Arizona Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 2003 Week 10 Recap

Game story

In Week 10 of the 2003 NFL season on 2003-11-09, the Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 28–15 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 27 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Blake (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with -1.48 total EPA.

On the individual side, A. Boldin (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +14.81 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+15.8% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Pittsburgh Steelers changed the game: (8:02) (Shotgun) 8-T.Maddox pass to 83-C.Doering to ARI 13 for 53 yards (55-R.Thompson). Pass thrown on fleaflicker from #86 Ward

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 A. Boldin · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +14.81 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.85 EPA/play
2. 2 H. Ward · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +7.79 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.30 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Doering · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +7.75 total EPA · 2 snaps · +3.88 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Johnson · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +7.40 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.47 EPA/play
5. 5 F. Jones · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +5.13 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.28 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Maddox · Pittsburgh Steelers · Passing · +4.01 total EPA · 28 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Zereoue · Pittsburgh Steelers · Rushing · +1.32 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.22 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Shipp · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.14 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Doering (T. Maddox pass) (Q2 36:04)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — H. Ward (T. Maddox pass) (Q3 28:20)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — H. Ward (T. Maddox pass) (Q3 27:15)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — S. Player (Q3 21:50)
• Arizona Cardinals — A. Boldin (J. Blake pass) (Q3 17:39)
• Arizona Cardinals — B. Johnson (J. Blake pass) (Q4 0:27)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — T. Duncan (Q2 30:12)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The second quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 7–3. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the ARI 9 (Q2 36:04); Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 35:59) — 3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-T.Maddox.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the PIT 2 (Q2 30:12) — (:12) 6-T.Duncan 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-10-S.Player..

The third quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 21–6. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the ARI 5 (Q3 28:20) — (13:20) 8-T.Maddox pass to 86-H.Ward for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q3 28:16) — 3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-T.Maddox.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the ARI 22 (Q3 27:15) — (12:15) 8-T.Maddox pass to 86-H.Ward for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q3 27:09) — 3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-T.Maddox.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the PIT 90 (Q3 21:50) — (6:50) 10-S.Player punts 42 yards to PIT 48, Center-48-N.Hodel. 82-A.Randle El for 52 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q3 21:33) — 3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-T.Maddox.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the PIT 11 (Q3 17:39) — (2:39) 11-J.Blake pass to 81-A.Boldin for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 6–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the PIT 54 (Q4 0:27) — (:27) (Shotgun) 11-J.Blake pass to 83-B.Johnson for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 53:02) — (8:02) (Shotgun) 8-T.Maddox pass to 83-C.Doering to ARI 13 for 53 yards (55-R.Thompson). Pass thrown on fleaflicker from #86 Ward [WPA +15.8% · EPA +4.79]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 50:55) — (5:55) 3-J.Reed 23 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-T.Maddox. [WPA -11.9% · EPA -2.87]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) 36-J.Bettis left tackle to PIT 17 for 5 yards (52-L.Fisher). FUMBLES (52-L.Fisher), RECOVERED by ARI-57-R.McKinnon at PIT 17. 57-R.McKinnon to PIT 17 for no gain (64-J.Hartings). Penalty on PIT [WPA -10.8% · EPA -3.77]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 30:02) — (:02) (Shotgun) 8-T.Maddox pass incomplete to 80-P.Burress (98-R.Davis). [WPA -9.3% · EPA -0.65]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 27:26) — (12:26) 11-J.Blake sacked at ARI 22 for -8 yards (26-D.Townsend). FUMBLES (26-D.Townsend), RECOVERED by PIT-67-K.von Oelhoffen at ARI 22. 67-K.von Oelhoffen to ARI 22 for no gain (76-C.Spikes). [WPA -7.9% · EPA -5.19]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 0:27) — (:27) (Shotgun) 11-J.Blake pass to 83-B.Johnson for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.0% · EPA +6.51]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 27:26) — (12:26) 11-J.Blake sacked at ARI 22 for -8 yards (26-D.Townsend). FUMBLES (26-D.Townsend), RECOVERED by PIT-67-K.von Oelhoffen at ARI 22. 67-K.von Oelhoffen to ARI 22 for no gain (76-C.Spikes). [WPA -7.9% · EPA -5.19]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 53:02) — (8:02) (Shotgun) 8-T.Maddox pass to 83-C.Doering to ARI 13 for 53 yards (55-R.Thompson). Pass thrown on fleaflicker from #86 Ward [WPA +15.8% · EPA +4.79]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 21:50) — (6:50) 10-S.Player punts 42 yards to PIT 48, Center-48-N.Hodel. 82-A.Randle El for 52 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -1.6% · EPA -4.30]

Quarterback report card

J.Blake led all passers in efficiency for Arizona Cardinals, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Blake (Arizona Cardinals) · 51 dropbacks · 45.1% completion · -0.03 EPA/play · -1.48 total EPA
• T.Maddox (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 28 dropbacks · 42.9% completion · +0.14 EPA/play · +4.01 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Pittsburgh Steelers held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.07 vs -0.18), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Arizona Cardinals: 14 drives, -16.82 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 15 drives, -5.50 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Pittsburgh Steelers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• A. Boldin (Arizona Cardinals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 36:04 · ARI 9 · Score 0-6
   (6:04) (Shotgun) 8-T.Maddox pass to 83-C.Doering for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on ARI-72-K.King, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced between downs.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 35:59 · ARI 2 · Score 0-7
   3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-T.Maddox.
3. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 30:12 · PIT 2 · Score 3-7
   (:12) 6-T.Duncan 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-10-S.Player.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q3 28:20 · ARI 5 · Score 3-13
   (13:20) 8-T.Maddox pass to 86-H.Ward for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q3 28:16 · ARI 2 · Score 3-14
   3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-T.Maddox.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q3 27:15 · ARI 22 · Score 3-20
   (12:15) 8-T.Maddox pass to 86-H.Ward for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q3 27:09 · ARI 2 · Score 3-21
   3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-T.Maddox.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q3 21:50 · PIT 90 · Score 3-27
   (6:50) 10-S.Player punts 42 yards to PIT 48, Center-48-N.Hodel. 82-A.Randle El for 52 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q3 21:33 · ARI 2 · Score 3-28
   3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-T.Maddox.
10. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 17:39 · PIT 11 · Score 9-28
    (2:39) 11-J.Blake pass to 81-A.Boldin for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 0:27 · PIT 54 · Score 15-28
    (:27) (Shotgun) 11-J.Blake pass to 83-B.Johnson for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN.