Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2018 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2018 NFL season on 2018-09-24, the Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, pulling away with a 30–27 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 34 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

R. Fitzpatrick (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) paced the passing game, with +1.93 total EPA, and +1.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +14.10 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+16.5% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Pittsburgh Steelers changed the game: (6:00) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 89-V.McDonald for 75 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 B. Roethlisberger · Pittsburgh Steelers · Passing · +14.10 total EPA · 43 snaps · +0.33 EPA/play
2. 2 V. McDonald · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +12.19 total EPA · 4 snaps · +3.05 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Brate · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +4.69 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.17 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Evans · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +4.60 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
5. 5 O. Howard · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +4.35 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.54 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Smith-Schuster · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +3.21 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Washington · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.62 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.31 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Fitzpatrick · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Passing · +1.93 total EPA · 59 snaps · +0.03 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

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — C. Brate (R. Fitzpatrick pass) (Q1 52:26)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — V. McDonald (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q1 51:00)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — A. Brown (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q2 40:40)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — B. Dupree (Q2 32:58)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — R. Switzer (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q2 30:10)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — C. Godwin (R. Fitzpatrick pass) (Q4 11:12)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — M. Evans (R. Fitzpatrick pass) (Q4 5:49)

Field goals

• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q2 42:19)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — C. Catanzaro (Q2 31:17)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — C. Catanzaro (Q3 22:10)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 7–6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the PIT 4 (Q1 52:26) — (7:26) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short middle to 84-C.Brate for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q1 52:21); Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the TB 75 (Q1 51:00) — (6:00) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 89-V.McDonald for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The second quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 31–3. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the TB 20 (Q2 42:19) — (12:19) 9-C.Boswell 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the TB 27 (Q2 40:40) — (10:40) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short right to 84-A.Brown for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the TB 15 (Q2 40:33) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the PIT 98 (Q2 32:58) — (2:58) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short left intended for 32-J.Rodgers INTERCEPTED by 48-B.Dupree at TB 10. 48-B.Dupree for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the TB 15 (Q2 32:50) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected on a field goal from the PIT 3 (Q2 31:17) — (1:17) 7-C.Catanzaro 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-G.Sanborn, Holder-9-B.Anger.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the TB 1 (Q2 30:10) — (:10) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 10-R.Switzer for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the TB 15 (Q2 30:06) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone (Q2 30:00) — END QUARTER 2.

The third quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 3–0. Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected on a field goal from the PIT 10 (Q3 22:10) — (7:10) 7-C.Catanzaro 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-G.Sanborn, Holder-9-B.Anger..

The fourth quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 14–0. Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the PIT 4 (Q4 11:12) — (11:12) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short left to 12-C.Godwin for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q4 11:06) — 7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-89-G.Sanborn, Holder-9-B.Anger.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the PIT 24 (Q4 5:49) — (5:49) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass deep left to 13-M.Evans for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN [91-S.Tuitt].; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q4 5:43).

Turning points

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 51:00) — (6:00) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 89-V.McDonald for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +16.5% · EPA +7.46]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 46:08) — (1:08) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass deep right to 19-J.Smith-Schuster to TB 49 for 43 yards (21-J.Evans) [93-G.McCoy]. Penalty on TB-90-J.Pierre-Paul, Defensive Offside, declined. PENALTY on TB-93-G.McCoy, [WPA +15.6% · EPA +4.32]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q2 35:58) — (5:58) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass deep left intended for 13-M.Evans INTERCEPTED by 34-T.Edmunds at PIT 30. 34-T.Edmunds to TB 35 for 35 yards (32-J.Rodgers). [WPA -15.1% · EPA -5.76]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q2 41:31) — (11:31) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short middle to 12-C.Godwin to TB 35 for 12 yards (25-A.Burns) [90-T.Watt]. FUMBLES (25-A.Burns), RECOVERED by PIT-28-M.Hilton at TB 35. 28-M.Hilton to TB 33 fo [WPA -13.9% · EPA -3.83]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 55:03) — (10:03) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left intended for 19-J.Smith-Schuster INTERCEPTED by 21-J.Evans at TB 47. 21-J.Evans ran ob at TB 47 for no gain. [WPA -12.8% · EPA -5.28]

Impact plays

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 51:00) — (6:00) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 89-V.McDonald for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +16.5% · EPA +7.46]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q2 32:58) — (2:58) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short left intended for 32-J.Rodgers INTERCEPTED by 48-B.Dupree at TB 10. 48-B.Dupree for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -8.3% · EPA -6.47]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q2 35:58) — (5:58) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass deep left intended for 13-M.Evans INTERCEPTED by 34-T.Edmunds at PIT 30. 34-T.Edmunds to TB 35 for 35 yards (32-J.Rodgers). [WPA -15.1% · EPA -5.76]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 55:03) — (10:03) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left intended for 19-J.Smith-Schuster INTERCEPTED by 21-J.Evans at TB 47. 21-J.Evans ran ob at TB 47 for no gain. [WPA -12.8% · EPA -5.28]

Quarterback report card

R.Fitzpatrick led all passers in efficiency for Tampa Bay Buccaneers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• R.Fitzpatrick (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) · 59 dropbacks · 50.8% completion · +1.8% CPOE · +0.03 EPA/play · +1.93 total EPA
• B.Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 43 dropbacks · 69.8% completion · +12.6% CPOE · +0.33 EPA/play · +14.10 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 (-0.00 vs -0.05), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Pittsburgh Steelers: 13 drives, -0.15 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 13 drives, -4.88 total EPA, 6 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.
• 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.

Every scoring play

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

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q1 52:26 · PIT 4 · Score 0-6
   (7:26) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short middle to 84-C.Brate for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q1 52:21 · PIT 15 · Score 0-7
   7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-89-G.Sanborn, Holder-9-B.Anger. PENALTY on PIT-93-D.McCullers, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced between downs
3. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q1 51:00 · TB 75 · Score 6-7
   (6:00) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 89-V.McDonald for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 42:19 · TB 20 · Score 9-7
   (12:19) 9-C.Boswell 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 40:40 · TB 27 · Score 15-7
   (10:40) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short right to 84-A.Brown for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 40:33 · TB 15 · Score 16-7
   9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 32:58 · PIT 98 · Score 22-7
   (2:58) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short left intended for 32-J.Rodgers INTERCEPTED by 48-B.Dupree at TB 10. 48-B.Dupree for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 32:50 · TB 15 · Score 23-7
   9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers FG (+3) — Q2 31:17 · PIT 3 · Score 23-10
   (1:17) 7-C.Catanzaro 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-G.Sanborn, Holder-9-B.Anger.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 30:10 · TB 1 · Score 29-10
    (:10) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 10-R.Switzer for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 30:06 · TB 15 · Score 30-10
    9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+7) — Q2 30:00 · Score 30-10
    END QUARTER 2
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers FG (+3) — Q3 22:10 · PIT 10 · Score 30-13
    (7:10) 7-C.Catanzaro 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-G.Sanborn, Holder-9-B.Anger.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q4 11:12 · PIT 4 · Score 30-19
    (11:12) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short left to 12-C.Godwin for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q4 11:06 · PIT 15 · Score 30-20
    7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-89-G.Sanborn, Holder-9-B.Anger.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q4 5:49 · PIT 24 · Score 30-26
    (5:49) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass deep left to 13-M.Evans for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN [91-S.Tuitt].
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q4 5:43 · PIT 15 · Score 30-27
    7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-89-G.Sanborn, Holder-9-B.Anger. PENALTY on PIT-97-C.Heyward, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced between downs.