Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 2022 Week 18 Recap

Game story

In Week 18 of the 2022 NFL season on 2023-01-08, the Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, pulling away with a 28–14 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Watson (Cleveland Browns) paced the passing game, with -2.13 total EPA, and +1.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, K. Pickett (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +13.33 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+17.3% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Pittsburgh Steelers changed the game: (1:52) (Shotgun) 8-K.Pickett pass deep middle to 14-G.Pickens for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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. Pickett · Pittsburgh Steelers · Passing · +13.33 total EPA · 37 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
2. 2 G. Pickens · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +6.84 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.14 EPA/play
3. 3 Co. Heyward · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +5.09 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.27 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Njoku · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +4.47 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
5. 5 N. Chubb · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +3.00 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Cooper · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +2.85 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.95 EPA/play
7. 7 N. Chubb · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +1.85 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Peoples-Jones · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +1.69 total EPA · 4 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

• Cleveland Browns — D. Njoku (D. Watson pass) (Q2 36:33)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — G. Pickens (K. Pickett pass) (Q2 31:52)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — N. Harris (Q3 18:17)
• Cleveland Browns — N. Chubb (D. Watson pass) (Q4 10:20)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — D. Watt (Q4 4:39)

Field goals

• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q2 30:43)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q3 24:07)

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 10–7. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the PIT 10 (Q2 36:33) — (6:33) 4-D.Watson pass short left to 85-D.Njoku for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q2 36:27) — 3-C.York extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CLE 31 (Q2 31:52) — (1:52) (Shotgun) 8-K.Pickett pass deep middle to 14-G.Pickens for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q2 31:47) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CLE 31 (Q2 30:43) — (:43) 9-C.Boswell 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin..

The third quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 10–0. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CLE 16 (Q3 24:07) — (9:07) 9-C.Boswell 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CLE 4 (Q3 18:17) — (3:17) 72-T.Scott reported in as eligible. 22-N.Harris right guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q3 18:12) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin..

The fourth quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 14–7. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the PIT 2 (Q4 10:20) — (10:20) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short left to 24-N.Chubb for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q4 10:11) — 3-C.York extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CLE 1 (Q4 4:39) — (4:39) 72-T.Scott reported in as eligible. 44-D.Watt up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CLE 2 (Q4 4:37) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 8-K.Pickett pass to 18-D.Johnson is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

Turning points

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 31:52) — (1:52) (Shotgun) 8-K.Pickett pass deep middle to 14-G.Pickens for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +17.3% · EPA +5.00]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 51:19) — (6:19) 22-N.Harris up the middle to CLE 1 for no gain (54-D.Jones, 93-T.Togiai). FUMBLES (54-D.Jones), RECOVERED by CLE-94-A.Wright at CLE 5. [WPA -12.9% · EPA -5.22]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 53:29) — (8:29) (Shotgun) 8-K.Pickett pass short right to 18-D.Johnson to CLE 2 for 32 yards (37-D.Bell). [WPA +8.7% · EPA +3.79]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 31:23) — (1:23) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass deep middle intended for 18-Dav.Bell INTERCEPTED by 29-L.Wallace at PIT 41. 29-L.Wallace to PIT 44 for 3 yards (2-A.Cooper). [WPA -8.5% · EPA -2.40]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 31:06) — (1:06) (Shotgun) 8-K.Pickett pass deep left to 14-G.Pickens pushed ob at CLE 32 for 24 yards (23-M.Emerson). [WPA +7.8% · EPA +1.80]

Impact plays

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 51:19) — (6:19) 22-N.Harris up the middle to CLE 1 for no gain (54-D.Jones, 93-T.Togiai). FUMBLES (54-D.Jones), RECOVERED by CLE-94-A.Wright at CLE 5. [WPA -12.9% · EPA -5.22]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 31:52) — (1:52) (Shotgun) 8-K.Pickett pass deep middle to 14-G.Pickens for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +17.3% · EPA +5.00]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 20:48) — (5:48) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short middle intended for 18-Dav.Bell INTERCEPTED by 23-D.Kazee at CLE 37. 23-D.Kazee to CLE 25 for 12 yards (4-D.Watson). [WPA -6.6% · EPA -4.18]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 53:29) — (8:29) (Shotgun) 8-K.Pickett pass short right to 18-D.Johnson to CLE 2 for 32 yards (37-D.Bell). [WPA +8.7% · EPA +3.79]

Quarterback report card

D.Watson led all passers in efficiency for Cleveland Browns, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Watson (Cleveland Browns) · 46 dropbacks · 41.3% completion · +1.1% CPOE · -0.05 EPA/play · -2.13 total EPA
• K.Pickett (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 37 dropbacks · 35.1% completion · -13.0% CPOE · +0.36 EPA/play · +13.33 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 (+0.13 vs -0.04), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Cleveland Browns: 10 drives, -3.37 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 10 drives, +11.18 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.
• K. Pickett (Pittsburgh Steelers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• K. Pickett (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.

1. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q2 36:33 · PIT 10 · Score 6-0
   (6:33) 4-D.Watson pass short left to 85-D.Njoku for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q2 36:27 · PIT 15 · Score 7-0
   3-C.York extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 31:52 · CLE 31 · Score 7-6
   (1:52) (Shotgun) 8-K.Pickett pass deep middle to 14-G.Pickens for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 31:47 · CLE 15 · Score 7-7
   9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 30:43 · CLE 31 · Score 7-10
   (:43) 9-C.Boswell 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q3 24:07 · CLE 16 · Score 7-13
   (9:07) 9-C.Boswell 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q3 18:17 · CLE 4 · Score 7-19
   (3:17) 72-T.Scott reported in as eligible. 22-N.Harris right guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q3 18:12 · CLE 15 · Score 7-20
   9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.
9. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q4 10:20 · PIT 2 · Score 13-20
   (10:20) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short left to 24-N.Chubb for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q4 10:11 · PIT 15 · Score 14-20
    3-C.York extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 4:39 · CLE 1 · Score 14-26
    (4:39) 72-T.Scott reported in as eligible. 44-D.Watt up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+8) — Q4 4:37 · CLE 2 · Score 14-28
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 8-K.Pickett pass to 18-D.Johnson is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.