Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Giants: 2020 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season on 2020-09-14, the Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business against the New York Giants, pulling away with a 26–16 final that built a comfortable lead.

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

D. Jones (New York Giants) paced the passing game, with +3.08 total EPA, and -0.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +15.39 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-23.2% win probability) landed in the third quarter when New York Giants changed the game: (3:25) (No Huddle) 8-D.Jones pass short left intended for 86-D.Slayton INTERCEPTED by 97-C.Heyward (48-B.Dupree) [48-B.Dupree] at PIT 0. Touchback.

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 · +15.39 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Smith-Schuster · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +11.26 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.88 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Johnson · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +4.10 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Slayton · New York Giants · Receiving · +3.91 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
5. 5 S. Shepard · New York Giants · Receiving · +3.66 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.52 EPA/play
6. 6 S. Barkley · New York Giants · Receiving · +3.64 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Claypool · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +3.38 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.69 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Jones · New York Giants · Passing · +3.08 total EPA · 51 snaps · +0.06 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 York Giants — D. Slayton (D. Jones pass) (Q2 43:54)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Smith-Schuster (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q2 39:07)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Washington (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q2 30:14)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Smith-Schuster (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q4 5:28)
• New York Giants — D. Slayton (D. Jones pass) (Q4 1:56)

Field goals

• New York Giants — G. Gano (Q1 55:37)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q1 45:54)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q4 14:24)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. New York Giants connected on a field goal from the PIT 2 (Q1 55:37) — (10:37) 5-G.Gano 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-58-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the NYG 23 (Q1 45:54) — (:54) 9-C.Boswell 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-D.Colquitt..

The second quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 13–7. New York Giants found the end zone from the PIT 41 (Q2 43:54) — (13:54) 8-D.Jones pass deep middle to 86-D.Slayton for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q2 43:45) — 5-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-58-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the NYG 10 (Q2 39:07) — (9:07) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 19-J.Smith-Schuster for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the NYG 13 (Q2 30:14) — (:14) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to 13-J.Washington for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the NYG 15 (Q2 30:07) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-D.Colquitt..

The fourth quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 10–6. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the NYG 18 (Q4 14:24) — (14:24) 9-C.Boswell 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-D.Colquitt.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the NYG 8 (Q4 5:28); Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the NYG 15 (Q4 5:23) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-D.Colquitt.; New York Giants found the end zone from the PIT 7 (Q4 1:56) — (1:56) (Shotgun) 8-D.Jones pass short middle to 86-D.Slayton for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

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

• New York Giants (Q3 18:25) — (3:25) (No Huddle) 8-D.Jones pass short left intended for 86-D.Slayton INTERCEPTED by 97-C.Heyward (48-B.Dupree) [48-B.Dupree] at PIT 0. Touchback. [WPA -23.2% · EPA -6.20]
• New York Giants (Q1 56:40) — (11:40) 9-R.Dixon punts 33 yards to PIT 12, Center-58-C.Kreiter. 18-D.Johnson MUFFS catch, touched at PIT 10, RECOVERED by NYG-52-D.Downs at PIT 3. [WPA +20.2% · EPA +5.86]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 49:46) — (4:46) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep right to 11-C.Claypool pushed ob at NYG 39 for 28 yards (20-J.Love). [WPA +12.3% · EPA +3.23]
• New York Giants (Q2 42:40) — (12:40) 8-D.Jones pass short right intended for 88-E.Engram INTERCEPTED by 90-T.Watt at NYG 36. 90-T.Watt to NYG 36 for no gain (75-C.Fleming). [WPA -11.5% · EPA -5.20]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 39:07) — (9:07) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 19-J.Smith-Schuster for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.9% · EPA +3.15]

Impact plays

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

• New York Giants (Q3 18:25) — (3:25) (No Huddle) 8-D.Jones pass short left intended for 86-D.Slayton INTERCEPTED by 97-C.Heyward (48-B.Dupree) [48-B.Dupree] at PIT 0. Touchback. [WPA -23.2% · EPA -6.20]
• New York Giants (Q1 56:40) — (11:40) 9-R.Dixon punts 33 yards to PIT 12, Center-58-C.Kreiter. 18-D.Johnson MUFFS catch, touched at PIT 10, RECOVERED by NYG-52-D.Downs at PIT 3. [WPA +20.2% · EPA +5.86]
• New York Giants (Q2 42:40) — (12:40) 8-D.Jones pass short right intended for 88-E.Engram INTERCEPTED by 90-T.Watt at NYG 36. 90-T.Watt to NYG 36 for no gain (75-C.Fleming). [WPA -11.5% · EPA -5.20]
• New York Giants (Q2 43:54) — (13:54) 8-D.Jones pass deep middle to 86-D.Slayton for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.5% · EPA +3.70]

Quarterback report card

D.Jones led all passers in efficiency for New York Giants, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Jones (New York Giants) · 51 dropbacks · 51.0% completion · -0.1% CPOE · +0.06 EPA/play · +3.08 total EPA
• B.Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 35 dropbacks · 60.0% completion · +1.5% CPOE · +0.44 EPA/play · +15.39 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 (+0.12 vs -0.03), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• New York Giants: 11 drives, -2.68 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 10 drives, +9.90 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.
• 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.

1. New York Giants FG (+3) — Q1 55:37 · PIT 2 · Score 0-3
   (10:37) 5-G.Gano 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-58-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q1 45:54 · NYG 23 · Score 3-3
   (:54) 9-C.Boswell 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-D.Colquitt.
3. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q2 43:54 · PIT 41 · Score 3-9
   (13:54) 8-D.Jones pass deep middle to 86-D.Slayton for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q2 43:45 · PIT 15 · Score 3-10
   5-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-58-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 39:07 · NYG 10 · Score 9-10
   (9:07) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 19-J.Smith-Schuster for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 30:14 · NYG 13 · Score 15-10
   (:14) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to 13-J.Washington for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 30:07 · NYG 15 · Score 16-10
   9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-D.Colquitt.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q4 14:24 · NYG 18 · Score 19-10
   (14:24) 9-C.Boswell 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-D.Colquitt.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 5:28 · NYG 8 · Score 25-10
   (5:28) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 19-J.Smith-Schuster for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PIT-72-Z.Banner was injured during the play.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q4 5:23 · NYG 15 · Score 26-10
    9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-D.Colquitt.
11. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q4 1:56 · PIT 7 · Score 26-16
    (1:56) (Shotgun) 8-D.Jones pass short middle to 86-D.Slayton for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.