PITTSBURGH - Maybe the Philadelphia Eagles should revise that letter they sent absent wide receiver Terrell Owens hours before they opened their exhibition schedule as dreadfully as any team could imagine.

The new message: Help.

Owens' one-week ban from training camp for his disruptive behavior had nothing to do with the Eagles allowing the Pittsburgh Steelers to score the first two times they touched the ball in a 38-31 exhibition victory Monday night.

Or did it?

And the Steelers' faster-than-fast start, with an interception return touchdown and two special teams scores not even 19 minutes into the game, had nothing to do with wide receiver Hines Ward's decision to end his 15-day holdout just hours before kickoff.

Or did it?

The Steelers seemed as pumped up by Ward's decision to report without a reworked contract as he did to be back, as the four-time Pro Bowl receiver raced onto the field - he wasn't in uniform - to celebrate Ike Taylor's 100-yard kickoff return touchdown that made it 21-7.

The game began with Eagles kick returner Roderick Hood being pulled down at his 5 on the opening kickoff.

Donovan McNabb, beginning the game without either of his two projected starting receivers in Owens and the injured Todd Pinkston, then threw short on a pass intended for Greg Lewis, allowing Willie Williams to cut in front for a 10-yard interception return touchdown.

After that, the Eagles' starting offense outplayed Pittsburgh's - partly because the Steelers starters were on the field for all of 10 plays before calling it a night. With Ben Roethlisberger throwing four passes and Bettis limited to three carries, Ward probably got as much work in celebrating as they did on the field.

While the Steelers celebrated Ward's return, the Eagles wish they could do that with Owens, who told ESPN Monday night the Eagles sent him a letter outlining the series of behavioral problems that led to his being ordered out of camp last week.

Coach Andy Reid didn't comment afterward about the letter, or say much about his planned meeting when Owens returns to the team Wednesday. Of course, there wasn't much to say after the kind of special teams breakdowns that can get an assistant coach fired if they occur during the season.

Consider this: No NFL team has scored on an interception return, a punt return and a kickoff return during a regular-season game. The Steelers had accomplished all the above not even 19 minutes in.

"If we didn't understand the importance of special teams before, we certainly do after today," Reid said. "You have to take that part of the game seriously, too. You have to take care of the football and you have to block and tackle."

Outside of McNabb's first throw, Philadelphia's passing game was more than adequate, especially considering that projected backup receivers were on the field. McNabb went 14-of-19 for 132 yards and led a 14-play, 70-yard scoring drive that ended with his 8-yard touchdown throw to L.J. Smith early in the second quarter. And rookie receiver Reggie Brown made five catches for 52 yards.

"I need to make some better decisions on my part," McNabb said. "I think as a team we were able to make some big plays and move the ball down the field and get this offense to score. ... We never try to harp on the negative aspects. We stayed positive and tried to get things going the way we wanted to."

Are you listening, T.O.?

"The sky's the limit for us right now," wide receiver Greg Lewis said. "We're not worried about the season."