Pittsburgh Steelers vs. San Francisco 49ers: 2011 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2011 NFL season on 2011-12-19, the San Francisco 49ers took care of business against the Pittsburgh Steelers, pulling away with a 20–3 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 10 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) paced the passing game, with -8.36 total EPA, and -2.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Cotchery (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.93 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-16.0% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Pittsburgh Steelers changed the game: (10:47) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep right intended for 17-M.Wallace INTERCEPTED by 22-C.Rogers at SF -4. 22-C.Rogers to SF 27 for 31 yards (78-M.Starks).

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 J. Cotchery · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +6.93 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.16 EPA/play
2. 2 V. Davis · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +4.84 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Smith · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +3.71 total EPA · 34 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
4. 4 K. Williams · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.00 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
5. 5 H. Miller · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +1.34 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Crabtree · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +1.31 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
7. 7 K. Hunter · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +1.20 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.60 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Ginn · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +0.84 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.84 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

• San Francisco 49ers — V. Davis (Q3 18:48)
• San Francisco 49ers — F. Gore (Q4 9:10)

Field goals

• San Francisco 49ers — D. Akers (Q1 48:29)
• San Francisco 49ers — D. Akers (Q2 42:18)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — S. Suisham (Q3 21:13)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 3–0. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the PIT 4 (Q1 48:29) — (3:29) 2-D.Akers 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The second quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 3–0. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the PIT 20 (Q2 42:18) — (12:18) 2-D.Akers 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The third quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–3. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the SF 33 (Q3 21:13) — (6:13) 6-S.Suisham 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the PIT 1 (Q3 18:48); San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q3 18:44) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The fourth quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the PIT 5 (Q4 9:10) — (9:10) 21-F.Gore left tackle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q4 9:06) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

Turning points

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 55:47) — (10:47) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep right intended for 17-M.Wallace INTERCEPTED by 22-C.Rogers at SF -4. 22-C.Rogers to SF 27 for 31 yards (78-M.Starks). [WPA -16.0% · EPA -5.40]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 57:04) — (12:04) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short right to 17-M.Wallace pushed ob at SF 22 for 36 yards (30-R.Smith). Caught at PIT 48. 30-yds YAC [WPA +12.4% · EPA +3.19]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 45:32) — (:32) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep left intended for 83-H.Miller INTERCEPTED by 38-D.Goldson at SF 34. 38-D.Goldson to PIT 45 for 21 yards (89-J.Cotchery). [WPA -10.5% · EPA -4.11]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 52:42) — (7:42) (Shotgun) 11-Alex Smith pass short left to 10-K.Williams pushed ob at PIT 38 for 8 yards (23-K.Lewis). Caught at PIT 38. 0-yds YAC [WPA +7.8% · EPA +1.54]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 11:39) — (11:39) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger sacked at PIT 17 for -12 yards (sack split by 91-R.McDonald and 99-Ald.Smith). FUMBLES (91-R.McDonald), RECOVERED by SF-94-J.Smith at PIT 17. 94-J.Smith [WPA -6.5% · EPA -5.06]

Impact plays

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 55:47) — (10:47) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep right intended for 17-M.Wallace INTERCEPTED by 22-C.Rogers at SF -4. 22-C.Rogers to SF 27 for 31 yards (78-M.Starks). [WPA -16.0% · EPA -5.40]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 11:39) — (11:39) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger sacked at PIT 17 for -12 yards (sack split by 91-R.McDonald and 99-Ald.Smith). FUMBLES (91-R.McDonald), RECOVERED by SF-94-J.Smith at PIT 17. 94-J.Smith [WPA -6.5% · EPA -5.06]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 45:32) — (:32) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep left intended for 83-H.Miller INTERCEPTED by 38-D.Goldson at SF 34. 38-D.Goldson to PIT 45 for 21 yards (89-J.Cotchery). [WPA -10.5% · EPA -4.11]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q3 15:58) — (:58) 6-S.Suisham 48 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos. [WPA -2.4% · EPA -3.53]

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) · 50 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -2.2% CPOE · -0.17 EPA/play · -8.36 total EPA
• A.Smith (San Francisco 49ers) · 34 dropbacks · 52.9% completion · -5.4% CPOE · +0.11 EPA/play · +3.71 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

San Francisco 49ers held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.03 vs -0.17), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Pittsburgh Steelers: 11 drives, -14.28 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 11 drives, +2.14 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• San Francisco 49ers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• J. Cotchery (Pittsburgh Steelers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• A. Smith (SF) 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. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q1 48:29 · PIT 4 · Score 0-3
   (3:29) 2-D.Akers 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
2. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 42:18 · PIT 20 · Score 0-6
   (12:18) 2-D.Akers 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q3 21:13 · SF 33 · Score 3-6
   (6:13) 6-S.Suisham 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-G.Warren, Holder-13-J.Kapinos.
4. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q3 18:48 · PIT 1 · Score 3-12
   (3:48) 75-A.Boone reported in as eligible. 11-Alex Smith pass short right to 85-V.Davis for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Caught in end zone. 0-yds YAC
5. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q3 18:44 · PIT 2 · Score 3-13
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
6. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 9:10 · PIT 5 · Score 3-19
   (9:10) 21-F.Gore left tackle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q4 9:06 · PIT 2 · Score 3-20
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.