LeSean McCoy showed his all-star form with his 22-yard TD reception in the first quarter of the Eagles 31-21 preseason win over the Steelers. Photo by Todd Bauders/contrastphotography.com

By AL THOMPSON

The Eagles finally got a preseason win knocking off the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-21 at Lincoln Financial Field in a game not nearly as close as the score might indicate.

Pittsburgh looks like a team headed nowhere in 2014, so the domination of the Steelers in the first half should be taken with a grain of salt.

But the Eagles starters and their depth on offense look rock solid with just next week’s game against the Jets at the Linc left on the preseason schedule.

None of the starters are expected to play in that game.

Since it was just the preseason Thursday night, perhaps some notes are better to look at rather than a story since it is how individual players performed that most fans are interested in.

*  Fans can be assured the Birds will move the ball on offense and score.  Nick Foles looked confident and crisp under center. The offensive line played well without Lane Johnson.  And Shady McCoy looked like he intends to repeat as the NFL rushing king. The Eagles are averaging over 31 points a game.

*  Tight end Brent Celek should have the Eagles equipment manager get him a new chin strap or a tighter helmet. For at least the second time this preseason he has had his helmet knocked clean off his head after a big catch and hit. Both times Celek held on to the ball.

*  The referees continued their assault on every penalty record that has even been made in the NFL. The zebras called 27 penalties Thursday night for 202 yards. Twelve of the 100 first downs in the game came via penalties.

* The Eagles defense intends to make plays, cause turnovers. It still has to be more consistent in points allowed. The Eagles first defensive unit pitched a shutout in the first half.

*  Jeremy Maclin took some lickin’ and kept on tickin’ …. He was productive and even a gruesome-looking bend-of-the-knee on a routine route in the second quarter did not keep him off the field.

*  The Steelers look like a team that could be in for another long season.

* Brandon Graham recorded a sack for the second consecutive week. Vinny Curry also has two sacks this preseason.

* First round draft pick Marcus Smith recorded four tackles that included a tackle for loss.

* Foles was 19 of 29 for 179 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He was not sacked.

* Maclin led the Eagles with six catches for 43 yards.

* Darren Sproles led the first team offense with 33 yards on six carries and a touchdown.

* McCoy rushed four times for 24 yards and caught two passes for 26 yards and a dazzling 22-yard touchdown run that had fans looking through the stands for jock strap souvenirs.

* Ben Roethlisberger the Steelers first score came with 4:07 left in the third quarter when Roethlisberger connected with against mostly Eagles second team defensive players.

* Safety Malcolm Jenkins was asked after the game how pitching a first half shutout affects a defense that gave up 42 point the week before against New England.

“I think we needed a performance like this,” said Jenkins who finished with two combined tackles and a defended pass. “Obviously it is a confidence booster. We know that this is the standard. This is not an anomaly. It is something that we have to continually work hard on to build on. We have two weeks before the first game. There are a lot of practices in between then. A lot of opportunities to get better.”