Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New England Patriots: 2015 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2015 NFL season on 2015-09-10, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Pittsburgh Steelers, pulling away with a 28–21 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) paced the passing game, with +19.04 total EPA, and +10.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +19.04 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-9.3% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Pittsburgh Steelers changed the game: (9:44) 8-J.Scobee 44 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry.

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 · +19.04 total EPA · 43 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +18.91 total EPA · 36 snaps · +0.53 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Brown · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +12.88 total EPA · 11 snaps · +1.17 EPA/play
4. 4 R. Gronkowski · New England Patriots · Receiving · +8.06 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.01 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Edelman · New England Patriots · Receiving · +7.05 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Lewis · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.01 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.60 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Heyward-Bey · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.94 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
8. 8 H. Miller · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.81 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.26 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

• New England Patriots — R. Gronkowski (T. Brady pass) (Q2 41:16)
• New England Patriots — R. Gronkowski (T. Brady pass) (Q2 34:06)
• New England Patriots — S. Chandler (T. Brady pass) (Q3 25:43)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — W. Johnson (Q3 21:48)
• New England Patriots — R. Gronkowski (T. Brady pass) (Q4 9:24)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — A. Brown (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q4 0:07)

Field goals

• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Scobee (Q2 30:07)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Scobee (Q4 11:42)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 14–3. New England Patriots found the end zone from the PIT 16 (Q2 41:16) — (11:16) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 87-R.Gronkowski for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q2 41:11) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the PIT 6 (Q2 34:06) — (4:06) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 87-R.Gronkowski for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NE 87-Gronkowski 15th career multi-TD game.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q2 34:01) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the NE 26 (Q2 30:07) — (:07) 8-J.Scobee 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry..

The third quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 8–7. New England Patriots found the end zone from the PIT 1 (Q3 25:43) — (10:43) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 88-S.Chandler for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q3 25:37) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q3 21:48) — (6:48) 78-A.Villanueva reported in as eligible. 46-W.Johnson left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers registered a safety from the NE 2 (Q3 21:43).

The fourth quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 10–7. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the NE 6 (Q4 11:42) — (11:42) 8-J.Scobee 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the PIT 1 (Q4 9:24); New England Patriots added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q4 9:20); Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the NE 11 (Q4 0:07) — (:07) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 84-A.Brown for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q4 0:02) — 8-J.Scobee extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry..

Turning points

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 54:44) — (9:44) 8-J.Scobee 44 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry. [WPA -9.3% · EPA -4.06]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q3 16:31) — (1:31) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep right to 11-M.Wheaton ran ob at NE 19 for 26 yards [95-C.Jones]. [WPA +7.8% · EPA +1.64]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 40:27) — (10:27) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep left to 88-D.Heyward-Bey pushed ob at NE 35 for 43 yards (24-B.Fletcher). [WPA +7.0% · EPA +4.18]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 13:36) — (13:36) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short left to 83-H.Miller. PENALTY on NE-23-P.Chung, Defensive Pass Interference, 4 yards, enforced at NE 5 - No Play. [WPA +6.6% · EPA +2.10]
• New England Patriots (Q4 11:34) — (11:34) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep right to 87-R.Gronkowski to PIT 27 for 52 yards (41-A.Blake). [WPA +6.5% · EPA +3.21]

Impact plays

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 0:07) — (:07) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 84-A.Brown for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.5% · EPA +4.34]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 40:27) — (10:27) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep left to 88-D.Heyward-Bey pushed ob at NE 35 for 43 yards (24-B.Fletcher). [WPA +7.0% · EPA +4.18]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 54:44) — (9:44) 8-J.Scobee 44 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry. [WPA -9.3% · EPA -4.06]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 38:43) — (8:43) 8-J.Scobee 46 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry. [WPA -5.5% · EPA -3.83]

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) · 43 dropbacks · 60.5% completion · +10.0% CPOE · +0.44 EPA/play · +19.04 total EPA
• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 36 dropbacks · 69.4% completion · +12.4% CPOE · +0.53 EPA/play · +18.91 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

New England Patriots held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.22 vs +0.11), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• New England Patriots: 10 drives, +16.72 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 9 drives, +9.85 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New England Patriots 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.
• B. Roethlisberger (PIT) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• T. Brady (NE) 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. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 41:16 · PIT 16 · Score 0-6
   (11:16) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 87-R.Gronkowski for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 41:11 · PIT 15 · Score 0-7
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
3. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 34:06 · PIT 6 · Score 0-13
   (4:06) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 87-R.Gronkowski for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NE 87-Gronkowski 15th career multi-TD game.
4. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 34:01 · PIT 15 · Score 0-14
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 30:07 · NE 26 · Score 3-14
   (:07) 8-J.Scobee 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry.
6. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 25:43 · PIT 1 · Score 3-20
   (10:43) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 88-S.Chandler for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
7. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 25:37 · PIT 15 · Score 3-21
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q3 21:48 · NE 1 · Score 9-21
   (6:48) 78-A.Villanueva reported in as eligible. 46-W.Johnson left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers Safety (+2) — Q3 21:43 · NE 2 · Score 11-21
   TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 7-B.Roethlisberger pass to 11-M.Wheaton is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. PIT-7-B.Roethlisberger was injured during the play.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q4 11:42 · NE 6 · Score 14-21
    (11:42) 8-J.Scobee 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry.
11. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 9:24 · PIT 1 · Score 14-27
    (9:24) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 87-R.Gronkowski for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. NE 12-Brady 23rd career game with 4+ TD passes, tying Brett Favre for 3rd most all-t
12. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 9:20 · PIT 15 · Score 14-28
    3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen. PENALTY on PIT-90-S.McLendon, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced between downs.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 0:07 · NE 11 · Score 20-28
    (:07) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 84-A.Brown for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q4 0:02 · NE 15 · Score 21-28
    8-J.Scobee extra point is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-4-J.Berry.