Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Tennessee Titans: 2002 Week 11 Recap

Game story

In Week 11 of the 2002 NFL season on 2002-11-17, the Tennessee Titans took care of business against the Pittsburgh Steelers, pulling away with a 31–23 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 19 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

S. McNair (Tennessee Titans) paced the passing game, with +11.84 total EPA.

On the individual side, H. Ward (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +14.88 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+24.0% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Pittsburgh Steelers changed the game: (15:00) 8-T.Maddox pass to 86-H.Ward for 72 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 H. Ward · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +14.88 total EPA · 15 snaps · +0.99 EPA/play
2. 2 K. Stewart · Pittsburgh Steelers · Passing · +12.68 total EPA · 18 snaps · +0.70 EPA/play
3. 3 S. McNair · Tennessee Titans · Passing · +11.84 total EPA · 36 snaps · +0.33 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Mathis · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +5.95 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.49 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Mason · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +4.73 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
6. 6 K. Dyson · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +4.39 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
7. 7 J. McCareins · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +4.20 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.10 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Bennett · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +1.57 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.57 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

• Pittsburgh Steelers — H. Ward (T. Maddox pass) (Q1 60:00)
• Tennessee Titans — K. Dyson (S. McNair pass) (Q1 57:16)
• Tennessee Titans — E. George (Q2 33:00)
• Tennessee Titans — K. Dyson (S. McNair pass) (Q3 18:55)
• Tennessee Titans — E. George (Q3 15:33)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — T. Mathis (K. Stewart pass) (Q4 3:29)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — H. Ward (K. Stewart pass) (Q4 1:32)

Field goals

• Tennessee Titans — J. Nedney (Q4 8:09)

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 7–7. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the TEN 72 (Q1 60:00) — (15:00) 8-T.Maddox pass to 86-H.Ward for 72 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the TEN 2 (Q1 59:45) — 2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-T.Maddox.; Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the PIT 1 (Q1 57:16) — (12:16) 9-S.McNair pass to 87-K.Dyson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Tennessee Titans added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q1 57:12) — 6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-60-A.Graham, Holder-15-C.Hentrich..

The second quarter: Tennessee Titans won the period 7–0. Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the PIT 4 (Q2 33:00) — (3:00) 27-E.George up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tennessee Titans added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q2 32:55) — 6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-60-A.Graham, Holder-15-C.Hentrich..

The third quarter: Tennessee Titans won the period 14–0. Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the PIT 9 (Q3 18:55) — (3:55) 9-S.McNair pass to 87-K.Dyson for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tennessee Titans added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q3 18:48) — 6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-60-A.Graham, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.; Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the PIT 5 (Q3 15:33) — (:33) 27-E.George up the middle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tennessee Titans added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q3 15:28) — 6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-60-A.Graham, Holder-15-C.Hentrich..

The fourth quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 16–3. Tennessee Titans connected on a field goal from the PIT 25 (Q4 8:09) — (8:09) 6-J.Nedney 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-A.Graham, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the TEN 4 (Q4 3:29) — (3:29) (Shotgun) 10-K.Stewart pass to 88-T.Mathis for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on TEN-31-L.Schulters, Defensive Offside, declined.; Pittsburgh Steelers registered a safety from the TEN 2 (Q4 3:25) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 10-K.Stewart pass to 35-D.Kreider is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the TEN 4 (Q4 1:32) — (1:32) (Shotgun) 10-K.Stewart pass to 86-H.Ward for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers registered a safety from the TEN 2 (Q4 1:28) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 82-A.Randle El pass to 86-H.Ward is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

