Las Vegas Raiders vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 2009 Week 13 Recap

Game story

In Week 13 of the 2009 NFL season on 2009-12-06, the Las Vegas Raiders took care of business against the Pittsburgh Steelers, pulling away with a 27–24 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 35 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Gradkowski (Las Vegas Raiders) paced the passing game, with +18.07 total EPA, and +4.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, B. Gradkowski (Las Vegas Raiders) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +18.07 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+43.9% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Las Vegas Raiders changed the game: (:15) (Shotgun) 5-B.Gradkowski pass short left to 18-L.Murphy for 11 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 B. Gradkowski · Las Vegas Raiders · Passing · +18.07 total EPA · 40 snaps · +0.45 EPA/play
2. 2 L. Murphy · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +11.38 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.90 EPA/play
3. 3 S. Holmes · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +8.21 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.91 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Roethlisberger · Pittsburgh Steelers · Passing · +7.03 total EPA · 27 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Higgins · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +3.60 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
6. 6 H. Ward · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.50 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Schilens · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +2.48 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Fargas · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +2.39 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.80 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 — S. Holmes (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q2 43:58)
• Las Vegas Raiders — C. Schilens (B. Gradkowski pass) (Q4 8:27)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — R. Mendenhall (Q4 8:12)
• Las Vegas Raiders — L. Murphy (B. Gradkowski pass) (Q4 5:42)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — H. Ward (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q4 2:00)
• Las Vegas Raiders — L. Murphy (B. Gradkowski pass) (Q4 0:15)

Field goals

• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Reed (Q1 58:38)
• Las Vegas Raiders — S. Janikowski (Q1 53:41)
• Las Vegas Raiders — S. Janikowski (Q2 38:22)

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 3–3. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the LV 15 (Q1 58:38) — (13:38) (Field Goal formation) 3-J.Reed 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Sepulveda.; Las Vegas Raiders connected on a field goal from the PIT 30 (Q1 53:41) — (8:41) (Field Goal formation) 11-S.Janikowski 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler..

The second quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 7–3. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the LV 34 (Q2 43:58) — (13:58) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep right to 10-S.Holmes for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the LV 2 (Q2 43:49) — 3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Sepulveda.; Las Vegas Raiders connected on a field goal from the PIT 26 (Q2 38:22) — (8:22) (Field Goal formation) 11-S.Janikowski 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler..

The fourth quarter: Las Vegas Raiders won the period 21–14. Las Vegas Raiders found the end zone from the PIT 17 (Q4 8:27) — (8:27) 5-B.Gradkowski pass deep left to 81-C.Schilens for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Las Vegas Raiders added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q4 8:21) — 11-S.Janikowski extra point is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the LV 3 (Q4 8:12) — (8:12) #64 Legursky reports as elgible receiver. 34-R.Mendenhall left end for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the LV 2 (Q4 7:13) — 3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Sepulveda.; Las Vegas Raiders found the end zone from the PIT 75 (Q4 5:42) — (5:42) 5-B.Gradkowski pass deep left to 18-L.Murphy for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Las Vegas Raiders added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q4 5:28) — 11-S.Janikowski extra point is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the LV 11 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short right to 86-H.Ward for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the LV 2 (Q4 1:56) — 3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Sepulveda.; Las Vegas Raiders found the end zone from the PIT 11 (Q4 0:15) — (:15) (Shotgun) 5-B.Gradkowski pass short left to 18-L.Murphy for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Las Vegas Raiders added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q4 0:09) — 11-S.Janikowski extra point is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler..

