Carolina Panthers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 2010 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2010 NFL season on 2010-12-23, the Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business against the Carolina Panthers, pulling away with a 27–3 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 30 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) paced the passing game, with +10.78 total EPA, and +9.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.78 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-10.0% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Pittsburgh Steelers changed the game: (8:00) 7-B.Roethlisberger FUMBLES (Aborted) at CAR 38, RECOVERED by CAR-61-D.Landri at CAR 44. 61-D.Landri to CAR 44 for no gain (34-R.Mendenhall).

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 B. Roethlisberger · Pittsburgh Steelers · Passing · +10.78 total EPA · 36 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Wallace · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +5.79 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.96 EPA/play
3. 3 H. Miller · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +4.16 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Brown · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.49 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.24 EPA/play
5. 5 I. Redman · Pittsburgh Steelers · Rushing · +2.45 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Goodson · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +2.28 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.14 EPA/play
7. 7 E. Sanders · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.12 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
8. 8 J. King · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +1.19 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.60 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 — M. Wallace (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q2 40:23)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — R. Mendenhall (Q2 32:00)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — B. Roethlisberger (Q3 20:15)

Field goals

• Pittsburgh Steelers — S. Suisham (Q1 48:51)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — S. Suisham (Q2 30:42)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q4 8:32)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 3–0. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CAR 8 (Q1 48:51) — (3:51) (Field Goal formation) 6-S.Suisham 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos..

The second quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 30–0. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CAR 43 (Q2 40:23) — (10:23) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 17-M.Wallace for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q2 40:16) — 6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CAR 1 (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) #64 Legursky reports as eligible receiver. 34-R.Mendenhall left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CAR 2 (Q2 31:54) — 6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the PIT 30 (Q2 31:54) — 6-S.Suisham kicks 59 yards from PIT 30 to CAR 11. 33-M.Goodson to CAR 24 for 13 yards (22-W.Gay).; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CAR 12 (Q2 30:42) — (:42) (Field Goal formation) 6-S.Suisham 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos..

The third quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 7–0. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CAR 1 (Q3 20:15) — (5:15) 7-B.Roethlisberger up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q3 20:05) — 6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos..

The fourth quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 3–0. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the PIT 9 (Q4 8:32) — (8:32) (Field Goal formation) 4-J.Kasay 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker..

Turning points

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 38:00) — (8:00) 7-B.Roethlisberger FUMBLES (Aborted) at CAR 38, RECOVERED by CAR-61-D.Landri at CAR 44. 61-D.Landri to CAR 44 for no gain (34-R.Mendenhall). [WPA -10.0% · EPA -5.27]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 2-J.Clausen sacked at PIT 36 for -4 yards (51-J.Farrior). [WPA -9.7% · EPA -3.12]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 47:28) — (2:28) (Shotgun) 2-J.Clausen pass short left to 33-M.Goodson to PIT 37 for 15 yards (29-R.Mundy). [WPA +9.2% · EPA +2.15]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 45:37) — (:37) (Shotgun) 33-M.Goodson left guard to PIT 32 for -3 yards (51-J.Farrior, 92-J.Harrison). Direct snap, wildcat formation. [WPA -7.3% · EPA -1.89]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 40:23) — (10:23) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 17-M.Wallace for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.6% · EPA +4.43]

Impact plays

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 38:00) — (8:00) 7-B.Roethlisberger FUMBLES (Aborted) at CAR 38, RECOVERED by CAR-61-D.Landri at CAR 44. 61-D.Landri to CAR 44 for no gain (34-R.Mendenhall). [WPA -10.0% · EPA -5.27]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 6:19) — (6:19) 7-B.Roethlisberger FUMBLES (Aborted) at PIT 37, RECOVERED by CAR-59-N.Harris at PIT 37. 59-N.Harris to PIT 37 for no gain (33-I.Redman). [WPA -0.1% · EPA -5.17]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 40:23) — (10:23) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 17-M.Wallace for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.6% · EPA +4.43]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 2-J.Clausen sacked at PIT 36 for -4 yards (51-J.Farrior). [WPA -9.7% · EPA -3.12]

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) · 36 dropbacks · 61.1% completion · +9.7% CPOE · +0.30 EPA/play · +10.78 total EPA
• J.Clausen (Carolina Panthers) · 28 dropbacks · 35.7% completion · -19.7% CPOE · -0.55 EPA/play · -15.36 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 (-0.01 vs -0.36), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Carolina Panthers: 12 drives, -24.72 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 13 drives, -1.10 total EPA, 5 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.
• B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Roethlisberger (PIT) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• J. Clausen (CAR) 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 48:51 · CAR 8 · Score 0-3
   (3:51) (Field Goal formation) 6-S.Suisham 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 40:23 · CAR 43 · Score 0-9
   (10:23) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 17-M.Wallace for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 40:16 · CAR 2 · Score 0-10
   6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 32:00 · CAR 1 · Score 0-16
   (2:00) #64 Legursky reports as eligible receiver. 34-R.Mendenhall left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+7) — Q2 31:54 · CAR 2 · Score 0-17
   6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+7) — Q2 31:54 · PIT 30 · Score 0-17
   6-S.Suisham kicks 59 yards from PIT 30 to CAR 11. 33-M.Goodson to CAR 24 for 13 yards (22-W.Gay).
7. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 30:42 · CAR 12 · Score 0-20
   (:42) (Field Goal formation) 6-S.Suisham 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q3 20:15 · CAR 1 · Score 0-26
   (5:15) 7-B.Roethlisberger up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q3 20:05 · CAR 2 · Score 0-27
   6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos.
10. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q4 8:32 · PIT 9 · Score 3-27
    (8:32) (Field Goal formation) 4-J.Kasay 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.