Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 2021 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2021 NFL season on 2021-12-26, the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business against the Pittsburgh Steelers, pulling away with a 36–10 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) paced the passing game, with -10.83 total EPA, and -3.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +16.52 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-7.7% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Pittsburgh Steelers changed the game: (4:07) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep right intended for 14-R.McCloud INTERCEPTED by 35-C.Ward at PIT 49. 35-C.Ward to PIT 49 for no gain (14-R.McCloud).

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 P. Mahomes · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +16.52 total EPA · 33 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Pringle · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +6.82 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.97 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Gore · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +4.14 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.38 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Hill · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +2.91 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.45 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Hardman · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +2.52 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Burton · Kansas City Chiefs · Rushing · +2.22 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.22 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Johnson · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.12 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
8. 8 Da. Williams · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +1.58 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.53 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

• Kansas City Chiefs — C. Edwards-Helaire (Q1 49:12)
• Kansas City Chiefs — B. Pringle (P. Mahomes pass) (Q1 46:14)
• Kansas City Chiefs — M. Hardman (P. Mahomes pass) (Q2 32:19)
• Kansas City Chiefs — B. Pringle (P. Mahomes pass) (Q3 24:00)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — D. Johnson (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q4 2:59)

Field goals

• Kansas City Chiefs — E. Fry (Q2 38:50)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q3 18:37)
• Kansas City Chiefs — E. Fry (Q4 12:01)
• Kansas City Chiefs — E. Fry (Q4 9:46)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 14–0. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the PIT 1 (Q1 49:12) — (4:12) 25-C.Edwards-Helaire left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q1 49:07) — 9-E.Fry extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-8-J.Townsend.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the PIT 5 (Q1 46:14) — (1:14) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left to 13-B.Pringle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q1 46:05) — 9-E.Fry extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-8-J.Townsend..

The second quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 9–0. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the PIT 26 (Q2 38:50) — (8:50) 9-E.Fry 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-8-J.Townsend.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the PIT 8 (Q2 32:19) — (2:19) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left to 17-M.Hardman for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The third quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–3. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the PIT 16 (Q3 24:00) — (9:00) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left to 13-B.Pringle for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q3 23:53) — 9-E.Fry extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-8-J.Townsend.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the KC 16 (Q3 18:37) — (3:37) 9-C.Boswell 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-10-C.Waitman..

The fourth quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 7–6. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the PIT 16 (Q4 12:01) — (12:01) 9-E.Fry 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-8-J.Townsend.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the PIT 12 (Q4 9:46) — (9:46) 9-E.Fry 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-8-J.Townsend.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the KC 15 (Q4 2:59) — (2:59) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 18-D.Johnson for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q4 2:54) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-10-C.Waitman..

Turning points

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 49:07) — (4:07) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep right intended for 14-R.McCloud INTERCEPTED by 35-C.Ward at PIT 49. 35-C.Ward to PIT 49 for no gain (14-R.McCloud). [WPA -7.7% · EPA -3.89]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 50:26) — (5:26) 45-M.Burton up the middle to PIT 1 for 2 yards (34-Te.Edmunds, 39-M.Fitzpatrick). [WPA +5.8% · EPA +2.22]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 56:00) — (11:00) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left to 10-T.Hill to KC 40 for 10 yards (23-J.Haden). [WPA +5.4% · EPA +1.85]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 54:40) — (9:40) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 81-B.Bell to PIT 38 for 11 yards (39-M.Fitzpatrick). [WPA +4.7% · EPA +0.68]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 59:25) — (14:25) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short right to 18-D.Johnson pushed ob at PIT 41 for 18 yards (21-M.Hughes). [WPA +4.7% · EPA +2.23]

Impact plays

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 11:50) — (11:50) 7-B.Roethlisberger sacked at PIT 22 for -8 yards (98-T.Wharton). FUMBLES (98-T.Wharton), RECOVERED by KC-90-J.Reed at PIT 17. 90-J.Reed to PIT 7 for 10 yards (53-K.Green). [WPA +0.0% · EPA -6.75]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q3 27:54) — (12:54) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 18-D.Johnson to PIT 40 for 2 yards. FUMBLES, touched at PIT 45, RECOVERED by KC-32-T.Mathieu at KC 49. 32-T.Mathieu pushed ob at KC 4 [WPA -3.0% · EPA -4.82]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 2:59) — (2:59) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 18-D.Johnson for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -0.0% · EPA +4.42]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 49:07) — (4:07) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep right intended for 14-R.McCloud INTERCEPTED by 35-C.Ward at PIT 49. 35-C.Ward to PIT 49 for no gain (14-R.McCloud). [WPA -7.7% · EPA -3.89]

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 · 59.0% completion · -3.8% CPOE · -0.28 EPA/play · -10.83 total EPA
• P.Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) · 33 dropbacks · 69.7% completion · +15.1% CPOE · +0.50 EPA/play · +16.52 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Kansas City Chiefs held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.13 vs -0.22), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Kansas City Chiefs: 10 drives, +10.99 total EPA, 7 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 11 drives, -18.79 total EPA, 2 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Kansas City Chiefs leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) 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.
• P. Mahomes (KC) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q1 49:12 · PIT 1 · Score 0-6
   (4:12) 25-C.Edwards-Helaire left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q1 49:07 · PIT 15 · Score 0-7
   9-E.Fry extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-8-J.Townsend.
3. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q1 46:14 · PIT 5 · Score 0-13
   (1:14) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left to 13-B.Pringle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q1 46:05 · PIT 15 · Score 0-14
   9-E.Fry extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-8-J.Townsend.
5. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 38:50 · PIT 26 · Score 0-17
   (8:50) 9-E.Fry 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-8-J.Townsend.
6. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 32:19 · PIT 8 · Score 0-23
   (2:19) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left to 17-M.Hardman for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q3 24:00 · PIT 16 · Score 0-29
   (9:00) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left to 13-B.Pringle for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q3 23:53 · PIT 15 · Score 0-30
   9-E.Fry extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-8-J.Townsend.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q3 18:37 · KC 16 · Score 3-30
   (3:37) 9-C.Boswell 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-10-C.Waitman.
10. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 12:01 · PIT 16 · Score 3-33
    (12:01) 9-E.Fry 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-8-J.Townsend.
11. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 9:46 · PIT 12 · Score 3-36
    (9:46) 9-E.Fry 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-8-J.Townsend.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 2:59 · KC 15 · Score 9-36
    (2:59) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 18-D.Johnson for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q4 2:54 · KC 15 · Score 10-36
    9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-10-C.Waitman.