Game story
In Week 17 of the 2021 NFL season on 2022-01-03, the Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, pulling away with a 26–14 final that built a comfortable lead.
The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.
B. Mayfield (Cleveland Browns) paced the passing game, with -10.26 total EPA, and -20.2% completion percentage over expected.
On the individual side, N. Harris (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.65 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (-10.4% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Cleveland Browns changed the game: (7:09) 6-B.Mayfield pass deep left intended for 11-D.Peoples-Jones INTERCEPTED by 25-A.Witherspoon at CLE 43. 25-A.Witherspoon pushed ob at CLE 43 for no gain (11-D.Peoples-Jones).
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | — | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 10 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 26 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 N. Harris · Pittsburgh Steelers · Rushing · +8.65 total EPA · 28 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
- 2 D. Njoku · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +4.53 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.13 EPA/play
- 3 D. Peoples-Jones · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +2.41 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play
- 4 D. Watt · Pittsburgh Steelers · Rushing · +2.14 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.14 EPA/play
- 5 H. Bryant · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +0.87 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.87 EPA/play
- 6 J. Landry · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +0.35 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.35 EPA/play
- 7 B. Mayfield · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +0.14 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
- 8 N. Chubb · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · -0.48 total EPA · 1 snaps · -0.48 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
N. Harris — PIT · Rushing
N. Harris posted the highest total EPA (+8.65) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on Pittsburgh Steelers's efficiency. Across 28 counted snaps, they averaged +0.31 EPA per play.
The signature play (+5.74 EPA) came from Pittsburgh Steelers: (1:00) 22-N.Harris right tackle for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- Pittsburgh Steelers — D. Johnson (B. Roethlisberger pass)
- Cleveland Browns — D. Njoku (B. Mayfield pass)
- Cleveland Browns — H. Bryant (B. Mayfield pass)
- Pittsburgh Steelers — N. Harris
Field goals
- Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell
- Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell
- Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell
- Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell
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 10–0. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CLE 5 (Q2 40:42) — (10:42) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short right to 18-D.Johnson for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q2 40:39) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-10-C.Waitman.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CLE 4 (Q2 33:05) — (3:05) 9-C.Boswell 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-10-C.Waitman..
The third quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 7–3. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CLE 12 (Q3 23:24) — (8:24) 9-C.Boswell 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-10-C.Waitman.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the PIT 3 (Q3 16:01) — (1:01) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short right to 85-D.Njoku for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q3 15:56) — 3-C.McLaughlin extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..
The fourth quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 13–7. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CLE 32 (Q4 9:51) — (9:51) 9-C.Boswell 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-10-C.Waitman.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CLE 30 (Q4 5:53); Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the PIT 1 (Q4 1:14) — (1:14) 6-B.Mayfield pass short left to 88-H.Bryant for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q4 1:10) — 3-C.McLaughlin extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CLE 37 (Q4 1:00) — (1:00) 22-N.Harris right tackle for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q4 0:51) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-10-C.Waitman..
Turning points
Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.
- Cleveland Browns (Q2 37:09) — (7:09) 6-B.Mayfield pass deep left intended for 11-D.Peoples-Jones INTERCEPTED by 25-A.Witherspoon at CLE 43. 25-A.Witherspoon pushed ob at CLE 43 for no gain (11-D.Peoples-Jones).
- Cleveland Browns (Q1 50:33) — (5:33) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass incomplete short middle to 80-J.Landry (97-C.Heyward) [90-T.Watt].
- Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 47:54) — (2:54) 44-D.Watt up the middle to CLE 41 for 1 yard (90-J.Clowney; 58-M.McDowell).
- Cleveland Browns (Q1 52:57) — (7:57) 24-N.Chubb right tackle to PIT 41 for 32 yards (39-M.Fitzpatrick; 23-J.Haden).
- Cleveland Browns (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short middle to 81-A.Hooper to CLE 46 for 21 yards (39-M.Fitzpatrick).
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 1:00) — (1:00) 22-N.Harris right tackle for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Cleveland Browns (Q2 37:09) — (7:09) 6-B.Mayfield pass deep left intended for 11-D.Peoples-Jones INTERCEPTED by 25-A.Witherspoon at CLE 43. 25-A.Witherspoon pushed ob at CLE 43 for no gain (11-D.Peoples-Jones).
- Cleveland Browns (Q4 1:56) — (1:56) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short right to 11-D.Peoples-Jones ran ob at PIT 22 for 15 yards.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 45:46) — (:46) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short left to 88-P.Freiermuth (58-M.McDowell).
