Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2014 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2014 NFL season on 2014-12-14, the Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 27–20 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with +5.79 total EPA, and +0.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +18.49 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-22.9% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (15:00) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle intended for 83-H.Douglas INTERCEPTED by 22-W.Gay at PIT 48. 22-W.Gay for 52 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. Roethlisberger · Pittsburgh Steelers · Passing · +18.49 total EPA · 36 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
2. 2 A. Brown · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +6.85 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Hester · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +6.28 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.05 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Ryan · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +5.79 total EPA · 42 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Wheaton · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +4.99 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.00 EPA/play
6. 6 L. Bell · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +4.40 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.63 EPA/play
7. 7 H. Miller · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +4.01 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
8. 8 S. Jackson · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.25 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.25 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 — W. Gay (Q2 45:00)
• Atlanta Falcons — D. Hester (M. Ryan pass) (Q2 34:27)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — L. Bell (Q2 30:31)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — L. Bell (Q4 14:19)
• Atlanta Falcons — R. White (M. Ryan pass) (Q4 10:26)

Field goals

• Pittsburgh Steelers — S. Suisham (Q1 54:14)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — S. Suisham (Q1 45:07)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant (Q3 26:04)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant (Q3 17:45)

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 6–0. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the ATL 20 (Q1 54:14) — (9:14) 6-S.Suisham 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-B.Wing.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the ATL 20 (Q1 45:07) — (:07) 6-S.Suisham 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-B.Wing..

The second quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 14–7. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the PIT 62 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle intended for 83-H.Douglas INTERCEPTED by 22-W.Gay at PIT 48. 22-W.Gay for 52 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q2 44:46) — 6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-B.Wing.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the PIT 17 (Q2 34:27) — (4:27) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass deep right to 17-D.Hester for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q2 34:19) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the ATL 1 (Q2 30:31) — (:31) (Shotgun) 26-L.Bell right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q2 30:27) — 6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-B.Wing..

The third quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 6–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the PIT 10 (Q3 26:04) — (11:04) 3-M.Bryant 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the PIT 4 (Q3 17:45) — (2:45) 3-M.Bryant 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the ATL 13 (Q4 14:19) — (14:19) 26-L.Bell left end for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q4 14:11) — 6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-B.Wing.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the PIT 4 (Q4 10:26) — (10:26) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle to 84-R.White for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q4 10:21) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher..

Turning points

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle intended for 83-H.Douglas INTERCEPTED by 22-W.Gay at PIT 48. 22-W.Gay for 52 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -22.9% · EPA -9.35]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 48:34) — (3:34) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 26-L.Bell to ATL 40 for 44 yards (20-D.Lowery). [WPA +10.8% · EPA +3.75]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 17:50) — (2:50) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass incomplete short left to 17-D.Hester. Penalty on ATL-83-H.Douglas, Offensive Pass Interference, declined. [WPA -7.9% · EPA -1.83]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 34:27) — (4:27) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass deep right to 17-D.Hester for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.5% · EPA +3.20]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 57:20) — (12:20) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short right to 10-M.Bryant pushed ob at ATL 36 for 14 yards (20-D.Lowery). [WPA +6.9% · EPA +1.63]

Impact plays

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle intended for 83-H.Douglas INTERCEPTED by 22-W.Gay at PIT 48. 22-W.Gay for 52 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -22.9% · EPA -9.35]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 48:34) — (3:34) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 26-L.Bell to ATL 40 for 44 yards (20-D.Lowery). [WPA +10.8% · EPA +3.75]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 34:27) — (4:27) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass deep right to 17-D.Hester for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.5% · EPA +3.20]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 30:37) — (:37) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete deep left to 84-A.Brown. The Replay Official challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep [WPA +6.6% · EPA +3.12]

Quarterback report card

M.Ryan led all passers in efficiency for Atlanta Falcons, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) · 42 dropbacks · 61.9% completion · +0.4% CPOE · +0.14 EPA/play · +5.79 total EPA
• B.Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 36 dropbacks · 75.0% completion · +12.3% CPOE · +0.51 EPA/play · +18.49 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 (+0.15 vs +0.00), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Atlanta Falcons: 9 drives, +0.12 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 9 drives, +10.82 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.
• 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. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q1 54:14 · ATL 20 · Score 3-0
   (9:14) 6-S.Suisham 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-B.Wing.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q1 45:07 · ATL 20 · Score 6-0
   (:07) 6-S.Suisham 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-B.Wing.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 45:00 · PIT 62 · Score 12-0
   (15:00) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle intended for 83-H.Douglas INTERCEPTED by 22-W.Gay at PIT 48. 22-W.Gay for 52 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 44:46 · ATL 2 · Score 13-0
   6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-B.Wing.
5. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 34:27 · PIT 17 · Score 13-6
   (4:27) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass deep right to 17-D.Hester for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 34:19 · PIT 2 · Score 13-7
   3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 30:31 · ATL 1 · Score 19-7
   (:31) (Shotgun) 26-L.Bell right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 30:27 · ATL 2 · Score 20-7
   6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-B.Wing.
9. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q3 26:04 · PIT 10 · Score 20-10
   (11:04) 3-M.Bryant 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
10. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q3 17:45 · PIT 4 · Score 20-13
    (2:45) 3-M.Bryant 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 14:19 · ATL 13 · Score 26-13
    (14:19) 26-L.Bell left end for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q4 14:11 · ATL 2 · Score 27-13
    6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-B.Wing.
13. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 10:26 · PIT 4 · Score 27-19
    (10:26) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle to 84-R.White for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 10:21 · PIT 2 · Score 27-20
    3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.