pittsburgh 28, Chicago 17--Neil O’Donnell threw two second-half touchdown passes and linebacker Levon Kirkland recovered two fumbles as the Steelers rallied from a 10-point deficit to beat the Bears at Chicago.

The Steelers (1-2) trailed, 17-7, when O’Donnell hit Jeff Graham for an 11-yard touchdown pass one play after Kirkland recovered a fumble by Peter Tom Willis in the third quarter.

O’Donnell threw an 11-yard scoring pass to Adrian Cooper in the fourth quarter after Kirkland recovered Will Furrer’s fumble.

Jim Harbaugh completed 12 of 13 passes for 143 yards and one touchdown in the first half, leading the Bears (0-3) to a 14-7 lead.