Indianapolis Colts vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 2008 Week 10 Recap

Game story

In Week 10 of the 2008 NFL season on 2008-11-09, the Indianapolis Colts took care of business against the Pittsburgh Steelers, pulling away with a 24–20 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

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

B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) paced the passing game, with +0.70 total EPA, and +4.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, R. Wayne (Indianapolis Colts) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.53 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-24.3% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Pittsburgh Steelers changed the game: (4:51) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle intended for 10-S.Holmes INTERCEPTED by 23-T.Jennings at PIT 38. 23-T.Jennings to PIT 32 for 6 yards (7-B.Roethlisberger).

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 R. Wayne · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +10.53 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.75 EPA/play
2. 2 P. Manning · Indianapolis Colts · Passing · +8.88 total EPA · 43 snaps · +0.21 EPA/play
3. 3 H. Ward · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +8.05 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Clark · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +6.51 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.17 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Moore · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +4.39 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.73 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Harrison · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +3.50 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.17 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Spaeth · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +3.40 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play
8. 8 N. Washington · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +3.33 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.11 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. Moore (Q1 54:10)
• Indianapolis Colts — R. Wayne (P. Manning pass) (Q1 52:52)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — M. Moore (Q2 43:23)
• Indianapolis Colts — D. Clark (P. Manning pass) (Q2 30:09)
• Indianapolis Colts — D. Rhodes (P. Manning pass) (Q4 3:10)

Field goals

• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Retkofsky (Q2 34:22)
• Indianapolis Colts — A. Vinatieri (Q3 23:18)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Retkofsky (Q4 8:01)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the IND 1 (Q1 54:10) — (9:10) #78 Starks reports as eligible receiver 21-M.Moore left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the IND 2 (Q1 54:07) — 3-Je.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-61-J.Retkofsky, Holder-5-P.Ernster.; Indianapolis Colts found the end zone from the PIT 65 (Q1 52:52); Indianapolis Colts added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q1 52:41) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-48-J.Snow, Holder-17-H.Smith..

The second quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 10–7. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the IND 1 (Q2 43:23) — (13:23) #78 Starks reports as eligible receiver 21-M.Moore left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the IND 2 (Q2 43:21) — 3-Je.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-61-J.Retkofsky, Holder-5-P.Ernster.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the IND 24 (Q2 34:22) — (4:22) (Field Goal formation) 3-Je.Reed 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-61-J.Retkofsky, Holder-5-P.Ernster.; Indianapolis Colts found the end zone from the PIT 2 (Q2 30:09) — (:09) 18-P.Manning pass short middle to 44-D.Clark for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Indianapolis Colts added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q2 30:06) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-48-J.Snow, Holder-17-H.Smith..

The third quarter: Indianapolis Colts won the period 3–0. Indianapolis Colts connected on a field goal from the PIT 18 (Q3 23:18) — (8:18) (Field Goal formation) 4-A.Vinatieri 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-J.Snow, Holder-17-H.Smith..

The fourth quarter: Indianapolis Colts won the period 7–3. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the IND 6 (Q4 8:01) — (8:01) (Field Goal formation) 3-Je.Reed 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-61-J.Retkofsky, Holder-5-P.Ernster.; Indianapolis Colts found the end zone from the PIT 17 (Q4 3:10) — (3:10) 18-P.Manning pass short right to 38-D.Rhodes for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Indianapolis Colts added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q4 3:04) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-48-J.Snow, Holder-17-H.Smith..

Turning points

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 4:51) — (4:51) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle intended for 10-S.Holmes INTERCEPTED by 23-T.Jennings at PIT 38. 23-T.Jennings to PIT 32 for 6 yards (7-B.Roethlisberger). [WPA -24.3% · EPA -3.96]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 0:01) — (:01) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep right intended for 85-N.Washington INTERCEPTED by 33-M.Bullitt at IND -6. Touchback. [WPA -23.2% · EPA -2.10]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q4 3:10) — (3:10) 18-P.Manning pass short right to 38-D.Rhodes for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.3% · EPA +2.54]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q1 52:52) — (7:52) 18-P.Manning pass deep left to 87-R.Wayne for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN. #24 Taylor deflected the pass before #87 Wayne caught the ball at the 30-yard line [WPA +13.2% · EPA +5.95]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 44:14) — (14:14) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep right to 86-H.Ward to IND 1 for 41 yards (21-B.Sanders; 41-A.Bethea). flea-flicker play, #21 Moore tosses ball back to #7 Roethlisberger [WPA +12.6% · EPA +3.20]

