Closing spread
IND -8.5
Total
46.5
Model margin
+2.8est.
IND perspective
Push chance
None
half-point line — cannot push
Win probability
- Colts
- Steelers
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.
- +0.057EPA / play+0.188
- 43.9%Success rate51.2%
- +0.202EPA / dropback+0.339
- -0.067EPA / rush-0.007
- 9.7%Explosive rate8.0%
- 35.7%Third-down rate50.1%
- 63.9%Red-zone TD rate63.1%
- 1.99Points / drive2.60
- 2.0%Turnover rate1.5%
- -0.084EPA / play allowed-0.061
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
PIT lead 12–4 since 1999
PIT have won 2 straight. Meetings average 46.8 points. IND are 6-10 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 | PIT–IND |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIT | Q1 15:00 | 10 | 84 | Touchdown | 7–0 |
| IND | Q1 9:25 | 3 | 2 | Punt | 7–0 |
| PIT | Q1 8:35 | 3 | 18 | Turnover | 7–0 |
| IND | Q1 7:11 | 3 | 3 | Punt | 7–0 |
| PIT | Q1 6:05 | 7 | 64 | Touchdown | 14–0 |
| IND | Q1 3:12 | 5 | 20 | Punt | 14–0 |
| PIT | Q1 0:20 | 3 | 8 | Punt | 14–0 |
| IND | Q2 13:57 | 3 | 0 | Punt | 14–0 |
| PIT | Q2 13:35 | 6 | 13 | Punt | 14–0 |
| IND | Q2 10:59 | 14 | 98 | Field goal | 14–3 |
| PIT | Q2 1:20 | 4 | 7 | End of half | 14–3 |
| IND | Q3 15:00 | 6 | 24 | Punt | 14–3 |
| PIT | Q3 11:34 | 10 | 39 | Punt | 14–3 |
| IND | Q3 5:49 | 3 | -8 | Punt | 14–3 |
| PIT | Q3 4:47 | 6 | 30 | Touchdown | 21–3 |
| IND | Q3 1:26 | 6 | 72 | Touchdown | 21–10 |
| PIT | Q4 14:09 | 12 | 37 | Punt | 21–10 |
| IND | Q4 6:03 | 6 | 80 | Touchdown | 21–18 |
| PIT | Q4 4:24 | 4 | 4 | Punt | 21–18 |
| IND | Q4 2:31 | 4 | -16 | Turnover on downs | 21–18 |
| PIT | Q4 1:20 | 1 | -5 | Turnover | 21–18 |
| IND | Q4 1:01 | 4 | 30 | Missed field goal | 21–18 |
| PIT | Q4 0:17 | 0 | 0 | End of half | 21–18 |
Box score
Individual performances
Steelers
Passing
| Player | C/Att | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Roethlisberger | 14/24 | 197 | 2 | 1 |
Rushing
| Player | Car | Yds | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willie Parker | 17 | 59 | 3.5 | 0 |
| Jerome Bettis | 17 | 46 | 2.7 | 1 |
| Ben Roethlisberger | 5 | -3 | -0.6 | 0 |
Colts
Passing
| Player | C/Att | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peyton Manning | 22/38 | 290 | 1 | 0 |
Rushing
| Player | Car | Yds | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edgerrin James | 13 | 56 | 4.3 | 1 |
| Dominic Rhodes | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 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 Colts; negative favour Steelers.
Half-point at risk
1.21%
outcomes that flip if the line moves 0.5
Model home win
56.4%
Expected total
45.6est.
Model
Where the number comes from
Each component is additive, in points of expected margin.
- Team ratings (opponent-adjusted EPA)-0.37
- Home-field advantage+2.56
- Quarterback adjustment0.00
- Rest differential+0.56
- Expected margin+2.75