Closing spread
NE -3
Total
36.5
Model margin
+1.7est.
PIT perspective
Push chance
7.1%est.
the line sits on a key number
Win probability
- Steelers
- Patriots
How each play moved the game.
Matchup
Where the edges are
Season-long league percentiles for both sides, mirrored. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge.
- +0.099EPA / play+0.044
- 46.5%Success rate44.9%
- +0.228EPA / dropback+0.136
- -0.039EPA / rush-0.028
- 10.3%Explosive rate10.4%
- 45.1%Third-down rate44.9%
- 62.5%Red-zone TD rate56.0%
- 2.15Points / drive1.83
- 2.5%Turnover rate2.1%
- -0.088EPA / play allowed-0.133
Bar length is league percentile, already oriented so longer is better. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge; rows within ~12 points are washed as even.
The rivalry
NE lead 15–5 since 1999
Meetings average 46 points. PIT are 6-13-1 ATS in the series.
Possession by possession
How it unfolded
Every drive: who had the ball, how far it went, how it ended, and the score as it settled.
| Ball | Start | Plays | Yards | Result | NE–PIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIT | Q1 15:00 | 3 | 7 | Turnover | 0–0 |
| NE | Q1 13:33 | 4 | 18 | Field goal | 3–0 |
| PIT | Q1 11:20 | 7 | 30 | Turnover | 9–0 |
| NE | Q1 6:58 | 1 | 60 | Touchdown | 10–0 |
| PIT | Q1 6:49 | 3 | 8 | Punt | 10–0 |
| NE | Q1 4:30 | 3 | -1 | Punt | 10–0 |
| PIT | Q1 3:32 | 4 | 23 | Field goal | 10–3 |
| NE | Q1 1:22 | 6 | 15 | Punt | 10–3 |
| PIT | Q2 12:55 | 5 | 9 | Punt | 10–3 |
| NE | Q2 10:00 | 5 | 70 | Touchdown | 17–3 |
| PIT | Q2 7:08 | 8 | 58 | Opp touchdown | 24–3 |
| PIT | Q2 2:14 | 4 | 17 | Punt | 24–3 |
| NE | Q2 0:40 | 2 | 11 | End of half | 24–3 |
| NE | Q3 15:00 | 3 | -5 | Punt | 24–3 |
| PIT | Q3 13:33 | 5 | 56 | Touchdown | 24–10 |
| NE | Q3 10:54 | 8 | 49 | Touchdown | 31–10 |
| PIT | Q3 7:27 | 10 | 60 | Touchdown | 31–17 |
| NE | Q3 2:35 | 3 | 3 | Punt | 31–17 |
| PIT | Q3 0:43 | 5 | 53 | Field goal | 31–20 |
| NE | Q4 13:29 | 9 | 49 | Field goal | 34–20 |
| PIT | Q4 8:03 | 2 | 6 | Turnover | 34–20 |
| NE | Q4 7:29 | 10 | 55 | Touchdown | 41–20 |
| PIT | Q4 2:23 | 6 | 61 | Touchdown | 41–27 |
| NE | Q4 0:52 | 0 | 0 | End of half | 41–27 |
Box score
Individual performances
Patriots
Passing
| Player | C/Att | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Brady | 14/21 | 207 | 2 | 0 |
Rushing
| Player | Car | Yds | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corey Dillon | 24 | 73 | 3.0 | 1 |
| Deion Branch | 2 | 37 | 18.5 | 1 |
| Kevin Faulk | 3 | 20 | 6.7 | 0 |
| Tom Brady | 2 | -2 | -1.0 | 0 |
| David Givens | 1 | -2 | -2.0 | 0 |
Steelers
Passing
| Player | C/Att | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Roethlisberger | 14/24 | 226 | 2 | 3 |
Rushing
| Player | Car | Yds | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerome Bettis | 17 | 64 | 3.8 | 1 |
| Ben Roethlisberger | 5 | 45 | 9.0 | 0 |
| Duce Staley | 10 | 26 | 2.6 | 0 |
Where this game is likely to land
- Model
- Smooth (normal)
- Betting line
Probability of each final margin. Football scoring clusters — the spikes at 3 and 7 are real, and a smooth model misses them.
Positive margins favour Steelers; negative favour Patriots.
Half-point at risk
7.12%
outcomes that flip if the line moves 0.5
Model home win
53.7%
Expected total
42.5est.
Model
Where the number comes from
Each component is additive, in points of expected margin.
- Team ratings (opponent-adjusted EPA)-0.92
- Home-field advantage+2.56
- Quarterback adjustment0.00
- Rest differential+0.08
- Expected margin+1.72