Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 2006 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2006 NFL season on 2006-12-24, the Baltimore Ravens took care of business against the Pittsburgh Steelers, pulling away with a 31–7 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) paced the passing game, with -9.50 total EPA, and -14.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Clayton (Baltimore Ravens) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.00 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-11.3% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Pittsburgh Steelers changed the game: (13:36) 39-W.Parker up the middle to BAL 3 for 8 yards (35-C.Ivy). FUMBLES (35-C.Ivy), RECOVERED by BAL-20-E.Reed at BAL 3. 20-E.Reed to BAL 35 for 32 yards (7-B.Roethlisberger). Play Challenged by PI

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. Clayton · Baltimore Ravens · Receiving · +9.00 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.29 EPA/play
2. 2 S. Holmes · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +6.47 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.29 EPA/play
3. 3 H. Ward · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +6.25 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.78 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Williams · Baltimore Ravens · Receiving · +5.72 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.86 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Heap · Baltimore Ravens · Receiving · +5.35 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.34 EPA/play
6. 6 S. McNair · Baltimore Ravens · Passing · +5.23 total EPA · 31 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
7. 7 H. Miller · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +3.06 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.02 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Lewis · Baltimore Ravens · Receiving · +1.89 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.95 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

• Baltimore Ravens — M. Clayton (S. McNair pass) (Q1 45:11)
• Baltimore Ravens — D. Wilcox (S. McNair pass) (Q2 33:31)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — H. Miller (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q2 30:11)
• Baltimore Ravens — D. Williams (S. McNair pass) (Q3 25:46)
• Baltimore Ravens — J. Lewis (Q4 2:00)

Field goals

• Baltimore Ravens — M. Stover (Q4 7:31)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Baltimore Ravens won the period 7–0. Baltimore Ravens found the end zone from the PIT 35 (Q1 45:11) — (:11) 9-S.McNair pass deep middle to 89-M.Clayton for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Baltimore Ravens added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q1 45:04).

The second quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 13–7. Baltimore Ravens found the end zone from the PIT 1 (Q2 33:31) — (3:31) 9-S.McNair pass short right to 83-D.Wilcox for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Baltimore Ravens added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q2 33:26) — 3-M.Stover extra point is GOOD, Center-70-M.Katula, Holder-4-S.Koch.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the BAL 1 (Q2 30:11) — (:11) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to 83-H.Miller for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on BAL-95-J.Johnson, Defensive Holding, declined.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the BAL 2 (Q2 30:07).

The third quarter: Baltimore Ravens won the period 7–0. Baltimore Ravens found the end zone from the PIT 25 (Q3 25:46) — (10:46) 9-S.McNair pass deep left to 87-D.Williams for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Baltimore Ravens added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q3 25:39) — 3-M.Stover extra point is GOOD, Center-70-M.Katula, Holder-4-S.Koch..

The fourth quarter: Baltimore Ravens won the period 10–0. Baltimore Ravens connected on a field goal from the PIT 8 (Q4 7:31) — (7:31) 3-M.Stover 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-70-M.Katula, Holder-4-S.Koch.; Baltimore Ravens found the end zone from the PIT 1 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 31-J.Lewis up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Baltimore Ravens added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q4 1:57) — 3-M.Stover extra point is GOOD, Center-70-M.Katula, Holder-4-S.Koch..

Turning points

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 13:36) — (13:36) 39-W.Parker up the middle to BAL 3 for 8 yards (35-C.Ivy). FUMBLES (35-C.Ivy), RECOVERED by BAL-20-E.Reed at BAL 3. 20-E.Reed to BAL 35 for 32 yards (7-B.Roethlisberger). Play Challenged by PI [WPA -11.3% · EPA -6.04]
• Baltimore Ravens (Q3 26:30) — (11:30) (Shotgun) 9-S.McNair pass short middle to 86-T.Heap to PIT 25 for 18 yards (51-J.Farrior). [WPA +9.0% · EPA +3.15]
• Baltimore Ravens (Q1 45:11) — (:11) 9-S.McNair pass deep middle to 89-M.Clayton for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.8% · EPA +3.83]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 30:11) — (:11) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to 83-H.Miller for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on BAL-95-J.Johnson, Defensive Holding, declined. [WPA +7.6% · EPA +4.00]
• Baltimore Ravens (Q3 25:46) — (10:46) 9-S.McNair pass deep left to 87-D.Williams for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.3% · EPA +3.01]

