Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals: 2012 Week 7 Recap

Game story

In Week 7 of the 2012 NFL season on 2012-10-21, the Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business against the Cincinnati Bengals, pulling away with a 24–17 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 18 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) paced the passing game, with +3.32 total EPA, and +10.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Brown (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.63 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+18.0% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Pittsburgh Steelers changed the game: (14:22) 22-C.Rainey right guard for 11 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 A. Brown · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +8.63 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Dwyer · Pittsburgh Steelers · Rushing · +4.87 total EPA · 18 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
3. 3 E. Sanders · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +3.85 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.92 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Roethlisberger · Pittsburgh Steelers · Passing · +3.32 total EPA · 41 snaps · +0.08 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Cotchery · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.14 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.14 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Green-Ellis · Cincinnati Bengals · Rushing · +1.80 total EPA · 19 snaps · +0.09 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Sanu · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +1.69 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
8. 8 C. Rainey · Pittsburgh Steelers · Rushing · +1.57 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.39 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

• Cincinnati Bengals — C. Peerman (Q1 47:23)
• Cincinnati Bengals — A. Green (A. Dalton pass) (Q2 38:34)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — H. Miller (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q2 30:29)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Rainey (Q4 14:22)

Field goals

• Pittsburgh Steelers — S. Suisham (Q1 55:30)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — S. Suisham (Q2 33:11)
• Cincinnati Bengals — M. Nugent (Q3 26:14)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — S. Suisham (Q3 23:22)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Cincinnati Bengals won the period 7–3. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CIN 24 (Q1 55:30) — (10:30) 6-S.Suisham 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Butler.; Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the PIT 5 (Q1 47:23) — (2:23) 30-C.Peerman right guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q1 47:17) — 2-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber..

The second quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 11–7. Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the PIT 8 (Q2 38:34) — (8:34) 14-A.Dalton pass short right to 18-A.Green for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q2 38:29) — 2-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CIN 29 (Q2 33:11) — (3:11) 6-S.Suisham 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Butler.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CIN 9 (Q2 30:29) — (:29) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to 83-H.Miller for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers registered a safety from the CIN 2 (Q2 30:24) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 7-B.Roethlisberger pass to 83-H.Miller is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Cincinnati Bengals connected on a field goal from the PIT 30 (Q3 26:14) — (11:14) 2-M.Nugent 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CIN 24 (Q3 23:22) — (8:22) 6-S.Suisham 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Butler..

The fourth quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 7–0. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CIN 11 (Q4 14:22) — (14:22) 22-C.Rainey right guard for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the CIN 2 (Q4 14:16) — 6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Butler..

Turning points

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 14:22) — (14:22) 22-C.Rainey right guard for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +18.0% · EPA +2.52]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 40:25) — (10:25) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep middle intended for 83-H.Miller INTERCEPTED by 33-C.Crocker at CIN -8. Touchback. [WPA -17.0% · EPA -5.05]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q3 15:24) — (:24) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to 88-E.Sanders to CIN 14 for 31 yards (20-R.Nelson; 24-A.Jones). [WPA +14.4% · EPA +3.21]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 57:09) — (12:09) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep left to 84-A.Brown to CIN 25 for 23 yards (24-A.Jones). [WPA +12.0% · EPA +3.07]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 38:42) — (8:42) 7-B.Roethlisberger sacked at PIT 10 for -3 yards (sack split by 75-D.Still and 91-R.Geathers). FUMBLES (75-D.Still), RECOVERED by CIN-95-W.Gilberry at PIT 8. 95-W.Gilberry to PIT 8 for no gain [WPA -12.0% · EPA -5.16]

Impact plays

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

• Cincinnati Bengals (Q2 31:30) — (1:30) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass short middle intended for 88-R.Whalen INTERCEPTED by 56-L.Woodley at CIN 40. 56-L.Woodley to CIN 29 for 11 yards (71-A.Smith). [WPA -10.6% · EPA -5.29]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 38:42) — (8:42) 7-B.Roethlisberger sacked at PIT 10 for -3 yards (sack split by 75-D.Still and 91-R.Geathers). FUMBLES (75-D.Still), RECOVERED by CIN-95-W.Gilberry at PIT 8. 95-W.Gilberry to PIT 8 for no gain [WPA -12.0% · EPA -5.16]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 40:25) — (10:25) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep middle intended for 83-H.Miller INTERCEPTED by 33-C.Crocker at CIN -8. Touchback. [WPA -17.0% · EPA -5.05]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 0:35) — (:35) 7-B.Roethlisberger kneels to CIN 9 for -1 yards. [EPA -4.06]

Quarterback report card

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

• B.Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 41 dropbacks · 65.9% completion · +10.6% CPOE · +0.08 EPA/play · +3.32 total EPA
• A.Dalton (Cincinnati Bengals) · 28 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -11.9% CPOE · -0.39 EPA/play · -11.01 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 (+0.12 vs -0.01), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Cincinnati Bengals: 11 drives, -0.32 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 11 drives, +9.75 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.
• A. Brown (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.
• A. Dalton (CIN) 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 55:30 · CIN 24 · Score 3-0
   (10:30) 6-S.Suisham 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Butler.
2. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q1 47:23 · PIT 5 · Score 3-6
   (2:23) 30-C.Peerman right guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q1 47:17 · PIT 2 · Score 3-7
   2-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
4. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q2 38:34 · PIT 8 · Score 3-13
   (8:34) 14-A.Dalton pass short right to 18-A.Green for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q2 38:29 · PIT 2 · Score 3-14
   2-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 33:11 · CIN 29 · Score 6-14
   (3:11) 6-S.Suisham 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Butler.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 30:29 · CIN 9 · Score 12-14
   (:29) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to 83-H.Miller for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers Safety (+2) — Q2 30:24 · CIN 2 · Score 14-14
   TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 7-B.Roethlisberger pass to 83-H.Miller is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
9. Cincinnati Bengals FG (+3) — Q3 26:14 · PIT 30 · Score 14-17
   (11:14) 2-M.Nugent 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q3 23:22 · CIN 24 · Score 17-17
    (8:22) 6-S.Suisham 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Butler.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 14:22 · CIN 11 · Score 23-17
    (14:22) 22-C.Rainey right guard for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q4 14:16 · CIN 2 · Score 24-17
    6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-9-D.Butler.