New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 2017 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2017 NFL season on 2017-12-17, the New England Patriots 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 Q1 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Brady (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with +10.36 total EPA, and +2.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.95 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-43.0% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Pittsburgh Steelers changed the game: (:09) (No Huddle) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle intended for 17-E.Rogers INTERCEPTED by 30-D.Harmon (25-E.Rowe) [98-T.Flowers] at NE -2. Touchback.

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. Roethlisberger · Pittsburgh Steelers · Passing · +11.95 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +10.36 total EPA · 40 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Gronkowski · New England Patriots · Receiving · +7.69 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.55 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Smith-Schuster · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +7.55 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.26 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Bryant · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +6.82 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.14 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Cooks · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.74 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.68 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Lewis · New England Patriots · Rushing · +4.16 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
8. 8 L. Bell · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.41 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.40 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

• New England Patriots — R. Burkhead (Q1 54:03)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — E. Rogers (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q1 50:37)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — M. Bryant (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q2 30:30)
• New England Patriots — B. Cooks (T. Brady pass) (Q3 23:56)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — L. Bell (Q3 16:38)
• New England Patriots — D. Lewis (Q4 1:00)

Field goals

• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q2 42:20)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q2 39:08)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q4 4:00)

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. New England Patriots found the end zone from the PIT 1 (Q1 54:03) — (9:03) 34-R.Burkhead right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q1 54:00) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the NE 18 (Q1 50:37) — (5:37) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to 17-E.Rogers for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q1 50:32) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry..

The second quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 10–3. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the NE 33 (Q2 42:20) — (12:20) (Field Goal formation) 9-C.Boswell 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the PIT 14 (Q2 39:08) — (9:08) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the NE 4 (Q2 30:30) — (:30) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 10-M.Bryant for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q2 30:25) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry..

The third quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 7–6. New England Patriots found the end zone from the PIT 4 (Q3 23:56) — (8:56) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 14-B.Cooks for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the NE 3 (Q3 16:38) — (1:38) (Shotgun) 26-L.Bell left tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q3 16:33) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 11–0. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the PIT 28 (Q4 4:00) — (4:00) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the PIT 8 (Q4 1:00) — (1:00) 33-D.Lewis up the middle for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots registered a safety from the PIT 2 (Q4 0:56) — (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 12-T.Brady pass to 87-R.Gronkowski is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

Turning points

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 0:09) — (:09) (No Huddle) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle intended for 17-E.Rogers INTERCEPTED by 30-D.Harmon (25-E.Rowe) [98-T.Flowers] at NE -2. Touchback. [WPA -43.0% · EPA -3.22]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 0:52) — (:52) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to 19-J.Smith-Schuster to NE 10 for 69 yards (30-D.Harmon). [WPA +36.5% · EPA +3.87]
• New England Patriots (Q3 19:40) — (4:40) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle intended for 87-R.Gronkowski INTERCEPTED by 98-V.Williams [79-J.Hargrave] at NE 35. 98-V.Williams to NE 22 for 13 yards (28-J.White). [WPA -16.5% · EPA -5.17]
• New England Patriots (Q4 1:55) — (1:55) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep middle to 87-R.Gronkowski to PIT 25 for 26 yards (23-M.Mitchell). [WPA +15.4% · EPA +1.56]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep right to 10-M.Bryant to NE 17 for 39 yards (24-S.Gilmore) [91-D.Wise]. [WPA +13.1% · EPA +3.59]

Impact plays

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

• New England Patriots (Q3 19:40) — (4:40) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle intended for 87-R.Gronkowski INTERCEPTED by 98-V.Williams [79-J.Hargrave] at NE 35. 98-V.Williams to NE 22 for 13 yards (28-J.White). [WPA -16.5% · EPA -5.17]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 0:52) — (:52) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to 19-J.Smith-Schuster to NE 10 for 69 yards (30-D.Harmon). [WPA +36.5% · EPA +3.87]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep right to 10-M.Bryant to NE 17 for 39 yards (24-S.Gilmore) [91-D.Wise]. [WPA +13.1% · EPA +3.59]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 30:30) — (:30) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 10-M.Bryant for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +4.9% · EPA +3.25]

Quarterback report card

T.Brady led all passers in efficiency for New England Patriots, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 40 dropbacks · 55.0% completion · +2.8% CPOE · +0.26 EPA/play · +10.36 total EPA
• B.Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 35 dropbacks · 62.9% completion · +11.0% CPOE · +0.34 EPA/play · +11.95 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, New England Patriots generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.23 vs +0.11), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• New England Patriots: 10 drives, +16.20 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 9 drives, +9.11 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New England Patriots 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. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) 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.

Every scoring play

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

1. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q1 54:03 · PIT 1 · Score 6-0
   (9:03) 34-R.Burkhead right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 54:00 · PIT 15 · Score 7-0
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q1 50:37 · NE 18 · Score 7-6
   (5:37) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to 17-E.Rogers for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q1 50:32 · NE 15 · Score 7-7
   9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 42:20 · NE 33 · Score 7-10
   (12:20) (Field Goal formation) 9-C.Boswell 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.
6. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 39:08 · PIT 14 · Score 10-10
   (9:08) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 30:30 · NE 4 · Score 10-16
   (:30) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 10-M.Bryant for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 30:25 · NE 15 · Score 10-17
   9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.
9. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 23:56 · PIT 4 · Score 16-17
   (8:56) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 14-B.Cooks for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q3 16:38 · NE 3 · Score 16-23
    (1:38) (Shotgun) 26-L.Bell left tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q3 16:33 · NE 15 · Score 16-24
    9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.
12. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q4 4:00 · PIT 28 · Score 19-24
    (4:00) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
13. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 1:00 · PIT 8 · Score 25-24
    (1:00) 33-D.Lewis up the middle for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. New England Patriots Safety (+2) — Q4 0:56 · PIT 2 · Score 27-24
    (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 12-T.Brady pass to 87-R.Gronkowski is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.