Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos: 2011 Week 18 Recap

Game story

In Week 18 of the 2011 NFL season on 2012-01-08, the Denver Broncos took care of business against the Pittsburgh Steelers, pulling away with a 29–23 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) paced the passing game, with +1.08 total EPA, and -4.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Tebow (Denver Broncos) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +21.29 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+47.3% win probability) landed in overtime when Denver Broncos changed the game: (15:00) (Shotgun) 15-T.Tebow pass deep middle to 88-D.Thomas for 80 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 T. Tebow · Denver Broncos · Passing · +21.29 total EPA · 27 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Thomas · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +14.95 total EPA · 7 snaps · +2.14 EPA/play
3. 3 I. Redman · Pittsburgh Steelers · Rushing · +6.86 total EPA · 17 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
4. 4 E. Sanders · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +5.27 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.66 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Fells · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +4.09 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.05 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Tebow · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +2.76 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.35 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Brown · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.16 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Cotchery · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.15 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.07 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

• Denver Broncos — E. Royal (T. Tebow pass) (Q2 43:31)
• Denver Broncos — T. Tebow (Q2 40:41)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — M. Wallace (Q3 19:33)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Cotchery (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q4 3:56)
• Denver Broncos — D. Thomas (T. Tebow pass) (OT 15:00)

Field goals

• Pittsburgh Steelers — S. Suisham (Q1 56:19)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — S. Suisham (Q1 45:27)
• Denver Broncos — M. Prater (Q2 37:33)
• Denver Broncos — M. Prater (Q2 31:08)
• Denver Broncos — M. Prater (Q4 13:14)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — S. Suisham (Q4 10:03)

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 6–0. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the DEN 27 (Q1 56:19) — (11:19) 6-S.Suisham 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the DEN 20 (Q1 45:27) — (:27) 6-S.Suisham 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos..

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 20–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the PIT 30 (Q2 43:31) — (13:31) (Shotgun) 15-T.Tebow pass deep right to 19-E.Royal for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PIT-99-B.Keisel was injured during the play.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q2 43:24) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the PIT 8 (Q2 40:41) — (10:41) (Shotgun) 15-T.Tebow up the middle for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q2 40:36) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the PIT 2 (Q2 37:33) — (7:33) 5-M.Prater 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the PIT 10 (Q2 31:08) — (1:08) 5-M.Prater 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-4-B.Colquitt..

The third quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 7–0. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the DEN 1 (Q3 19:33) — (4:33) 17-M.Wallace right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q3 19:29) — 6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos..

The fourth quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 10–3. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the PIT 17 (Q4 13:14) — (13:14) 5-M.Prater 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the DEN 19 (Q4 10:03) — (10:03) 6-S.Suisham 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the DEN 31 (Q4 3:56) — (3:56) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep middle to 89-J.Cotchery for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q4 3:48) — 6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos..

Overtime: Denver Broncos won the period 6–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the PIT 80 (OT 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 15-T.Tebow pass deep middle to 88-D.Thomas for 80 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

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

• Denver Broncos (OT 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 15-T.Tebow pass deep middle to 88-D.Thomas for 80 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +47.3% · EPA +6.29]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 3:56) — (3:56) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep middle to 89-J.Cotchery for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +21.7% · EPA +3.99]
• Denver Broncos (Q2 44:56) — (14:56) (Shotgun) 15-T.Tebow pass deep left to 88-D.Thomas to PIT 31 for 51 yards (24-I.Taylor). [WPA +14.7% · EPA +4.80]
• Denver Broncos (Q4 7:43) — (7:43) (Shotgun) 23-W.McGahee right tackle to PIT 44 for 8 yards (29-R.Mundy). FUMBLES (29-R.Mundy), RECOVERED by PIT-56-L.Woodley at PIT 44. 56-L.Woodley to PIT 44 for no gain (81-D.Rosario). Denver [WPA -10.8% · EPA -4.50]
• Denver Broncos (Q2 43:31) — (13:31) (Shotgun) 15-T.Tebow pass deep right to 19-E.Royal for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PIT-99-B.Keisel was injured during the play. [WPA +10.6% · EPA +3.55]

Impact plays

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

• Denver Broncos (OT 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 15-T.Tebow pass deep middle to 88-D.Thomas for 80 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +47.3% · EPA +6.29]
• Denver Broncos (Q2 44:56) — (14:56) (Shotgun) 15-T.Tebow pass deep left to 88-D.Thomas to PIT 31 for 51 yards (24-I.Taylor). [WPA +14.7% · EPA +4.80]
• Denver Broncos (Q4 7:43) — (7:43) (Shotgun) 23-W.McGahee right tackle to PIT 44 for 8 yards (29-R.Mundy). FUMBLES (29-R.Mundy), RECOVERED by PIT-56-L.Woodley at PIT 44. 56-L.Woodley to PIT 44 for no gain (81-D.Rosario). Denver [WPA -10.8% · EPA -4.50]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 3:56) — (3:56) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep middle to 89-J.Cotchery for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +21.7% · EPA +3.99]

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 · 45.8% completion · -4.6% CPOE · +0.02 EPA/play · +1.08 total EPA
• T.Tebow (Denver Broncos) · 27 dropbacks · 37.0% completion · -2.7% CPOE · +0.79 EPA/play · +21.29 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Denver Broncos held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.17 vs +0.11), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Denver Broncos: 12 drives, +13.27 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 11 drives, +9.50 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Denver Broncos 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.
• T. Tebow (Denver Broncos) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Roethlisberger (PIT) 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 56:19 · DEN 27 · Score 3-0
   (11:19) 6-S.Suisham 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q1 45:27 · DEN 20 · Score 6-0
   (:27) 6-S.Suisham 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos.
3. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 43:31 · PIT 30 · Score 6-6
   (13:31) (Shotgun) 15-T.Tebow pass deep right to 19-E.Royal for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PIT-99-B.Keisel was injured during the play.
4. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 43:24 · PIT 2 · Score 6-7
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
5. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 40:41 · PIT 8 · Score 6-13
   (10:41) (Shotgun) 15-T.Tebow up the middle for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 40:36 · PIT 2 · Score 6-14
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
7. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q2 37:33 · PIT 2 · Score 6-17
   (7:33) 5-M.Prater 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
8. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q2 31:08 · PIT 10 · Score 6-20
   (1:08) 5-M.Prater 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q3 19:33 · DEN 1 · Score 12-20
   (4:33) 17-M.Wallace right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q3 19:29 · DEN 2 · Score 13-20
    6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos.
11. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q4 13:14 · PIT 17 · Score 13-23
    (13:14) 5-M.Prater 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q4 10:03 · DEN 19 · Score 16-23
    (10:03) 6-S.Suisham 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 3:56 · DEN 31 · Score 22-23
    (3:56) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep middle to 89-J.Cotchery for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q4 3:48 · DEN 2 · Score 23-23
    6-S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos.
15. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — OT 15:00 · PIT 80 · Score 23-29
    (15:00) (Shotgun) 15-T.Tebow pass deep middle to 88-D.Thomas for 80 yards, TOUCHDOWN.