Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens: 2017 Week 4 Recap

Game story

In Week 4 of the 2017 NFL season on 2017-10-01, the Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business against the Baltimore Ravens, pulling away with a 26–9 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 16 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) paced the passing game, with -11.61 total EPA, and -1.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Smith-Schuster (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.26 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-15.0% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Baltimore Ravens changed the game: (6:01) 34-A.Collins left tackle to BAL 31 for -1 yards (97-C.Heyward). FUMBLES (97-C.Heyward), RECOVERED by PIT-97-C.Heyward at BAL 28. 97-C.Heyward to BAL 28 for no gain (77-A.Howard).

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 J. Smith-Schuster · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +7.26 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.81 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Roethlisberger · Pittsburgh Steelers · Passing · +3.34 total EPA · 33 snaps · +0.10 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Wallace · Baltimore Ravens · Receiving · +3.33 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.33 EPA/play
4. 4 J. James · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.27 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.76 EPA/play
5. 5 N. Boyle · Baltimore Ravens · Receiving · +2.02 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
6. 6 L. Bell · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +1.93 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Allen · Baltimore Ravens · Receiving · +1.92 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Hunter · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +1.20 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.60 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 — L. Bell (Q2 33:32)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Smith-Schuster (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q2 30:45)
• Baltimore Ravens — M. Wallace (J. Flacco pass) (Q3 21:07)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — L. Bell (Q4 2:30)

Field goals

• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q1 45:26)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q2 37:28)
• Baltimore Ravens — J. Tucker (Q3 27:36)

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 BAL 13 (Q1 45:26) — (:26) (Field Goal formation) 9-C.Boswell 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry..

The second quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 16–0. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the BAL 31 (Q2 37:28); Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the BAL 1 (Q2 33:32) — (3:32) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 26-L.Bell right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the BAL 15 (Q2 33:24) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the BAL 11 (Q2 30:45) — (:45) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to 19-J.Smith-Schuster for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The third quarter: Baltimore Ravens won the period 9–0. Baltimore Ravens connected on a field goal from the PIT 24 (Q3 27:36) — (12:36) (Field Goal formation) 9-J.Tucker 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-4-S.Koch.; Baltimore Ravens found the end zone from the PIT 16 (Q3 21:07) — (6:07) (Shotgun) 5-J.Flacco pass deep right to 17-M.Wallace for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The fourth quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 7–0. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the BAL 1 (Q4 2:30) — (2:30) 26-L.Bell right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the BAL 15 (Q4 2:26) — 9-C.Boswell extra point 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.

• Baltimore Ravens (Q2 36:01) — (6:01) 34-A.Collins left tackle to BAL 31 for -1 yards (97-C.Heyward). FUMBLES (97-C.Heyward), RECOVERED by PIT-97-C.Heyward at BAL 28. 97-C.Heyward to BAL 28 for no gain (77-A.Howard). [WPA -15.0% · EPA -5.63]
• Baltimore Ravens (Q2 41:20) — (11:20) (Shotgun) 5-J.Flacco to BAL 11 for -5 yards. FUMBLES, and recovers at BAL 11. 5-J.Flacco sacked at BAL 8 for -8 yards (97-C.Heyward). [WPA -9.9% · EPA -2.18]
• Baltimore Ravens (Q4 11:19) — (11:19) 5-J.Flacco pass short middle intended for 82-B.Watson INTERCEPTED by 50-R.Shazier at 50. 50-R.Shazier to BAL 48 for 2 yards (82-B.Watson). [WPA -9.0% · EPA -5.06]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q3 28:33) — (13:33) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to 84-A.Brown to PIT 20 for no gain (22-J.Smith). Baltimore challenged the pass completion ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (Shotgun) 7-B.Roeth [WPA -7.7% · EPA -4.10]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 50:48) — (5:48) 67-B.Finney reported in as eligible. 30-J.Conner left tackle ran ob at PIT 40 for 23 yards (22-J.Smith). [WPA +5.8% · EPA +2.49]

Impact plays

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

• Baltimore Ravens (Q2 36:01) — (6:01) 34-A.Collins left tackle to BAL 31 for -1 yards (97-C.Heyward). FUMBLES (97-C.Heyward), RECOVERED by PIT-97-C.Heyward at BAL 28. 97-C.Heyward to BAL 28 for no gain (77-A.Howard). [WPA -15.0% · EPA -5.63]
• Baltimore Ravens (Q4 11:19) — (11:19) 5-J.Flacco pass short middle intended for 82-B.Watson INTERCEPTED by 50-R.Shazier at 50. 50-R.Shazier to BAL 48 for 2 yards (82-B.Watson). [WPA -9.0% · EPA -5.06]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q3 28:33) — (13:33) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to 84-A.Brown to PIT 20 for no gain (22-J.Smith). Baltimore challenged the pass completion ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (Shotgun) 7-B.Roeth [WPA -7.7% · EPA -4.10]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q3 22:10) — (7:10) (Field Goal formation) 9-C.Boswell 44 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry. [WPA -4.3% · EPA -4.01]

Quarterback report card

J.Flacco led all passers in efficiency for Baltimore Ravens, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) · 51 dropbacks · 60.8% completion · -1.4% CPOE · -0.23 EPA/play · -11.61 total EPA
• B.Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 33 dropbacks · 54.5% completion · +0.9% CPOE · +0.10 EPA/play · +3.34 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 (+0.01 vs -0.24), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Baltimore Ravens: 12 drives, -20.15 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 12 drives, +1.35 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.
• J. Smith-Schuster (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 FG (+3) — Q1 45:26 · BAL 13 · Score 3-0
   (:26) (Field Goal formation) 9-C.Boswell 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 37:28 · BAL 31 · Score 6-0
   (7:28) (Field Goal formation) 9-C.Boswell 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry. Penalty on BAL-29-M.Humphrey, Defensive Offside, de
3. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 33:32 · BAL 1 · Score 12-0
   (3:32) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 26-L.Bell right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 33:24 · BAL 15 · Score 13-0
   9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 30:45 · BAL 11 · Score 19-0
   (:45) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to 19-J.Smith-Schuster for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Baltimore Ravens FG (+3) — Q3 27:36 · PIT 24 · Score 19-3
   (12:36) (Field Goal formation) 9-J.Tucker 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-4-S.Koch.
7. Baltimore Ravens TD (+6) — Q3 21:07 · PIT 16 · Score 19-9
   (6:07) (Shotgun) 5-J.Flacco pass deep right to 17-M.Wallace for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 2:30 · BAL 1 · Score 25-9
   (2:30) 26-L.Bell right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q4 2:26 · BAL 15 · Score 26-9
   9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.