Arizona Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 2015 Week 6 Recap

Game story

In Week 6 of the 2015 NFL season on 2015-10-18, the Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 25–13 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Palmer (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with +0.51 total EPA, and +7.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, L. Jones (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +12.05 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-29.5% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (2:25) 3-C.Palmer pass deep middle intended for 12-JO.Brown INTERCEPTED by 23-M.Mitchell [97-C.Heyward] at PIT -3. Touchback. PIT-23-M.Mitchell was injured during the play. PENALTY on PIT-92-J.Harriso

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 L. Jones · Pittsburgh Steelers · Passing · +12.05 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.93 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Bryant · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +10.73 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.34 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Floyd · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +4.80 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.60 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Ellington · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +4.34 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.17 EPA/play
5. 5 JO. Brown · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.73 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
6. 6 H. Miller · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +1.08 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Niklas · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +0.84 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.84 EPA/play
8. 8 L. Fitzgerald · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +0.74 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.07 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

• Arizona Cardinals — M. Floyd (C. Palmer pass) (Q1 53:20)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — M. Bryant (L. Jones pass) (Q3 23:51)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — M. Bryant (L. Jones pass) (Q4 2:15)

Field goals

• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q2 36:11)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Catanzaro (Q2 30:51)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q3 26:17)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q3 17:37)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Catanzaro (Q4 15:00)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q4 7:21)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 7–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the PIT 3 (Q1 53:20) — (8:20) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short middle to 15-M.Floyd for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q1 53:17) — 7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the ARI 29 (Q2 36:11) — (6:11) (Field Goal formation) 9-C.Boswell 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the PIT 13 (Q2 30:51) — (:51) (Field Goal formation) 7-C.Catanzaro 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler..

The third quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 12–0. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the ARI 30 (Q3 26:17) — (11:17) (Field Goal formation) 9-C.Boswell 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the ARI 8 (Q3 23:51) — (8:51) (Shotgun) 3-L.Jones pass short right to 10-M.Bryant for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the ARI 33 (Q3 17:37) — (2:37) (Field Goal formation) 9-C.Boswell 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry..

The fourth quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 10–3. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the PIT 21 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Field Goal formation) 7-C.Catanzaro 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the ARI 10 (Q4 7:21) — (7:21) (Field Goal formation) 9-C.Boswell 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the ARI 88 (Q4 2:15); Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q4 1:58) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 2:25) — (2:25) 3-C.Palmer pass deep middle intended for 12-JO.Brown INTERCEPTED by 23-M.Mitchell [97-C.Heyward] at PIT -3. Touchback. PIT-23-M.Mitchell was injured during the play. PENALTY on PIT-92-J.Harriso [WPA -29.5% · EPA -4.50]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 3:07) — (3:07) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass deep middle to 12-JO.Brown to PIT 20 for 19 yards (41-A.Blake). [WPA +20.2% · EPA +2.27]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 25:30) — (10:30) 3-C.Palmer pass short left to 12-JO.Brown to ARI 32 for 5 yards (92-J.Harrison, 41-A.Blake). FUMBLES (92-J.Harrison), RECOVERED by PIT-23-M.Mitchell at ARI 32. 23-M.Mitchell to ARI 32 for no g [WPA -12.7% · EPA -4.47]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 50:18) — (5:18) 3-C.Palmer pass short middle intended for 84-J.Gresham INTERCEPTED by 94-L.Timmons (98-V.Williams) at PIT 48. 94-L.Timmons to PIT 48 for no gain (11-L.Fitzgerald). [WPA -12.0% · EPA -4.44]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 16:43) — (1:43) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass deep left to 12-JO.Brown to PIT 27 for 42 yards (41-A.Blake). [WPA +11.9% · EPA +2.87]

Impact plays

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 2:15) — (2:15) (Shotgun) 3-L.Jones pass short middle to 10-M.Bryant for 88 yards, TOUCHDOWN [93-C.Campbell]. PENALTY on ARI-93-C.Campbell, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced between downs. [WPA +10.8% · EPA +6.89]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 2:25) — (2:25) 3-C.Palmer pass deep middle intended for 12-JO.Brown INTERCEPTED by 23-M.Mitchell [97-C.Heyward] at PIT -3. Touchback. PIT-23-M.Mitchell was injured during the play. PENALTY on PIT-92-J.Harriso [WPA -29.5% · EPA -4.50]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 25:30) — (10:30) 3-C.Palmer pass short left to 12-JO.Brown to ARI 32 for 5 yards (92-J.Harrison, 41-A.Blake). FUMBLES (92-J.Harrison), RECOVERED by PIT-23-M.Mitchell at ARI 32. 23-M.Mitchell to ARI 32 for no g [WPA -12.7% · EPA -4.47]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 50:18) — (5:18) 3-C.Palmer pass short middle intended for 84-J.Gresham INTERCEPTED by 94-L.Timmons (98-V.Williams) at PIT 48. 94-L.Timmons to PIT 48 for no gain (11-L.Fitzgerald). [WPA -12.0% · EPA -4.44]

Quarterback report card

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

• C.Palmer (Arizona Cardinals) · 50 dropbacks · 58.0% completion · +7.5% CPOE · +0.01 EPA/play · +0.51 total EPA
• M.Vick (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 16 dropbacks · 18.8% completion · -18.7% CPOE · -0.18 EPA/play · -2.90 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 (+0.06 vs -0.09), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Arizona Cardinals: 12 drives, -8.32 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 12 drives, +4.24 total EPA, 6 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.
• L. Jones (Pittsburgh Steelers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Palmer (ARI) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• M. Vick (PIT) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

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

1. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q1 53:20 · PIT 3 · Score 6-0
   (8:20) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short middle to 15-M.Floyd for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 53:17 · PIT 15 · Score 7-0
   7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 36:11 · ARI 29 · Score 7-3
   (6:11) (Field Goal formation) 9-C.Boswell 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry.
4. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 30:51 · PIT 13 · Score 10-3
   (:51) (Field Goal formation) 7-C.Catanzaro 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q3 26:17 · ARI 30 · Score 10-6
   (11:17) (Field Goal formation) 9-C.Boswell 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q3 23:51 · ARI 8 · Score 10-12
   (8:51) (Shotgun) 3-L.Jones pass short right to 10-M.Bryant for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q3 17:37 · ARI 33 · Score 10-15
   (2:37) (Field Goal formation) 9-C.Boswell 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry.
8. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q4 15:00 · PIT 21 · Score 13-15
   (15:00) (Field Goal formation) 7-C.Catanzaro 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q4 7:21 · ARI 10 · Score 13-18
   (7:21) (Field Goal formation) 9-C.Boswell 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 2:15 · ARI 88 · Score 13-24
    (2:15) (Shotgun) 3-L.Jones pass short middle to 10-M.Bryant for 88 yards, TOUCHDOWN [93-C.Campbell]. PENALTY on ARI-93-C.Campbell, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards
11. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q4 1:58 · ARI 15 · Score 13-25
    9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry.