Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 2009 Week 6 Recap

Game story

In Week 6 of the 2009 NFL season on 2009-10-18, the Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, pulling away with a 27–14 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) paced the passing game, with +21.81 total EPA, and +4.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +21.81 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-15.1% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Pittsburgh Steelers changed the game: (4:16) 7-B.Roethlisberger FUMBLES (Aborted) at PIT 42, RECOVERED by CLE-51-A.Hall at PIT 39. 51-A.Hall to PIT 39 for no gain (64-D.Legursky).

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 · +21.81 total EPA · 40 snaps · +0.55 EPA/play
2. 2 S. Holmes · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +7.92 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.99 EPA/play
3. 3 H. Miller · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +6.20 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
4. 4 H. Ward · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +5.05 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Wallace · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +3.82 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.96 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Cribbs · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +3.20 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.53 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Harrison · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +2.99 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.60 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Wallace · Pittsburgh Steelers · Rushing · +2.13 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.13 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 — H. Miller (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q2 41:35)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — H. Ward (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q2 34:38)
• Cleveland Browns — J. Cribbs (Q2 34:28)
• Cleveland Browns — L. Vickers (D. Anderson pass) (Q3 26:43)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — R. Mendenhall (Q3 23:39)

Field goals

• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Reed (Q2 30:10)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Reed (Q4 5:47)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 17–7. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CLE 8 (Q2 41:35) — (11:35) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 83-H.Miller for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q2 41:26) — 3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Sepulveda.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CLE 52 (Q2 34:38) — (4:38) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep middle to 86-H.Ward for 52 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q2 34:28) — 3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Sepulveda.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the PIT 30 (Q2 34:28) — 3-J.Reed kicks 68 yards from PIT 30 to CLE 2. 16-J.Cribbs for 98 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q2 34:15) — 8-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-15-D.Zastudil.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CLE 13 (Q2 30:10) — (:10) (Field Goal formation) 3-J.Reed 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Sepulveda..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the PIT 1 (Q3 26:43) — (11:43) #65 Steinbach reports as eligible receiver. 3-D.Anderson pass short right to 47-L.Vickers for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q3 26:39) — 8-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-15-D.Zastudil.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CLE 2 (Q3 23:39) — (8:39) #64 Legursky reports as eligible receiver. 34-R.Mendenhall right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q3 23:32) — 3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Sepulveda..

The fourth quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 3–0. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CLE 21 (Q4 5:47) — (5:47) (Field Goal formation) 3-J.Reed 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Sepulveda..

Turning points

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 49:16) — (4:16) 7-B.Roethlisberger FUMBLES (Aborted) at PIT 42, RECOVERED by CLE-51-A.Hall at PIT 39. 51-A.Hall to PIT 39 for no gain (64-D.Legursky). [WPA -15.1% · EPA -5.19]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 46:05) — (1:05) (Shotgun) 16-J.Cribbs pass short right intended for 88-C.Stuckey INTERCEPTED by 43-T.Polamalu at PIT 12. 43-T.Polamalu to PIT 15 for 3 yards (88-C.Stuckey). Pressure by #56 Woodley. [WPA -13.8% · EPA -4.73]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 42:28) — (12:28) (No Huddle) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 10-S.Holmes to CLE 8 for 41 yards (52-D.Jackson). [WPA +12.4% · EPA +2.99]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 34:28) — 3-J.Reed kicks 68 yards from PIT 30 to CLE 2. 16-J.Cribbs for 98 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.3% · EPA +6.50]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 57:41) — (12:41) 7-B.Roethlisberger sacked at CLE 36 for -8 yards (96-D.Bowens). [WPA -8.0% · EPA -1.71]

Impact plays

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

• Cleveland Browns (Q2 34:28) — 3-J.Reed kicks 68 yards from PIT 30 to CLE 2. 16-J.Cribbs for 98 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.3% · EPA +6.50]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 49:16) — (4:16) 7-B.Roethlisberger FUMBLES (Aborted) at PIT 42, RECOVERED by CLE-51-A.Hall at PIT 39. 51-A.Hall to PIT 39 for no gain (64-D.Legursky). [WPA -15.1% · EPA -5.19]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 34:38) — (4:38) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep middle to 86-H.Ward for 52 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.8% · EPA +4.83]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 46:05) — (1:05) (Shotgun) 16-J.Cribbs pass short right intended for 88-C.Stuckey INTERCEPTED by 43-T.Polamalu at PIT 12. 43-T.Polamalu to PIT 15 for 3 yards (88-C.Stuckey). Pressure by #56 Woodley. [WPA -13.8% · EPA -4.73]

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) · 40 dropbacks · 57.5% completion · +4.4% CPOE · +0.55 EPA/play · +21.81 total EPA
• D.Anderson (Cleveland Browns) · 27 dropbacks · 33.3% completion · -22.7% CPOE · -0.51 EPA/play · -13.88 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 (+0.08 vs -0.08), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Cleveland Browns: 12 drives, -5.24 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 12 drives, +7.36 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.
• D. Anderson (CLE) 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 TD (+6) — Q2 41:35 · CLE 8 · Score 0-6
   (11:35) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 83-H.Miller for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 41:26 · CLE 2 · Score 0-7
   3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Sepulveda.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 34:38 · CLE 52 · Score 0-13
   (4:38) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep middle to 86-H.Ward for 52 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 34:28 · CLE 2 · Score 0-14
   3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Sepulveda.
5. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q2 34:28 · PIT 30 · Score 6-14
   3-J.Reed kicks 68 yards from PIT 30 to CLE 2. 16-J.Cribbs for 98 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q2 34:15 · PIT 2 · Score 7-14
   8-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-15-D.Zastudil.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 30:10 · CLE 13 · Score 7-17
   (:10) (Field Goal formation) 3-J.Reed 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Sepulveda.
8. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q3 26:43 · PIT 1 · Score 13-17
   (11:43) #65 Steinbach reports as eligible receiver. 3-D.Anderson pass short right to 47-L.Vickers for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q3 26:39 · PIT 2 · Score 14-17
   8-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-15-D.Zastudil.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q3 23:39 · CLE 2 · Score 14-23
    (8:39) #64 Legursky reports as eligible receiver. 34-R.Mendenhall right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q3 23:32 · CLE 2 · Score 14-24
    3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Sepulveda.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q4 5:47 · CLE 21 · Score 14-27
    (5:47) (Field Goal formation) 3-J.Reed 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Sepulveda.