Game story
In Week 13 of the 2020 NFL season on 2020-12-07, the Washington Commanders took care of business against the Pittsburgh Steelers, pulling away with a 23–17 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 -0.74 total EPA, and -6.6% completion percentage over expected.
On the individual side, J. Washington (Pittsburgh Steelers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.15 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (-27.8% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Pittsburgh Steelers changed the game: (2:04) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle intended for 85-E.Ebron INTERCEPTED by 53-J.Bostic (90-M.Sweat) at PIT 25. 53-J.Bostic to PIT 25 for no gain (60-J.Hassenauer).
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | — | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Commanders | 3 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 J. Washington · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +6.15 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.54 EPA/play
- 2 C. Sims · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +4.89 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.54 EPA/play
- 3 J. McKissic · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +4.63 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
- 4 L. Thomas · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +4.63 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
- 5 C. Claypool · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +4.31 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
- 6 D. Johnson · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +3.20 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
- 7 A. Smith · Washington Commanders · Passing · +1.32 total EPA · 51 snaps · +0.03 EPA/play
- 8 A. Gibson · Washington Commanders · Rushing · +0.25 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
J. Washington — PIT · Receiving
J. Washington posted the highest total EPA (+6.15) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on Pittsburgh Steelers's efficiency. Across 4 counted snaps, they averaged +1.54 EPA per play.
The signature play (+4.75 EPA) came from Pittsburgh Steelers: (4:03) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 13-J.Washington for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- Pittsburgh Steelers — D. Johnson (B. Roethlisberger pass)
- Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Washington (B. Roethlisberger pass)
- Washington Commanders — P. Barber
- Washington Commanders — L. Thomas (A. Smith pass)
Field goals
- Washington Commanders — D. Hopkins
- Pittsburgh Steelers — M. Wright
- Washington Commanders — D. Hopkins
- Washington Commanders — D. Hopkins
How it unfolded, quarter by quarter
A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.
The second quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 14–3. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the WAS 3 (Q2 40:37) — (10:37) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 18-D.Johnson for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q2 40:33) — 16-M.Wright extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the WAS 50 (Q2 34:03) — (4:03) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 13-J.Washington for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q2 33:54) — 16-M.Wright extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.; Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the PIT 31 (Q2 30:05).
The third quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 7–0. Washington Commanders found the end zone from the PIT 1 (Q3 23:18) — (8:18) (Shotgun) 34-P.Barber up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q3 23:16) — 3-D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way..
The fourth quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 13–3. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the WAS 19 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) 16-M.Wright 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry.; Washington Commanders found the end zone from the PIT 15 (Q4 9:14) — (9:14) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 82-L.Thomas for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN [90-T.Watt].; Washington Commanders added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q4 9:09) — 3-D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way.; Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the PIT 27 (Q4 2:07); Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the PIT 27 (Q4 0:21) — (:21) 3-D.Hopkins 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way..
Turning points
Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 2:04) — (2:04) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle intended for 85-E.Ebron INTERCEPTED by 53-J.Bostic (90-M.Sweat) at PIT 25. 53-J.Bostic to PIT 25 for no gain (60-J.Hassenauer).
- Washington Commanders (Q4 3:10) — (3:10) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass deep right to 89-C.Sims to PIT 27 for 29 yards (20-C.Sutton).
- Washington Commanders (Q4 9:14) — (9:14) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 82-L.Thomas for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN [90-T.Watt].
- Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 44:12) — (14:12) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 18-D.Johnson pushed ob at WAS 33 for 17 yards (53-J.Bostic).
- Washington Commanders (Q4 2:07) — (2:07) 3-D.Hopkins 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way. Penalty on PIT-20-C.Sutton, Defensive Offside, declined.
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 34:03) — (4:03) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 13-J.Washington for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 2:04) — (2:04) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle intended for 85-E.Ebron INTERCEPTED by 53-J.Bostic (90-M.Sweat) at PIT 25. 53-J.Bostic to PIT 25 for no gain (60-J.Hassenauer).
- Washington Commanders (Q3 28:27) — (13:27) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short right to 89-C.Sims to WAS 45 for 31 yards (31-J.Layne).
- Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 35:38) — (5:38) 24-B.Snell up the middle to WAS 1 for no gain (99-C.Young).