Turning points

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 60:00) — (15:00) 8-T.Maddox pass to 86-H.Ward for 72 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +24.0% · EPA +6.69]
• Tennessee Titans (Q1 49:17) — (4:17) 9-S.McNair FUMBLES (Aborted) at TEN 41, RECOVERED by PIT-55-J.Porter at TEN 36. 55-J.Porter to TEN 36 for no gain (9-S.McNair). [WPA -19.1% · EPA -5.79]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 48:35) — (3:35) 36-J.Bettis right end to TEN 43 for -9 yards. Pass back to 8-T.Maddox. 8-T.Maddox pass intended for 86-H.Ward INTERCEPTED by 31-L.Schulters at TEN -2. Touchback. Penalty on PIT-8-T.Maddox, Ille [WPA -12.9% · EPA -3.30]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 51:54) — (6:54) 2-T.Peterson 31 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-T.Maddox. [WPA -11.8% · EPA -3.42]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 57:26) — (12:26) (Shotgun) 8-T.Maddox pass intended for 80-P.Burress INTERCEPTED by 59-P.Sirmon at PIT 26. 59-P.Sirmon to PIT 1 for 25 yards (66-A.Faneca). [WPA -11.1% · EPA -4.53]

Impact plays

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 60:00) — (15:00) 8-T.Maddox pass to 86-H.Ward for 72 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +24.0% · EPA +6.69]
• Tennessee Titans (Q1 49:17) — (4:17) 9-S.McNair FUMBLES (Aborted) at TEN 41, RECOVERED by PIT-55-J.Porter at TEN 36. 55-J.Porter to TEN 36 for no gain (9-S.McNair). [WPA -19.1% · EPA -5.79]
• Tennessee Titans (Q3 16:26) — (1:26) (Shotgun) 9-S.McNair pass to 86-J.McCareins to PIT 5 for 55 yards (30-C.Scott). [WPA +2.0% · EPA +4.87]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 57:26) — (12:26) (Shotgun) 8-T.Maddox pass intended for 80-P.Burress INTERCEPTED by 59-P.Sirmon at PIT 26. 59-P.Sirmon to PIT 1 for 25 yards (66-A.Faneca). [WPA -11.1% · EPA -4.53]

Quarterback report card

S.McNair led all passers in efficiency for Tennessee Titans, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• S.McNair (Tennessee Titans) · 36 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · +0.33 EPA/play · +11.84 total EPA
• T.Maddox (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 30 dropbacks · 46.7% completion · -0.09 EPA/play · -2.82 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Tennessee Titans held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.08 vs +0.02), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Pittsburgh Steelers: 12 drives, +1.39 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Tennessee Titans: 13 drives, +7.30 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Tennessee Titans leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• H. Ward (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. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q1 60:00 · TEN 72 · Score 6-0
   (15:00) 8-T.Maddox pass to 86-H.Ward for 72 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q1 59:45 · TEN 2 · Score 7-0
   2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-T.Maddox.
3. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q1 57:16 · PIT 1 · Score 7-6
   (12:16) 9-S.McNair pass to 87-K.Dyson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Tennessee Titans XP (+1) — Q1 57:12 · PIT 2 · Score 7-7
   6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-60-A.Graham, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.
5. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q2 33:00 · PIT 4 · Score 7-13
   (3:00) 27-E.George up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Tennessee Titans XP (+1) — Q2 32:55 · PIT 2 · Score 7-14
   6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-60-A.Graham, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.
7. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q3 18:55 · PIT 9 · Score 7-20
   (3:55) 9-S.McNair pass to 87-K.Dyson for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Tennessee Titans XP (+1) — Q3 18:48 · PIT 2 · Score 7-21
   6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-60-A.Graham, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.
9. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q3 15:33 · PIT 5 · Score 7-27
   (:33) 27-E.George up the middle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Tennessee Titans XP (+1) — Q3 15:28 · PIT 2 · Score 7-28
    6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-60-A.Graham, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.
11. Tennessee Titans FG (+3) — Q4 8:09 · PIT 25 · Score 7-31
    (8:09) 6-J.Nedney 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-A.Graham, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 3:29 · TEN 4 · Score 13-31
    (3:29) (Shotgun) 10-K.Stewart pass to 88-T.Mathis for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on TEN-31-L.Schulters, Defensive Offside, declined.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers Safety (+2) — Q4 3:25 · TEN 2 · Score 15-31
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 10-K.Stewart pass to 35-D.Kreider is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 1:32 · TEN 4 · Score 21-31
    (1:32) (Shotgun) 10-K.Stewart pass to 86-H.Ward for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers Safety (+2) — Q4 1:28 · TEN 2 · Score 23-31
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 82-A.Randle El pass to 86-H.Ward is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.