Turning points

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

• Las Vegas Raiders (Q4 0:15) — (:15) (Shotgun) 5-B.Gradkowski pass short left to 18-L.Murphy for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +43.9% · EPA +3.68]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q4 5:42) — (5:42) 5-B.Gradkowski pass deep left to 18-L.Murphy for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +35.5% · EPA +6.44]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 8:12) — (8:12) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep left to 10-S.Holmes to LV 3 for 57 yards (33-T.Branch). [WPA +20.4% · EPA +4.06]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 0:03) — (:03) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short right to 14-L.Sweed (31-H.Eugene). [WPA -20.2% · EPA -0.33]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q4 0:35) — (:35) (Shotgun) 5-B.Gradkowski pass deep left to 18-L.Murphy pushed ob at PIT 17 for 23 yards (24-I.Taylor). [WPA +19.5% · EPA +1.74]

Impact plays

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

• Las Vegas Raiders (Q4 5:42) — (5:42) 5-B.Gradkowski pass deep left to 18-L.Murphy for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +35.5% · EPA +6.44]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 31:11) — (1:11) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep middle intended for 86-H.Ward INTERCEPTED by 31-H.Eugene at LV -6. Touchback. [WPA -11.7% · EPA -4.54]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 8:12) — (8:12) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep left to 10-S.Holmes to LV 3 for 57 yards (33-T.Branch). [WPA +20.4% · EPA +4.06]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 60:00) — 11-S.Janikowski kicks 72 yards from LV 30 to PIT -2. 11-S.Logan to LV 19 for 83 yards (19-T.Watkins). [WPA +11.8% · EPA +3.89]

Quarterback report card

B.Gradkowski led all passers in efficiency for Las Vegas Raiders, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Gradkowski (Las Vegas Raiders) · 40 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · +4.9% CPOE · +0.45 EPA/play · +18.07 total EPA
• B.Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 27 dropbacks · 66.7% completion · +19.5% CPOE · +0.26 EPA/play · +7.03 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Las Vegas Raiders +0.17, Pittsburgh Steelers +0.14) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Las Vegas Raiders: 11 drives, +15.38 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 12 drives, +10.12 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Las Vegas Raiders 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.
• B. Gradkowski (Las Vegas Raiders) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Gradkowski (LV) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• B. Roethlisberger (PIT) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q1 58:38 · LV 15 · Score 0-3
   (13:38) (Field Goal formation) 3-J.Reed 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Sepulveda.
2. Las Vegas Raiders FG (+3) — Q1 53:41 · PIT 30 · Score 3-3
   (8:41) (Field Goal formation) 11-S.Janikowski 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 43:58 · LV 34 · Score 3-9
   (13:58) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep right to 10-S.Holmes for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 43:49 · LV 2 · Score 3-10
   3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Sepulveda.
5. Las Vegas Raiders FG (+3) — Q2 38:22 · PIT 26 · Score 6-10
   (8:22) (Field Goal formation) 11-S.Janikowski 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
6. Las Vegas Raiders TD (+6) — Q4 8:27 · PIT 17 · Score 12-10
   (8:27) 5-B.Gradkowski pass deep left to 81-C.Schilens for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Las Vegas Raiders XP (+1) — Q4 8:21 · PIT 2 · Score 13-10
   11-S.Janikowski extra point is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 8:12 · LV 3 · Score 13-16
   (8:12) #64 Legursky reports as elgible receiver. 34-R.Mendenhall left end for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q4 7:13 · LV 2 · Score 13-17
   3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Sepulveda.
10. Las Vegas Raiders TD (+6) — Q4 5:42 · PIT 75 · Score 19-17
    (5:42) 5-B.Gradkowski pass deep left to 18-L.Murphy for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Las Vegas Raiders XP (+1) — Q4 5:28 · PIT 2 · Score 20-17
    11-S.Janikowski extra point is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 2:00 · LV 11 · Score 20-23
    (2:00) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short right to 86-H.Ward for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q4 1:56 · LV 2 · Score 20-24
    3-J.Reed extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Sepulveda.
14. Las Vegas Raiders TD (+6) — Q4 0:15 · PIT 11 · Score 26-24
    (:15) (Shotgun) 5-B.Gradkowski pass short left to 18-L.Murphy for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Las Vegas Raiders XP (+1) — Q4 0:09 · PIT 2 · Score 27-24
    11-S.Janikowski extra point is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.