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) · 57 dropbacks · 57.9% completion · -6.6% CPOE · -0.01 EPA/play · -0.74 total EPA
- A.Smith (Washington Commanders) · 51 dropbacks · 60.8% completion · +0.7% CPOE · +0.03 EPA/play · +1.32 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | Washington Commanders | Pittsburgh Steelers |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | -0.007 | -0.094 |
| Offensive success rate | 38.0% | 37.1% |
| Pass EPA/play | +0.026 | -0.013 |
| Rush EPA/play | -0.291 | -0.576 |
| Defensive EPA/play | +0.094 | +0.007 |
| Defensive success rate | 62.9% | 62.0% |
By the numbers
Despite the final score, Washington Commanders generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.01 vs -0.09), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 14 drives, -8.40 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
- Washington Commanders: 13 drives, -0.65 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
Key takeaways
What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.
- Washington Commanders 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.
- J. Washington (Pittsburgh Steelers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
- B. Roethlisberger (PIT) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
Every scoring play
Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.
- Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 40:37 · WAS 3 · Score 0-6
(10:37) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 18-D.Johnson for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 40:33 · WAS 15 · Score 0-7
16-M.Wright extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry. - Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q2 34:03 · WAS 50 · Score 0-13
(4:03) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 13-J.Washington for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q2 33:54 · WAS 15 · Score 0-14
16-M.Wright extra point is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry. - Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q2 30:05 · PIT 31 · Score 3-14
(:05) 3-D.Hopkins 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way. Penalty on PIT-97-C.Heyward, Illegal Formation, declined. - Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q3 23:18 · PIT 1 · Score 9-14
(8:18) (Shotgun) 34-P.Barber up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. - Washington Commanders XP (+1) — Q3 23:16 · PIT 15 · Score 10-14
3-D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way. - Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q4 15:00 · WAS 19 · Score 10-17
(15:00) 16-M.Wright 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-K.Canaday, Holder-4-J.Berry. - Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q4 9:14 · PIT 15 · Score 16-17
(9:14) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 82-L.Thomas for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN [90-T.Watt]. - Washington Commanders XP (+1) — Q4 9:09 · PIT 15 · Score 17-17
3-D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way. - Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q4 2:07 · PIT 27 · Score 20-17
(2:07) 3-D.Hopkins 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way. Penalty on PIT-20-C.Sutton, Defensive Offside, declined. - Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q4 0:21 · PIT 27 · Score 23-17
(:21) 3-D.Hopkins 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Washington Commanders vs Pittsburgh Steelers?
The Washington Commanders beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 23-17 in Week 13, 2020 on 2020-12-07.
What was the final score of Washington Commanders vs Pittsburgh Steelers?
The final score was Washington Commanders 23, Pittsburgh Steelers 17 (WAS 23-17 PIT) in Week 13, 2020 on 2020-12-07.
What was the score by quarter in Washington Commanders vs Pittsburgh Steelers?
Q2: Washington Commanders 3, Pittsburgh Steelers 14; Q3: Washington Commanders 7, Pittsburgh Steelers 0; Q4: Washington Commanders 13, Pittsburgh Steelers 3; Final: Washington Commanders 23, Pittsburgh Steelers 17.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Washington Commanders vs Pittsburgh Steelers?
Pittsburgh Steelers touchdown — D. Johnson (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q2 40:37) Pittsburgh Steelers touchdown — J. Washington (B. Roethlisberger pass) (Q2 34:03) Washington Commanders touchdown — P. Barber (Q3 23:18) Washington Commanders touchdown — L. Thomas (A. Smith pass) (Q4 9:14) Washington Commanders field goal — D. Hopkins (Q2 30:05, 3 pts) Pittsburgh Steelers field goal — M. Wright (Q4 15:00, 3 pts) Washington Commanders field goal — D. Hopkins (Q4 2:07, 3 pts) Washington Commanders field goal — D. Hopkins (Q4 0:21, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in Washington Commanders vs Pittsburgh Steelers?
B. Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers), 57.9% completion, -6.6% CPOE, -0.01 EPA per dropback, -0.74 total passing EPA. A. Smith (Washington Commanders), 60.8% completion, +0.7% CPOE, +0.03 EPA per dropback, +1.32 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in Washington Commanders vs Pittsburgh Steelers?
J. Washington (Pittsburgh Steelers) led the game in total EPA with +6.15 on receiving plays. across 4 snaps. The top single-play swing was (+4.75 EPA): (4:03) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 13-J.Washington for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN.. The biggest win-probability swing was -27.8%.
Was Washington Commanders vs Pittsburgh Steelers a close game?
Yes — the margin was 6 points. Washington Commanders won 23-17 in a game that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.
Season records after this game
Washington Commanders
Entered 4-7 Now 5-7 W
Pittsburgh Steelers
Entered 11-0 Now 11-1 L
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