Impact plays

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 13:36) — (13:36) 39-W.Parker up the middle to BAL 3 for 8 yards (35-C.Ivy). FUMBLES (35-C.Ivy), RECOVERED by BAL-20-E.Reed at BAL 3. 20-E.Reed to BAL 35 for 32 yards (7-B.Roethlisberger). Play Challenged by PI [WPA -11.3% · EPA -6.04]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 5:46) — (5:46) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep middle intended for 85-N.Washington INTERCEPTED by 20-E.Reed at BAL 46. 20-E.Reed to PIT 17 for 37 yards (39-W.Parker). [WPA -1.0% · EPA -5.14]
• Baltimore Ravens (Q3 20:17) — (5:17) 9-S.McNair pass short right to 83-D.Wilcox to PIT 31 for 4 yards (26-D.Townsend). FUMBLES (26-D.Townsend), RECOVERED by PIT-20-B.McFadden at PIT 29. 20-B.McFadden to PIT 29 for no gain (88-Q.Sy [WPA -6.1% · EPA -4.37]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 30:11) — (:11) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to 83-H.Miller for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on BAL-95-J.Johnson, Defensive Holding, declined. [WPA +7.6% · EPA +4.00]

Quarterback report card

B.Roethlisberger led all passers in efficiency for Pittsburgh Steelers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 41 dropbacks · 36.6% completion · -14.6% CPOE · -0.23 EPA/play · -9.50 total EPA
• S.McNair (Baltimore Ravens) · 31 dropbacks · 67.7% completion · +6.5% CPOE · +0.17 EPA/play · +5.23 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Baltimore Ravens generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.09 vs -0.25), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Baltimore Ravens: 13 drives, +7.07 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 13 drives, -21.71 total EPA, 1 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Baltimore Ravens leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• M. Clayton (Baltimore Ravens) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Roethlisberger (PIT) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• S. McNair (BAL) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

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

1. Baltimore Ravens TD (+6) — Q1 45:11 · PIT 35 · Score 6-0
   (:11) 9-S.McNair pass deep middle to 89-M.Clayton for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Baltimore Ravens XP (+1) — Q1 45:04 · PIT 2 · Score 7-0
   3-M.Stover extra point is GOOD, Center-70-M.Katula, Holder-4-S.Koch. PENALTY on PIT-20-B.McFadden, Neutral Zone Infraction, 5 yards, enforced between downs.
3. Baltimore Ravens TD (+6) — Q2 33:31 · PIT 1 · Score 13-0
   (3:31) 9-S.McNair pass short right to 83-D.Wilcox for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Baltimore Ravens XP (+1) — Q2 33:26 · PIT 2 · Score 14-0
   3-M.Stover extra point is GOOD, Center-70-M.Katula, Holder-4-S.Koch.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 30:11 · BAL 1 · Score 14-6
   (:11) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to 83-H.Miller for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on BAL-95-J.Johnson, Defensive Holding, declined.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+7) — Q2 30:07 · BAL 2 · Score 14-7
   3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-17-C.Gardocki. PENALTY on BAL-21-C.McAlister, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced between downs.
7. Baltimore Ravens TD (+6) — Q3 25:46 · PIT 25 · Score 20-7
   (10:46) 9-S.McNair pass deep left to 87-D.Williams for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Baltimore Ravens XP (+1) — Q3 25:39 · PIT 2 · Score 21-7
   3-M.Stover extra point is GOOD, Center-70-M.Katula, Holder-4-S.Koch.
9. Baltimore Ravens FG (+3) — Q4 7:31 · PIT 8 · Score 24-7
   (7:31) 3-M.Stover 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-70-M.Katula, Holder-4-S.Koch.
10. Baltimore Ravens TD (+6) — Q4 2:00 · PIT 1 · Score 30-7
    (2:00) 31-J.Lewis up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Baltimore Ravens XP (+1) — Q4 1:57 · PIT 2 · Score 31-7
    3-M.Stover extra point is GOOD, Center-70-M.Katula, Holder-4-S.Koch.