Miami Dolphins vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 2019 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2019 NFL season on 2019-10-28, the Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business against the Miami Dolphins, pulling away with a 27–14 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Rudolph (Pittsburgh Steelers) paced the passing game, with +6.00 total EPA, and -2.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Johnson (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.57 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+19.5% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Pittsburgh Steelers changed the game: (:26) (Shotgun) 2-M.Rudolph pass short middle to 18-D.Johnson for 45 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 D. Johnson · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +9.57 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.37 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Rudolph · Pittsburgh Steelers · Passing · +6.00 total EPA · 42 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Grant · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +3.72 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.24 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Parker · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +3.35 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Hurns · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.60 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.60 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Smith-Schuster · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.26 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.25 EPA/play
7. 7 P. Williams · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.03 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
8. 8 N. Vannett · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +1.08 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.54 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

• Miami Dolphins — A. Wilson (R. Fitzpatrick pass) (Q1 55:58)
• Miami Dolphins — A. Hurns (R. Fitzpatrick pass) (Q1 46:41)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — D. Johnson (M. Rudolph pass) (Q2 30:26)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Smith-Schuster (M. Rudolph pass) (Q3 18:23)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Conner (Q4 12:05)

Field goals

• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q2 32:49)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q4 5:37)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 14–0. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the PIT 5 (Q1 55:58) — (10:58) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short left to 15-A.Wilson for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q1 55:55) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-2-M.Haack.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the PIT 12 (Q1 46:41) — (1:41) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short left to 17-A.Hurns for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q1 46:34) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-2-M.Haack..

The second quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 10–0. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the MIA 24 (Q2 32:49) — (2:49) (Field Goal formation) 9-C.Boswell 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the MIA 45 (Q2 30:26) — (:26) (Shotgun) 2-M.Rudolph pass short middle to 18-D.Johnson for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q2 30:17) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry..

The third quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 7–0. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the MIA 26 (Q3 18:23) — (3:23) (Shotgun) 2-M.Rudolph pass deep left to 19-J.Smith-Schuster for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q3 18:16) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry..

The fourth quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 10–0. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the MIA 9 (Q4 12:05) — (12:05) (Shotgun) 30-J.Conner up the middle for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q4 12:01) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the MIA 23 (Q4 5:37) — (5:37) (Field Goal formation) 9-C.Boswell 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry..

Turning points

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 30:26) — (:26) (Shotgun) 2-M.Rudolph pass short middle to 18-D.Johnson for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +19.5% · EPA +5.89]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 58:03) — (13:03) (Shotgun) 2-M.Rudolph pass short right intended for 19-J.Smith-Schuster INTERCEPTED by 25-X.Howard at PIT 26. 25-X.Howard to PIT 26 for no gain (19-J.Smith-Schuster). [WPA -14.1% · EPA -3.95]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q3 19:51) — (4:51) (Shotgun) 2-M.Rudolph pass short left to 18-D.Johnson to MIA 27 for 11 yards (24-R.Lewis). [WPA +11.9% · EPA +2.02]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q3 18:23) — (3:23) (Shotgun) 2-M.Rudolph pass deep left to 19-J.Smith-Schuster for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.8% · EPA +2.94]
• Miami Dolphins (Q3 15:20) — (:20) 14-R.Fitzpatrick right end to PIT 46 for 1 yard (23-J.Haden; 97-C.Heyward). Pittsburgh challenged the first down ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 14-R.Fitzpatrick right end to PIT 47 for no ga [WPA -10.8% · EPA -3.27]

Impact plays

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 30:26) — (:26) (Shotgun) 2-M.Rudolph pass short middle to 18-D.Johnson for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +19.5% · EPA +5.89]
• Miami Dolphins (Q4 7:23) — (7:23) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick sacked at MIA 22 for -6 yards (90-T.Watt). FUMBLES (90-T.Watt) [90-T.Watt], RECOVERED by PIT-90-T.Watt at MIA 22. [WPA -5.4% · EPA -5.43]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 58:03) — (13:03) (Shotgun) 2-M.Rudolph pass short right intended for 19-J.Smith-Schuster INTERCEPTED by 25-X.Howard at PIT 26. 25-X.Howard to PIT 26 for no gain (19-J.Smith-Schuster). [WPA -14.1% · EPA -3.95]
• Miami Dolphins (Q4 9:18) — (9:18) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short middle to 22-M.Walton to PIT 41 for 9 yards (28-M.Hilton). FUMBLES (28-M.Hilton), RECOVERED by PIT-22-S.Nelson at PIT 27. 22-S.Nelson to PIT 27 for no gain [WPA -4.8% · EPA -3.68]

Quarterback report card

M.Rudolph led all passers in efficiency for Pittsburgh Steelers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Rudolph (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 42 dropbacks · 47.6% completion · -2.4% CPOE · +0.14 EPA/play · +6.00 total EPA
• R.Fitzpatrick (Miami Dolphins) · 41 dropbacks · 51.2% completion · -2.1% CPOE · -0.17 EPA/play · -7.08 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 (-0.01 vs -0.18), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Miami Dolphins: 12 drives, -12.90 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 11 drives, -0.86 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.
• D. Johnson (Pittsburgh Steelers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

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

1. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q1 55:58 · PIT 5 · Score 6-0
   (10:58) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short left to 15-A.Wilson for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q1 55:55 · PIT 15 · Score 7-0
   7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-2-M.Haack.
3. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q1 46:41 · PIT 12 · Score 13-0
   (1:41) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short left to 17-A.Hurns for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q1 46:34 · PIT 15 · Score 14-0
   7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-2-M.Haack.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 32:49 · MIA 24 · Score 14-3
   (2:49) (Field Goal formation) 9-C.Boswell 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 30:26 · MIA 45 · Score 14-9
   (:26) (Shotgun) 2-M.Rudolph pass short middle to 18-D.Johnson for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 30:17 · MIA 15 · Score 14-10
   9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q3 18:23 · MIA 26 · Score 14-16
   (3:23) (Shotgun) 2-M.Rudolph pass deep left to 19-J.Smith-Schuster for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q3 18:16 · MIA 15 · Score 14-17
   9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 12:05 · MIA 9 · Score 14-23
    (12:05) (Shotgun) 30-J.Conner up the middle for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q4 12:01 · MIA 15 · Score 14-24
    9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q4 5:37 · MIA 23 · Score 14-27
    (5:37) (Field Goal formation) 9-C.Boswell 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.