Quarterback report card
B.Mayfield led all passers in efficiency for Cleveland Browns, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.
- B.Mayfield (Cleveland Browns) · 51 dropbacks · 31.4% completion · -20.2% CPOE · -0.20 EPA/play · -10.26 total EPA
- B.Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 50 dropbacks · 48.0% completion · -15.9% CPOE · -0.32 EPA/play · -16.19 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | Cleveland Browns | Pittsburgh Steelers |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | -0.202 | -0.044 |
| Offensive success rate | 27.7% | 37.5% |
| Pass EPA/play | -0.201 | -0.324 |
| Rush EPA/play | -0.151 | +0.344 |
| Defensive EPA/play | +0.044 | +0.202 |
| Defensive success rate | 62.5% | 72.3% |
By the numbers
Pittsburgh Steelers held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.04 vs -0.20), even if the scoreboard told a different story.
- Cleveland Browns: 13 drives, -18.99 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 14 drives, -4.25 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.
- N. Harris (Pittsburgh Steelers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
- B. Mayfield (CLE) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
- B. Roethlisberger (PIT) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
Every scoring play
Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.
- Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 40:42 · CLE 5 · Score 0-6
(10:42) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short right to 18-D.Johnson for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 40:39 · CLE 15 · Score 0-7
9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-10-C.Waitman. - Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 33:05 · CLE 4 · Score 0-10
(3:05) 9-C.Boswell 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-10-C.Waitman. - Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q3 23:24 · CLE 12 · Score 0-13
(8:24) 9-C.Boswell 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-10-C.Waitman. - Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q3 16:01 · PIT 3 · Score 6-13
(1:01) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short right to 85-D.Njoku for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q3 15:56 · PIT 15 · Score 7-13
3-C.McLaughlin extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-2-D.Colquitt. - Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q4 9:51 · CLE 32 · Score 7-16
(9:51) 9-C.Boswell 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-10-C.Waitman. - Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q4 5:53 · CLE 30 · Score 7-19
(5:53) 9-C.Boswell 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-10-C.Waitman. Penalty on CLE-97-M.Jackson, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, offsetting. Penalty - Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q4 1:14 · PIT 1 · Score 13-19
(1:14) 6-B.Mayfield pass short left to 88-H.Bryant for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. - Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q4 1:10 · PIT 15 · Score 14-19
3-C.McLaughlin extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-2-D.Colquitt. - Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 1:00 · CLE 37 · Score 14-25
(1:00) 22-N.Harris right tackle for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q4 0:51 · CLE 15 · Score 14-26
9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-10-C.Waitman.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers?
The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns 26-14 in Week 17, 2021 on 2022-01-03.
What was the final score of Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers?
The final score was Cleveland Browns 14, Pittsburgh Steelers 26 (CLE 14-26 PIT) in Week 17, 2021 on 2022-01-03.
What was the score by quarter in Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers?
Q2: Cleveland Browns 0, Pittsburgh Steelers 10; Q3: Cleveland Browns 7, Pittsburgh Steelers 3; Q4: Cleveland Browns 7, Pittsburgh Steelers 13; Final: Cleveland Browns 14, Pittsburgh Steelers 26.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers?
Pittsburgh Steelers touchdown — D. Johnson (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q2 40:42) Cleveland Browns touchdown — D. Njoku (B. Mayfield pass) (Q3 16:01) Cleveland Browns touchdown — H. Bryant (B. Mayfield pass) (Q4 1:14) Pittsburgh Steelers touchdown — N. Harris (Q4 1:00) Pittsburgh Steelers field goal — C. Boswell (Q2 33:05, 3 pts) Pittsburgh Steelers field goal — C. Boswell (Q3 23:24, 3 pts) Pittsburgh Steelers field goal — C. Boswell (Q4 9:51, 3 pts) Pittsburgh Steelers field goal — C. Boswell (Q4 5:53, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers?
B. Mayfield (Cleveland Browns), 31.4% completion, -20.2% CPOE, -0.20 EPA per dropback, -10.26 total passing EPA. B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers), 48.0% completion, -15.9% CPOE, -0.32 EPA per dropback, -16.19 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers?
N. Harris (Pittsburgh Steelers) led the game in total EPA with +8.65 on rushing plays. across 28 snaps. The top single-play swing was (+5.74 EPA): (1:00) 22-N.Harris right tackle for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN.. The biggest win-probability swing was -10.4%.
Season records after this game
Cleveland Browns
Entered 7-8 Now 7-9 L
Pittsburgh Steelers
Entered 7-7 Now 8-7 W
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