Arizona Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 2023 Week 13 Recap

Game story

In Week 13 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-12-03, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the Pittsburgh Steelers, pulling away with a 24–10 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

K. Murray (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with +7.49 total EPA, and -8.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Trubisky (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.06 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-46.3% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Pittsburgh Steelers changed the game: The game has resumed.

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 M. Trubisky · Pittsburgh Steelers · Passing · +8.06 total EPA · 18 snaps · +0.45 EPA/play
2. 2 K. Murray · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +7.49 total EPA · 30 snaps · +0.25 EPA/play
3. 3 T. McBride · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +7.43 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.83 EPA/play
4. 4 G. Pickens · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +7.07 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.41 EPA/play
5. 5 C. Austin · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +1.54 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.54 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Johnson · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +1.43 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
7. 7 P. Freiermuth · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +1.42 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Warren · Pittsburgh Steelers · Rushing · +1.12 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.11 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 — T. McBride (K. Murray pass) (Q2 30:20)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Conner (Q3 22:21)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Conner (Q4 8:33)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — D. Johnson (M. Trubisky pass) (Q4 4:30)

Field goals

• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q1 57:04)
• Arizona Cardinals — M. Prater (Q1 50:48)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the ARI 11 (Q1 57:04) — (12:04) 9-C.Boswell 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the PIT 33 (Q1 50:48) — (5:48) 5-M.Prater 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-12-B.Gillikin..

The second quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 7–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the PIT 5 (Q2 30:20) — (:20) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short left to 85-T.McBride for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q2 30:15) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-12-B.Gillikin..

The third quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 7–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the PIT 1 (Q3 22:21) — (7:21) 6-J.Conner up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q3 22:18) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-12-B.Gillikin..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the PIT 9 (Q4 8:33) — (8:33) 6-J.Conner left tackle for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q4 8:28) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-12-B.Gillikin.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the ARI 2 (Q4 4:30) — (4:30) (Shotgun) 10-M.Trubisky pass short left to 18-D.Johnson for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q4 4:25) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin..

Turning points

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q3) — The game has resumed. [WPA -46.3% · EPA -1.54]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 30:20) — (:20) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short left to 85-T.McBride for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.7% · EPA +3.65]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 52:59) — (7:59) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass incomplete short left to 31-E.Demercado. ARI-31-E.Demercado was injured during the play. PENALTY on PIT-50-E.Roberts, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at ARI [WPA +11.5% · EPA +2.76]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 31:47) — (1:47) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass deep middle to 85-T.McBride to PIT 27 for 17 yards (38-M.Walker). [WPA +9.9% · EPA +1.91]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 34:59) — (4:59) (Shotgun) 22-N.Harris up the middle to ARI 1 for no gain (92-K.Strong, 43-J.Luketa). [WPA -9.6% · EPA -4.11]

Impact plays

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q3 25:34) — (10:34) (Shotgun) 10-M.Trubisky FUMBLES (Aborted) at PIT 24, touched at PIT 24, RECOVERED by ARI-55-D.Stills at PIT 21. [WPA -8.5% · EPA -5.59]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 34:59) — (4:59) (Shotgun) 22-N.Harris up the middle to ARI 1 for no gain (92-K.Strong, 43-J.Luketa). [WPA -9.6% · EPA -4.11]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q3 18:23) — (3:23) 9-C.Boswell 45 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin. [WPA -4.4% · EPA -3.66]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 30:20) — (:20) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short left to 85-T.McBride for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.7% · EPA +3.65]

Quarterback report card

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

• K.Murray (Arizona Cardinals) · 30 dropbacks · 43.3% completion · -8.4% CPOE · +0.25 EPA/play · +7.49 total EPA
• M.Trubisky (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 18 dropbacks · 61.1% completion · +3.0% CPOE · +0.45 EPA/play · +8.06 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Arizona Cardinals generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.05 vs -0.17), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Arizona Cardinals: 10 drives, +4.25 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 11 drives, -13.77 total EPA, 2 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Arizona Cardinals leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• M. Trubisky (Pittsburgh Steelers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• K. Murray (ARI) 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. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q1 57:04 · ARI 11 · Score 0-3
   (12:04) 9-C.Boswell 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.
2. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q1 50:48 · PIT 33 · Score 3-3
   (5:48) 5-M.Prater 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-12-B.Gillikin.
3. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 30:20 · PIT 5 · Score 9-3
   (:20) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short left to 85-T.McBride for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 30:15 · PIT 15 · Score 10-3
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-12-B.Gillikin.
5. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 22:21 · PIT 1 · Score 16-3
   (7:21) 6-J.Conner up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q3 22:18 · PIT 15 · Score 17-3
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-12-B.Gillikin.
7. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 8:33 · PIT 9 · Score 23-3
   (8:33) 6-J.Conner left tackle for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 8:28 · PIT 15 · Score 24-3
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-12-B.Gillikin.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 4:30 · ARI 2 · Score 24-9
   (4:30) (Shotgun) 10-M.Trubisky pass short left to 18-D.Johnson for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q4 4:25 · ARI 15 · Score 24-10
    9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.