Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2020 Week 9 Recap

Game story

In Week 9 of the 2020 NFL season on 2020-11-08, the Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 24–19 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

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

B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) paced the passing game, with +14.43 total EPA, and -2.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +14.43 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-35.8% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (:04) (Shotgun) 3-G.Gilbert pass incomplete deep middle to 88-C.Lamb (39-M.Fitzpatrick).

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 · +14.43 total EPA · 48 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Smith-Schuster · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +8.44 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.21 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Pollard · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +2.33 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Cooper · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.32 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
5. 5 E. Ebron · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.14 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Schultz · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.97 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
7. 7 R. McCloud · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +1.19 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
8. 8 A. McFarland · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +0.94 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.47 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

• Dallas Cowboys — C. Lamb (G. Gilbert pass) (Q2 37:52)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Washington (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q2 31:16)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Smith-Schuster (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q4 15:00)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — E. Ebron (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q4 2:19)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — G. Zuerlein (Q1 48:59)
• Dallas Cowboys — G. Zuerlein (Q2 33:50)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q2 30:02)
• Dallas Cowboys — G. Zuerlein (Q3 25:22)
• Dallas Cowboys — G. Zuerlein (Q3 17:17)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q4 7:15)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 3–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the PIT 20 (Q1 48:59) — (3:59) 2-G.Zuerlein 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-H.Niswander..

The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 10–9. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the PIT 20 (Q2 37:52) — (7:52) (Shotgun) 3-G.Gilbert pass deep right to 88-C.Lamb for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q2 37:45) — 2-G.Zuerlein extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-H.Niswander.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the PIT 26 (Q2 33:50) — (3:50) 2-G.Zuerlein 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-H.Niswander.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the DAL 17 (Q2 31:16) — (1:16) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep right to 13-J.Washington for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the DAL 41 (Q2 30:02) — (:02) 9-C.Boswell 59 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry..

The third quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 6–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the PIT 27 (Q3 25:22) — (10:22) 2-G.Zuerlein 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-H.Niswander.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the PIT 22 (Q3 17:17) — (2:17) 2-G.Zuerlein 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-H.Niswander..

The fourth quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 15–0. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the DAL 31 (Q4 15:00); Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the DAL 24 (Q4 7:15) — (7:15) 9-C.Boswell 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the DAL 8 (Q4 2:19) — (2:19) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 85-E.Ebron for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 0:04) — (:04) (Shotgun) 3-G.Gilbert pass incomplete deep middle to 88-C.Lamb (39-M.Fitzpatrick). [WPA -35.8% · EPA -2.51]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 3:18) — (3:18) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 18-D.Johnson to DAL 13 for 42 yards (25-X.Woods). [WPA +18.7% · EPA +2.65]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 2:19) — (2:19) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 85-E.Ebron for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +12.4% · EPA +1.90]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 1:45) — (1:45) (Shotgun) 3-G.Gilbert sacked at DAL 24 for -17 yards (sack split by 97-C.Heyward and 90-T.Watt). [WPA -12.3% · EPA -3.87]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 0:07) — (:07) (Shotgun) 3-G.Gilbert pass short left to 11-C.Wilson ran ob at PIT 23 for 6 yards. [WPA +11.8% · EPA +0.37]

Impact plays

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 41:30) — (11:30) (Shotgun) 24-B.Snell left tackle to DAL 35 for no gain (94-R.Gregory; 96-N.Gallimore). [WPA -10.4% · EPA -4.01]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 1:45) — (1:45) (Shotgun) 3-G.Gilbert sacked at DAL 24 for -17 yards (sack split by 97-C.Heyward and 90-T.Watt). [WPA -12.3% · EPA -3.87]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 11:54) — (11:54) (Shotgun) 3-G.Gilbert pass short middle intended for 11-C.Wilson INTERCEPTED by 39-M.Fitzpatrick [97-C.Heyward] at PIT -5. 39-M.Fitzpatrick to PIT 7 for 12 yards (19-A.Cooper). PENALTY on PIT- [WPA -10.6% · EPA -3.73]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 31:03) — (1:03) (Shotgun) 3-G.Gilbert pass short right to 88-C.Lamb to DAL 34 for 14 yards (20-C.Sutton). FUMBLES (20-C.Sutton), RECOVERED by PIT-39-M.Fitzpatrick at DAL 38. 39-M.Fitzpatrick to DAL 39 for -1 y [WPA -5.7% · EPA -3.50]

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) · 48 dropbacks · 60.4% completion · -2.5% CPOE · +0.30 EPA/play · +14.43 total EPA
• G.Gilbert (Dallas Cowboys) · 42 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -6.4% CPOE · -0.17 EPA/play · -7.28 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 (+0.00 vs -0.06), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Dallas Cowboys: 11 drives, -5.10 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 11 drives, +0.22 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.
• B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• G. Gilbert (DAL) 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. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q1 48:59 · PIT 20 · Score 0-3
   (3:59) 2-G.Zuerlein 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-H.Niswander.
2. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 37:52 · PIT 20 · Score 0-9
   (7:52) (Shotgun) 3-G.Gilbert pass deep right to 88-C.Lamb for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 37:45 · PIT 15 · Score 0-10
   2-G.Zuerlein extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-H.Niswander.
4. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q2 33:50 · PIT 26 · Score 0-13
   (3:50) 2-G.Zuerlein 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-H.Niswander.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 31:16 · DAL 17 · Score 6-13
   (1:16) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep right to 13-J.Washington for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 30:02 · DAL 41 · Score 9-13
   (:02) 9-C.Boswell 59 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.
7. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q3 25:22 · PIT 27 · Score 9-16
   (10:22) 2-G.Zuerlein 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-H.Niswander.
8. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q3 17:17 · PIT 22 · Score 9-19
   (2:17) 2-G.Zuerlein 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-H.Niswander.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 15:00 · DAL 31 · Score 15-19
   (15:00) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep middle to 19-J.Smith-Schuster for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on DAL-94-R.Gregory, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yar
10. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q4 7:15 · DAL 24 · Score 18-19
    (7:15) 9-C.Boswell 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 2:19 · DAL 8 · Score 24-19
    (2:19) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 85-E.Ebron for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.