2006 · Week 9

Final

Broncos

Denver

QB Jake Plummer

31·20

Steelers

Pittsburgh

QB Ben Roethlisberger

Heinz Field · outdoors · dessograss · 53°F · wind 5mph

Closing spread

PIT -3

Total

36.5

Model margin

+3.4est.

PIT perspective

Push chance

7.5%est.

the line sits on a key number

Win probability

  • Steelers
  • Broncos

How each play moved the game.

Steelers winsBroncos wins

Matchup

Where the edges are

Season-long league percentiles for both sides, mirrored. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge.

Broncosedge mapSteelers
  • -0.045EPA / play+0.004
  • 40.7%Success rate43.1%
  • -0.060EPA / dropback+0.069
  • -0.028EPA / rush-0.085
  • 8.8%Explosive rate9.2%
  • -2.37CPOE+1.04
  • 37.1%Third-down rate43.2%
  • 62.0%Red-zone TD rate48.8%
  • 1.52Points / drive1.68
  • 2.8%Turnover rate3.3%

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

DEN lead 7–6 since 1999

PIT have won 3 straight. Meetings average 45 points. PIT are 5-7-1 ATS in the series.

Previous meetings
SeasonMatchupScoreWinner
2024 · W2PIT @ DEN136PIT
2021 · W5DEN @ PIT1927PIT
2020 · W2DEN @ PIT2126PIT
2018 · W12PIT @ DEN1724DEN
2015 · playoffsPIT @ DEN1623DEN
2015 · W15DEN @ PIT2734PIT
2012 · W1PIT @ DEN1931DEN
2011 · playoffsPIT @ DEN2329DEN

Box score

Individual performances

Broncos

Passing

PlayerC/AttYdsTDINT
Jake Plummer16/2722730

Rushing

PlayerCarYdsAvgTD
Javon Walker17272.01
Mike Bell17281.60
Cedric Cobbs393.00
Jake Plummer263.00

Steelers

Passing

PlayerC/AttYdsTDINT
Ben Roethlisberger38/5443313

Rushing

PlayerCarYdsAvgTD
Willie Parker14705.01
Najeh Davenport2178.50
Ben Roethlisberger393.00

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.

line +33.8%6.8%7.5%3.1%4.8%3.1%2.8%

Positive margins favour Steelers; negative favour Broncos.

Half-point at risk

7.52%

outcomes that flip if the line moves 0.5

Model home win

58.1%

Expected total

44.1est.

Model

Where the number comes from

Each component is additive, in points of expected margin.

  • Team ratings (opponent-adjusted EPA)+0.81
  • Home-field advantage+2.56
  • Quarterback adjustment0.00
  • Rest differential0.00
  • Expected margin+3.37