Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2019 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2019 NFL season on 2019-12-08, the Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 23–17 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

K. Murray (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with -5.32 total EPA, and +1.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Hodges (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.31 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-16.5% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (8:13) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short right intended for 29-C.Edmonds INTERCEPTED by 23-J.Haden at PIT 23. 23-J.Haden to PIT 27 for 4 yards (53-A.Shipley).

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. Hodges · Pittsburgh Steelers · Passing · +10.31 total EPA · 28 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Kirk · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +4.07 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.45 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Johnson · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +3.95 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.97 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Edmonds · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +3.49 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.49 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Johnson · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +3.43 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
6. 6 Tr. Edmunds · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +3.39 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.39 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Clay · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.52 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.52 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Cain · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.41 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.41 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 — D. Johnson (Q1 48:13)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Clay (K. Murray pass) (Q2 31:57)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — D. Johnson (D. Hodges pass) (Q3 17:05)
• Arizona Cardinals — D. Johnson (K. Murray pass) (Q4 6:49)

Field goals

• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q1 49:24)
• Arizona Cardinals — Z. Gonzalez (Q2 41:19)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q2 30:04)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q4 1:46)

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 10–0. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the ARI 12 (Q1 49:24) — (4:24) 9-C.Boswell 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the PIT 75 (Q1 48:13) — (3:13) 4-A.Lee punts 60 yards to PIT 15, Center-46-A.Brewer. 18-D.Johnson for 85 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q1 47:52) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry..

The second quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 10–3. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the PIT 12 (Q2 41:19) — (11:19) 5-Z.Gonzalez 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the PIT 5 (Q2 31:57) — (1:57) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short left to 85-C.Clay for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q2 31:51) — 5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the ARI 19 (Q2 30:04) — (:04) 9-C.Boswell 37 yard field goal 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 ARI 2 (Q3 17:05) — (2:05) (Shotgun) 6-D.Hodges pass short left to 18-D.Johnson for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q3 17:00) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 7–3. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the PIT 24 (Q4 6:49) — (6:49) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass deep right to 31-D.Johnson for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q4 6:44) — 5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the ARI 7 (Q4 1:46) — (1:46) 9-C.Boswell 25 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.

• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 23:13) — (8:13) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short right intended for 29-C.Edmonds INTERCEPTED by 23-J.Haden at PIT 23. 23-J.Haden to PIT 27 for 4 yards (53-A.Shipley). [WPA -16.5% · EPA -5.53]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 53:59) — (8:59) (Shotgun) 6-D.Hodges pass short right to 33-Tr.Edmunds to ARI 46 for 7 yards (59-J.Walker). PENALTY on ARI-58-J.Hicks, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at ARI 46. [WPA +12.1% · EPA +3.39]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 12:33) — (12:33) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short right intended for 87-M.Williams INTERCEPTED by 90-T.Watt at PIT 0. Touchback. [WPA -11.8% · EPA -4.09]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 6:49) — (6:49) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass deep right to 31-D.Johnson for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.2% · EPA +3.01]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 48:13) — (3:13) 4-A.Lee punts 60 yards to PIT 15, Center-46-A.Brewer. 18-D.Johnson for 85 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -9.8% · EPA -5.68]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 48:13) — (3:13) 4-A.Lee punts 60 yards to PIT 15, Center-46-A.Brewer. 18-D.Johnson for 85 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -9.8% · EPA -5.68]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 23:13) — (8:13) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short right intended for 29-C.Edmonds INTERCEPTED by 23-J.Haden at PIT 23. 23-J.Haden to PIT 27 for 4 yards (53-A.Shipley). [WPA -16.5% · EPA -5.53]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 45:44) — (:44) 72-Z.Banner reported in as eligible. 24-B.Snell Jr. right tackle to PIT 33 for -1 yards (51-T.Vallejo). FUMBLES (51-T.Vallejo), RECOVERED by ARI-56-T.Suggs at PIT 34. [WPA -9.1% · EPA -5.42]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 12:33) — (12:33) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short right intended for 87-M.Williams INTERCEPTED by 90-T.Watt at PIT 0. Touchback. [WPA -11.8% · EPA -4.09]

Quarterback report card

K.Murray led all passers in efficiency for Arizona Cardinals, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• K.Murray (Arizona Cardinals) · 40 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · +1.2% CPOE · -0.13 EPA/play · -5.32 total EPA
• D.Hodges (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 28 dropbacks · 57.1% completion · +16.1% CPOE · +0.37 EPA/play · +10.31 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Pittsburgh Steelers generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.06 vs -0.18), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Arizona Cardinals: 9 drives, -13.72 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 10 drives, -4.58 total EPA, 4 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• D. Hodges (Pittsburgh Steelers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Hodges (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 49:24 · ARI 12 · Score 3-0
   (4:24) 9-C.Boswell 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q1 48:13 · PIT 75 · Score 9-0
   (3:13) 4-A.Lee punts 60 yards to PIT 15, Center-46-A.Brewer. 18-D.Johnson for 85 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q1 47:52 · ARI 15 · Score 10-0
   9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.
4. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 41:19 · PIT 12 · Score 10-3
   (11:19) 5-Z.Gonzalez 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.
5. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 31:57 · PIT 5 · Score 10-9
   (1:57) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short left to 85-C.Clay for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 31:51 · PIT 15 · Score 10-10
   5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 30:04 · ARI 19 · Score 13-10
   (:04) 9-C.Boswell 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q3 17:05 · ARI 2 · Score 19-10
   (2:05) (Shotgun) 6-D.Hodges pass short left to 18-D.Johnson for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q3 17:00 · ARI 15 · Score 20-10
   9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.
10. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 6:49 · PIT 24 · Score 20-16
    (6:49) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass deep right to 31-D.Johnson for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 6:44 · PIT 15 · Score 20-17
    5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q4 1:46 · ARI 7 · Score 23-17
    (1:46) 9-C.Boswell 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.