New York Giants vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 2016 Week 13 Recap

Game story

In Week 13 of the 2016 NFL season on 2016-12-04, the Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business against the New York Giants, pulling away with a 24–14 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

E. Manning (New York Giants) paced the passing game, with -15.75 total EPA, and -2.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.34 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-19.2% win probability) landed in the second quarter when New York Giants changed the game: (8:33) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short right intended for 84-L.Donnell INTERCEPTED by 94-L.Timmons at PIT 2. 94-L.Timmons pushed ob at NYG 40 for 58 yards (23-R.Jennings).

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 · +10.34 total EPA · 40 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
2. 2 L. Green · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +6.54 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
3. 3 L. Bell · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +4.13 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Brown · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +3.31 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
5. 5 J. James · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.48 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.62 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Jennings · New York Giants · Receiving · +2.21 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
7. 7 P. Perkins · New York Giants · Rushing · +1.45 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.21 EPA/play
8. 8 O. Beckham · New York Giants · Receiving · +0.95 total EPA · 16 snaps · +0.06 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 — A. Brown (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q2 37:20)
• New York Giants — R. Jennings (E. Manning pass) (Q3 21:37)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — L. Green (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q3 18:14)
• New York Giants — S. Shepard (E. Manning pass) (Q4 0:30)

Field goals

• Pittsburgh Steelers — R. Bullock (Q1 45:08)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — R. Bullock (Q2 30:28)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — R. Bullock (Q4 1:43)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 5–0. Pittsburgh Steelers registered a safety from the PIT 95 (Q1 48:11); Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the NYG 26 (Q1 45:08) — (:08) (Field Goal formation) 2-R.Bullock 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry..

The second quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 9–0. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the NYG 22 (Q2 37:20) — (7:20) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep right to 84-A.Brown for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the NYG 16 (Q2 30:28) — (:28) (Field Goal formation) 2-R.Bullock 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. New York Giants found the end zone from the PIT 13 (Q3 21:37) — (6:37) 10-E.Manning pass short right to 23-R.Jennings for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q3 21:30) — 5-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the NYG 20 (Q3 18:14) — (3:14) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 89-L.Green for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the NYG 15 (Q3 18:09) — 2-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry..

The fourth quarter: New York Giants won the period 7–3. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the NYG 20 (Q4 1:43) — (1:43) (Field Goal formation) 2-R.Bullock 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry.; New York Giants found the end zone from the PIT 1 (Q4 0:30) — (:30) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short right to 87-S.Shepard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q4 0:26) — 5-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing..

Turning points

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

• New York Giants (Q2 38:33) — (8:33) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short right intended for 84-L.Donnell INTERCEPTED by 94-L.Timmons at PIT 2. 94-L.Timmons pushed ob at NYG 40 for 58 yards (23-R.Jennings). [WPA -19.2% · EPA -8.36]
• New York Giants (Q1 54:47) — (9:47) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short middle to 23-R.Jennings to NYG 37 for 20 yards (25-A.Burns, 23-M.Mitchell) [92-J.Harrison]. [WPA +8.0% · EPA +2.65]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 47:15) — (2:15) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep right to 89-L.Green to NYG 24 for 37 yards (25-L.Hall). [WPA +7.9% · EPA +3.41]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q3 22:23) — (7:23) (Shotgun) 26-L.Bell up the middle to PIT 18 for 3 yards (52-J.Casillas, 98-D.Harrison). FUMBLES (52-J.Casillas), RECOVERED by NYG-24-E.Apple at PIT 17. 24-E.Apple to PIT 17 for no gain (73-R.Fo [WPA -7.2% · EPA -5.25]
• New York Giants (Q1 48:11) — (3:11) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short middle to 13-O.Beckham pushed ob at NYG 20 for 15 yards (31-R.Cockrell). PENALTY on NYG-74-E.Flowers, Offensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced in End Zo [WPA -6.1% · EPA +0.32]

Impact plays

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

• New York Giants (Q2 38:33) — (8:33) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short right intended for 84-L.Donnell INTERCEPTED by 94-L.Timmons at PIT 2. 94-L.Timmons pushed ob at NYG 40 for 58 yards (23-R.Jennings). [WPA -19.2% · EPA -8.36]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q3 22:23) — (7:23) (Shotgun) 26-L.Bell up the middle to PIT 18 for 3 yards (52-J.Casillas, 98-D.Harrison). FUMBLES (52-J.Casillas), RECOVERED by NYG-24-E.Apple at PIT 17. 24-E.Apple to PIT 17 for no gain (73-R.Fo [WPA -7.2% · EPA -5.25]
• New York Giants (Q4 7:04) — (7:04) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning sacked at PIT 32 for -8 yards (90-R.Mathews). [WPA -3.2% · EPA -4.07]
• New York Giants (Q3 23:58) — (8:58) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass incomplete short middle to 45-W.Tye (50-R.Shazier) [94-L.Timmons]. [WPA -4.5% · EPA -3.78]

Quarterback report card

E.Manning led all passers in efficiency for New York Giants, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• E.Manning (New York Giants) · 46 dropbacks · 52.2% completion · -2.3% CPOE · -0.34 EPA/play · -15.75 total EPA
• B.Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 40 dropbacks · 60.0% completion · -2.0% CPOE · +0.26 EPA/play · +10.34 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 (-0.03 vs -0.17), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• New York Giants: 12 drives, -12.56 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 12 drives, -2.71 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.
• B. Roethlisberger (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. Pittsburgh Steelers Safety (+2) — Q1 48:11 · PIT 95 · Score 0-2
   (3:11) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short middle to 13-O.Beckham pushed ob at NYG 20 for 15 yards (31-R.Cockrell). PENALTY on NYG-74-E.Flowers, Offens
2. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q1 45:08 · NYG 26 · Score 0-5
   (:08) (Field Goal formation) 2-R.Bullock 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 37:20 · NYG 22 · Score 0-11
   (7:20) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep right to 84-A.Brown for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 30:28 · NYG 16 · Score 0-14
   (:28) (Field Goal formation) 2-R.Bullock 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry.
5. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q3 21:37 · PIT 13 · Score 6-14
   (6:37) 10-E.Manning pass short right to 23-R.Jennings for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q3 21:30 · PIT 15 · Score 7-14
   5-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q3 18:14 · NYG 20 · Score 7-20
   (3:14) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 89-L.Green for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q3 18:09 · NYG 15 · Score 7-21
   2-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q4 1:43 · NYG 20 · Score 7-24
   (1:43) (Field Goal formation) 2-R.Bullock 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry.
10. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q4 0:30 · PIT 1 · Score 13-24
    (:30) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short right to 87-S.Shepard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
11. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q4 0:26 · PIT 15 · Score 14-24
    5-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.