Game story
In Week 8 of the 2021 NFL season on 2021-10-31, the Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, pulling away with a 15–10 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.
The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.
B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) paced the passing game, with +5.09 total EPA, and -1.9% completion percentage over expected.
On the individual side, B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.09 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (-19.4% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Cleveland Browns changed the game: (1:58) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass incomplete short middle to 80-J.Landry (39-M.Fitzpatrick) [97-C.Heyward].
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 0 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 15 |
| Cleveland Browns | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 B. Roethlisberger · Pittsburgh Steelers · Passing · +5.09 total EPA · 39 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
- 2 P. Freiermuth · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +4.41 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.63 EPA/play
- 3 N. Harris · Pittsburgh Steelers · Rushing · +3.26 total EPA · 27 snaps · +0.12 EPA/play
- 4 H. Bryant · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +2.78 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.39 EPA/play
- 5 D. Njoku · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +2.11 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.70 EPA/play
- 6 N. Harris · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +1.79 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.60 EPA/play
- 7 C. Claypool · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +1.38 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
- 8 D. Felton · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +1.08 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
B. Roethlisberger — PIT · Passing
B. Roethlisberger posted the highest total EPA (+5.09) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on Pittsburgh Steelers's efficiency. Across 39 counted snaps, they averaged +0.13 EPA per play.
The signature play (+3.93 EPA) came from Pittsburgh Steelers: (11:08) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short right to 88-P.Freiermuth for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- Cleveland Browns — D. Johnson
- Pittsburgh Steelers — N. Harris
- Pittsburgh Steelers — P. Freiermuth (B. Roethlisberger pass)
Field goals
- Cleveland Browns — C. McLaughlin
- Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell
How it unfolded, quarter by quarter
A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.
The opening quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 3–0. Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the PIT 12 (Q1 53:12) — (8:12) 3-C.McLaughlin 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-7-J.Gillan..
The second quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 3–0. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the CLE 13 (Q2 39:21) — (9:21) 9-C.Boswell 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin..
The third quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 7–6. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the PIT 10 (Q3 24:41) — (9:41) (Shotgun) 30-D.Johnson left end for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q3 24:36) — 3-C.McLaughlin extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-7-J.Gillan.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CLE 8 (Q3 18:43) — (3:43) (Shotgun) 22-N.Harris right guard for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN..
The fourth quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 6–0. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the CLE 2 (Q4 11:08) — (11:08) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short right to 88-P.Freiermuth for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN..
Turning points
Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.
- Cleveland Browns (Q4 1:58) — (1:58) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass incomplete short middle to 80-J.Landry (39-M.Fitzpatrick) [97-C.Heyward].
- Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 11:08) — (11:08) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short right to 88-P.Freiermuth for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Cleveland Browns (Q4 2:57) — (2:57) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass incomplete deep middle to 13-O.Beckham. PENALTY on PIT-56-A.Highsmith, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced at PIT 39 - No Play.
- Cleveland Browns (Q4 6:14) — (6:14) 6-B.Mayfield pass short left to 80-J.Landry to PIT 21 for 11 yards (93-J.Schobert). FUMBLES (93-J.Schobert), RECOVERED by PIT-90-T.Watt at PIT 20.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 14:32) — (14:32) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 22-N.Harris left tackle to CLE 37 for 5 yards (95-M.Garrett; 97-M.Jackson).
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 11:08) — (11:08) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short right to 88-P.Freiermuth for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Cleveland Browns (Q4 6:14) — (6:14) 6-B.Mayfield pass short left to 80-J.Landry to PIT 21 for 11 yards (93-J.Schobert). FUMBLES (93-J.Schobert), RECOVERED by PIT-90-T.Watt at PIT 20.
- Cleveland Browns (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 24-N.Chubb left tackle to PIT 40 for -1 yards (55-D.Bush; 90-T.Watt).
- Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 1:48) — (1:48) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short right to 18-D.Johnson to CLE 22 for 50 yards (22-G.Delpit).
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) · 39 dropbacks · 56.4% completion · -1.9% CPOE · +0.13 EPA/play · +5.09 total EPA
- B.Mayfield (Cleveland Browns) · 37 dropbacks · 54.1% completion · -3.0% CPOE · +0.01 EPA/play · +0.49 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | Pittsburgh Steelers | Cleveland Browns |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | +0.028 | -0.077 |
| Offensive success rate | 38.4% | 42.5% |
| Pass EPA/play | +0.052 | +0.013 |
| Rush EPA/play | +0.010 | -0.226 |
| Defensive EPA/play | +0.077 | -0.028 |
| Defensive success rate | 57.5% | 61.6% |
By the numbers
Despite the final score, Pittsburgh Steelers generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.03 vs -0.08), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.
- Cleveland Browns: 10 drives, -5.62 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 10 drives, +2.41 total EPA, 3 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.
Every scoring play
Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.
- Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q1 53:12 · PIT 12 · Score 0-3
(8:12) 3-C.McLaughlin 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-7-J.Gillan. - Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 39:21 · CLE 13 · Score 3-3
(9:21) 9-C.Boswell 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-6-P.Harvin. - Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q3 24:41 · PIT 10 · Score 3-9
(9:41) (Shotgun) 30-D.Johnson left end for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q3 24:36 · PIT 15 · Score 3-10
3-C.McLaughlin extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-7-J.Gillan. - Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q3 18:43 · CLE 8 · Score 9-10
(3:43) (Shotgun) 22-N.Harris right guard for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 11:08 · CLE 2 · Score 15-10
(11:08) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short right to 88-P.Freiermuth for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns?
The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns 15-10 in Week 8, 2021 on 2021-10-31.
What was the final score of Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns?
The final score was Pittsburgh Steelers 15, Cleveland Browns 10 (PIT 15-10 CLE) in Week 8, 2021 on 2021-10-31.
What was the score by quarter in Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns?
Q1: Pittsburgh Steelers 0, Cleveland Browns 3; Q2: Pittsburgh Steelers 3, Cleveland Browns 0; Q3: Pittsburgh Steelers 6, Cleveland Browns 7; Q4: Pittsburgh Steelers 6, Cleveland Browns 0; Final: Pittsburgh Steelers 15, Cleveland Browns 10.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns?
Cleveland Browns touchdown — D. Johnson (Q3 24:41) Pittsburgh Steelers touchdown — N. Harris (Q3 18:43) Pittsburgh Steelers touchdown — P. Freiermuth (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q4 11:08) Cleveland Browns field goal — C. McLaughlin (Q1 53:12, 3 pts) Pittsburgh Steelers field goal — C. Boswell (Q2 39:21, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns?
B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers), 56.4% completion, -1.9% CPOE, +0.13 EPA per dropback, +5.09 total passing EPA. B. Mayfield (Cleveland Browns), 54.1% completion, -3.0% CPOE, +0.01 EPA per dropback, +0.49 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns?
B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) led the game in total EPA with +5.09 on passing plays. across 39 snaps. The top single-play swing was (+3.93 EPA): (11:08) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short right to 88-P.Freiermuth for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.. The biggest win-probability swing was -19.4%.
Was Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns a close game?
Yes — the margin was 5 points. Pittsburgh Steelers won 15-10 in a game that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.
Season records after this game
Pittsburgh Steelers
Entered 3-3 Now 4-3 W
Cleveland Browns
Entered 4-3 Now 4-4 L
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