Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2022 Week 13 Recap

Game story

In Week 13 of the 2022 NFL season on 2022-12-04, the Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 19–16 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 19 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

K. Pickett (Pittsburgh Steelers) paced the passing game, with +10.01 total EPA, and -4.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, K. Pickett (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.01 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+12.7% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Pittsburgh Steelers changed the game: (8:26) (Shotgun) 8-K.Pickett pass short left to 88-P.Freiermuth to ATL 12 for 57 yards (54-R.Evans; 37-D.Alford).

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 K. Pickett · Pittsburgh Steelers · Passing · +10.01 total EPA · 31 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
2. 2 P. Freiermuth · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +6.90 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.38 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Allgeier · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +2.75 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
4. 4 Co. Heyward · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.59 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.59 EPA/play
5. 5 B. Snell · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.40 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.40 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Mariota · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +2.04 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.68 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Pruitt · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.59 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.59 EPA/play
8. 8 P. Hesse · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.40 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.40 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

• Pittsburgh Steelers — K. Pickett (Q2 37:12)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Pruitt (M. Mariota pass) (Q3 15:51)

Field goals

• Pittsburgh Steelers — M. Wright (Q1 52:38)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — M. Wright (Q2 43:39)
• Atlanta Falcons — Y. Koo (Q2 39:20)
• Atlanta Falcons — Y. Koo (Q2 35:10)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — M. Wright (Q2 31:34)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — M. Wright (Q3 19:49)
• Atlanta Falcons — Y. Koo (Q4 5:29)

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 3–0. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the ATL 28 (Q1 52:38) — (7:38) 4-M.Wright 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin..

The second quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 13–6. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the ATL 28 (Q2 43:39) — (13:39) 4-M.Wright 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the PIT 32 (Q2 39:20) — (9:20) 7-Y.Koo 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the ATL 17 (Q2 37:12) — (7:12) (Shotgun) 8-K.Pickett pass deep middle to 83-Co.Heyward for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q2 37:06) — 4-M.Wright extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the PIT 33 (Q2 35:10) — (5:10) 7-Y.Koo 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the ATL 30 (Q2 31:34) — (1:34) 4-M.Wright 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin..

The third quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 7–3. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the ATL 15 (Q3 19:49) — (4:49) 4-M.Wright 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the PIT 7 (Q3 15:51) — (:51) (No Huddle) 1-M.Mariota pass short right to 85-M.Pruitt for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q3 15:43) — 7-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-48-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 3–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the PIT 10 (Q4 5:29) — (5:29) 7-Y.Koo 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion..

Turning points

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 38:26) — (8:26) (Shotgun) 8-K.Pickett pass short left to 88-P.Freiermuth to ATL 12 for 57 yards (54-R.Evans; 37-D.Alford). [WPA +12.7% · EPA +4.50]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 55:54) — (10:54) (Shotgun) 8-K.Pickett pass short right to 88-P.Freiermuth to ATL 34 for 9 yards (27-R.Grant; 37-D.Alford). [WPA +10.1% · EPA +2.11]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 37:12) — (7:12) (Shotgun) 8-K.Pickett pass deep middle to 83-Co.Heyward for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.1% · EPA +2.59]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 2:39) — (2:39) 89-G.Olszewski left end to ATL 49 for 2 yards (92-A.Ogundeji; 34-D.Hall). [WPA +8.7% · EPA -0.29]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 43:39) — (13:39) 4-M.Wright 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin. [WPA +8.6% · EPA +1.02]

Impact plays

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 0:35) — (:35) 8-K.Pickett kneels to ATL 5 for -1 yards. [EPA -5.19]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 0:42) — (:42) (Shotgun) 1-M.Mariota pass deep left intended for 5-D.London INTERCEPTED by 39-M.Fitzpatrick (97-C.Heyward) [97-C.Heyward] at ATL 20. 39-M.Fitzpatrick ran ob at ATL 4 for 16 yards. [WPA -8.2% · EPA -5.15]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 38:26) — (8:26) (Shotgun) 8-K.Pickett pass short left to 88-P.Freiermuth to ATL 12 for 57 yards (54-R.Evans; 37-D.Alford). [WPA +12.7% · EPA +4.50]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 37:12) — (7:12) (Shotgun) 8-K.Pickett pass deep middle to 83-Co.Heyward for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.1% · EPA +2.59]

Quarterback report card

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

• K.Pickett (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 31 dropbacks · 51.6% completion · -4.9% CPOE · +0.32 EPA/play · +10.01 total EPA
• M.Mariota (Atlanta Falcons) · 25 dropbacks · 52.0% completion · -5.3% CPOE · -0.20 EPA/play · -4.99 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 (+0.08 vs +0.01), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Atlanta Falcons: 8 drives, +0.65 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 9 drives, +6.85 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• K. Pickett (Pittsburgh Steelers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• K. Pickett (PIT) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• M. Mariota (ATL) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

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

1. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q1 52:38 · ATL 28 · Score 3-0
   (7:38) 4-M.Wright 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 43:39 · ATL 28 · Score 6-0
   (13:39) 4-M.Wright 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.
3. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 39:20 · PIT 32 · Score 6-3
   (9:20) 7-Y.Koo 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 37:12 · ATL 17 · Score 12-3
   (7:12) (Shotgun) 8-K.Pickett pass deep middle to 83-Co.Heyward for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 37:06 · ATL 15 · Score 13-3
   4-M.Wright extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.
6. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 35:10 · PIT 33 · Score 13-6
   (5:10) 7-Y.Koo 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 31:34 · ATL 30 · Score 16-6
   (1:34) 4-M.Wright 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q3 19:49 · ATL 15 · Score 19-6
   (4:49) 4-M.Wright 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin.
9. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q3 15:51 · PIT 7 · Score 19-12
   (:51) (No Huddle) 1-M.Mariota pass short right to 85-M.Pruitt for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q3 15:43 · PIT 15 · Score 19-13
    7-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-48-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
11. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 5:29 · PIT 10 · Score 19-16
    (5:29) 7-Y.Koo 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.