Impact plays

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

• Indianapolis Colts (Q1 52:52) — (7:52) 18-P.Manning pass deep left to 87-R.Wayne for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN. #24 Taylor deflected the pass before #87 Wayne caught the ball at the 30-yard line [WPA +13.2% · EPA +5.95]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 4:51) — (4:51) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle intended for 10-S.Holmes INTERCEPTED by 23-T.Jennings at PIT 38. 23-T.Jennings to PIT 32 for 6 yards (7-B.Roethlisberger). [WPA -24.3% · EPA -3.96]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q2 30:09) — (:09) 18-P.Manning pass short middle to 44-D.Clark for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.3% · EPA +3.38]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 31:30) — (1:30) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep left intended for 10-S.Holmes INTERCEPTED by 31-K.Ratliff at PIT 32. 31-K.Ratliff to PIT 30 for 2 yards (49-S.McHugh). [WPA -7.7% · EPA -3.31]

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) · 46 dropbacks · 65.2% completion · +4.5% CPOE · +0.02 EPA/play · +0.70 total EPA
• P.Manning (Indianapolis Colts) · 43 dropbacks · 48.8% completion · -4.3% CPOE · +0.21 EPA/play · +8.88 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Indianapolis Colts generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.10 vs +0.03), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Indianapolis Colts: 10 drives, +7.86 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 11 drives, +2.39 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Indianapolis Colts leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• R. Wayne (Indianapolis Colts) 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.
• P. Manning (IND) 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) — Q1 54:10 · IND 1 · Score 0-6
   (9:10) #78 Starks reports as eligible receiver 21-M.Moore left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q1 54:07 · IND 2 · Score 0-7
   3-Je.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-61-J.Retkofsky, Holder-5-P.Ernster.
3. Indianapolis Colts TD (+6) — Q1 52:52 · PIT 65 · Score 6-7
   (7:52) 18-P.Manning pass deep left to 87-R.Wayne for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN. #24 Taylor deflected the pass before #87 Wayne caught the ball at the 30-yard line
4. Indianapolis Colts XP (+1) — Q1 52:41 · PIT 2 · Score 7-7
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-48-J.Snow, Holder-17-H.Smith.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 43:23 · IND 1 · Score 7-13
   (13:23) #78 Starks reports as eligible receiver 21-M.Moore left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 43:21 · IND 2 · Score 7-14
   3-Je.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-61-J.Retkofsky, Holder-5-P.Ernster.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 34:22 · IND 24 · Score 7-17
   (4:22) (Field Goal formation) 3-Je.Reed 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-61-J.Retkofsky, Holder-5-P.Ernster.
8. Indianapolis Colts TD (+6) — Q2 30:09 · PIT 2 · Score 13-17
   (:09) 18-P.Manning pass short middle to 44-D.Clark for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Indianapolis Colts XP (+1) — Q2 30:06 · PIT 2 · Score 14-17
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-48-J.Snow, Holder-17-H.Smith.
10. Indianapolis Colts FG (+3) — Q3 23:18 · PIT 18 · Score 17-17
    (8:18) (Field Goal formation) 4-A.Vinatieri 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-J.Snow, Holder-17-H.Smith.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q4 8:01 · IND 6 · Score 17-20
    (8:01) (Field Goal formation) 3-Je.Reed 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-61-J.Retkofsky, Holder-5-P.Ernster.
12. Indianapolis Colts TD (+6) — Q4 3:10 · PIT 17 · Score 23-20
    (3:10) 18-P.Manning pass short right to 38-D.Rhodes for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Indianapolis Colts XP (+1) — Q4 3:04 · PIT 2 · Score 24-20
    4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-48-J.Snow, Holder-17-H.Smith.