Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 2002 Week 12 Recap

Game story

In Week 12 of the 2002 NFL season on 2002-11-24, the Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business against the Cincinnati Bengals, pulling away with a 29–21 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Kitna (Cincinnati Bengals) paced the passing game, with +7.91 total EPA.

On the individual side, K. Stewart (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +13.54 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+20.9% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Pittsburgh Steelers changed the game: (6:50) 4-J.Miller punts 50 yards to CIN 17, Center-54-M.Schneck. 84-T.Houshmandzadeh to CIN 28 for 11 yards (53-C.Haggans). FUMBLES (53-C.Haggans), RECOVERED by PIT-95-M.Jones at CIN 28. 95-M.Jones to

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 K. Stewart · Pittsburgh Steelers · Passing · +13.54 total EPA · 31 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
2. 2 H. Ward · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +9.48 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.58 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Kitna · Cincinnati Bengals · Passing · +7.91 total EPA · 41 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Johnson · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +7.39 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.53 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Schobel · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +4.97 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.24 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Bettis · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.65 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.32 EPA/play
7. 7 A.Randle El · Pittsburgh Steelers · Passing · +2.62 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.62 EPA/play
8. 8 P. Burress · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.54 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.42 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 — J. Bettis (Q1 54:38)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — H. Ward (K. Stewart pass) (Q1 48:35)
• Cincinnati Bengals — C. Dillon (Q2 37:45)
• Cincinnati Bengals — C. Dillon (Q2 31:08)
• Cincinnati Bengals — M. Schobel (J. Kitna pass) (Q4 8:42)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Bettis (Q4 2:53)

Field goals

• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Reed (Q2 40:44)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Reed (Q3 21:09)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Reed (Q4 4:54)

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 14–0. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CIN 1 (Q1 54:38) — (9:38) #79 O.Ross is eligible receiver. 36-J.Bettis right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the CIN 2 (Q1 54:34) — 3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-4-J.Miller.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CIN 64 (Q1 48:35) — (3:35) 10-K.Stewart pass to 86-H.Ward for 64 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the CIN 2 (Q1 48:22) — 3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-4-J.Miller..

The second quarter: Cincinnati Bengals won the period 14–3. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CIN 15 (Q2 40:44) — (10:44) 3-J.Reed 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-4-J.Miller.; Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the PIT 10 (Q2 37:45) — (7:45) 28-C.Dillon right end for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q2 37:39) — 5-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.St. Louis, Holder-8-N.Harris.; Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the PIT 2 (Q2 31:08) — (1:08) 28-C.Dillon up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q2 31:04) — 5-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.St. Louis, Holder-8-N.Harris..

The third quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 3–0. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CIN 25 (Q3 21:09) — (6:09) 3-J.Reed 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-4-J.Miller..

The fourth quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 9–7. Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the PIT 20 (Q4 8:42) — (8:42) 3-J.Kitna pass to 89-M.Schobel for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q4 8:35); Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CIN 27 (Q4 4:54) — (4:54) 3-J.Reed 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-4-J.Miller.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CIN 24 (Q4 2:53) — (2:53) 36-J.Bettis up the middle for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 6:50) — (6:50) 4-J.Miller punts 50 yards to CIN 17, Center-54-M.Schneck. 84-T.Houshmandzadeh to CIN 28 for 11 yards (53-C.Haggans). FUMBLES (53-C.Haggans), RECOVERED by PIT-95-M.Jones at CIN 28. 95-M.Jones to [WPA +20.9% · EPA +4.61]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q4 8:42) — (8:42) 3-J.Kitna pass to 89-M.Schobel for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.7% · EPA +2.74]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q2 32:43) — (2:43) (Shotgun) 3-J.Kitna pass to 85-C.Johnson to PIT 11 for 55 yards (28-C.Hope). [WPA +11.5% · EPA +4.33]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 57:26) — (12:26) 86-H.Ward left end to CIN 13 for 39 yards (90-J.Smith). On the reverse from J.Bettis [WPA +9.6% · EPA +2.51]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q3 30:00) — 3-J.Reed kicks 62 yards from PIT 30 to CIN 8. 36-B.Bennett to PIT 40 for 52 yards (20-D.Washington). #36 Bennett injured on the play. [WPA +9.6% · EPA +2.80]

Impact plays

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 48:35) — (3:35) 10-K.Stewart pass to 86-H.Ward for 64 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.3% · EPA +5.08]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 6:50) — (6:50) 4-J.Miller punts 50 yards to CIN 17, Center-54-M.Schneck. 84-T.Houshmandzadeh to CIN 28 for 11 yards (53-C.Haggans). FUMBLES (53-C.Haggans), RECOVERED by PIT-95-M.Jones at CIN 28. 95-M.Jones to [WPA +20.9% · EPA +4.61]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q2 32:43) — (2:43) (Shotgun) 3-J.Kitna pass to 85-C.Johnson to PIT 11 for 55 yards (28-C.Hope). [WPA +11.5% · EPA +4.33]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 2:53) — (2:53) 36-J.Bettis up the middle for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.4% · EPA +3.28]

Quarterback report card

J.Kitna led all passers in efficiency for Cincinnati Bengals, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Kitna (Cincinnati Bengals) · 41 dropbacks · 53.7% completion · +0.19 EPA/play · +7.91 total EPA
• K.Stewart (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 31 dropbacks · 71.0% completion · +0.44 EPA/play · +13.54 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 (+0.24 vs +0.18), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Cincinnati Bengals: 10 drives, +14.57 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 12 drives, +20.21 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.
• K. Stewart (Pittsburgh Steelers) 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) — Q1 54:38 · CIN 1 · Score 0-6
   (9:38) #79 O.Ross is eligible receiver. 36-J.Bettis right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q1 54:34 · CIN 2 · Score 0-7
   3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-4-J.Miller.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q1 48:35 · CIN 64 · Score 0-13
   (3:35) 10-K.Stewart pass to 86-H.Ward for 64 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q1 48:22 · CIN 2 · Score 0-14
   3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-4-J.Miller.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 40:44 · CIN 15 · Score 0-17
   (10:44) 3-J.Reed 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-4-J.Miller.
6. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q2 37:45 · PIT 10 · Score 6-17
   (7:45) 28-C.Dillon right end for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q2 37:39 · PIT 2 · Score 7-17
   5-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.St. Louis, Holder-8-N.Harris.
8. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q2 31:08 · PIT 2 · Score 13-17
   (1:08) 28-C.Dillon up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q2 31:04 · PIT 2 · Score 14-17
   5-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.St. Louis, Holder-8-N.Harris.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q3 21:09 · CIN 25 · Score 14-20
    (6:09) 3-J.Reed 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-4-J.Miller.
11. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q4 8:42 · PIT 20 · Score 20-20
    (8:42) 3-J.Kitna pass to 89-M.Schobel for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q4 8:35 · PIT 2 · Score 21-20
    5-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.St. Louis, Holder-8-N.Harris. PENALTY on PIT-20-D.Washington, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced between downs.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q4 4:54 · CIN 27 · Score 21-23
    (4:54) 3-J.Reed 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-4-J.Miller.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 2:53 · CIN 24 · Score 21-29
    (2:53) 36-J.Bettis up the middle for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.