2007 · Week 3

Final

49ers

San Francisco

QB Alex Smith

16·37

Steelers

Pittsburgh

QB Ben Roethlisberger

Heinz Field · outdoors · dessograss · 72°F · wind 6mph

Closing spread

PIT -10

Total

37.5

Model margin

+5.6est.

PIT perspective

Push chance

3.3%est.

the line sits on a key number

Win probability

  • Steelers
  • 49ers

How each play moved the game.

Steelers wins49ers wins

Matchup

Where the edges are

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

49ersedge mapSteelers
  • -0.254EPA / play+0.055
  • 36.7%Success rate41.8%
  • -0.277EPA / dropback+0.197
  • -0.213EPA / rush-0.100
  • 7.2%Explosive rate9.2%
  • -5.63CPOE+5.79
  • 31.5%Third-down rate47.9%
  • 51.4%Red-zone TD rate63.2%
  • 0.92Points / drive2.10
  • 3.4%Turnover rate2.0%

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

SF lead 4–3 since 1999

SF have won 2 straight. Meetings average 42.1 points. PIT are 4-3 ATS in the series.

Previous meetings
SeasonMatchupScoreWinner
2023 · W1SF @ PIT307SF
2019 · W3PIT @ SF2024SF
2015 · W2SF @ PIT1843PIT
2011 · W15PIT @ SF320SF
2003 · W11PIT @ SF1430SF
1999 · W9PIT @ SF276PIT

Box score

Individual performances

49ers

Passing

PlayerC/AttYdsTDINT
Alex Smith17/3520911

Rushing

PlayerCarYdsAvgTD
Frank Gore14392.80
Alex Smith33210.70
Arnaz Battle188.00

Steelers

Passing

PlayerC/AttYdsTDINT
Ben Roethlisberger13/2016010

Rushing

PlayerCarYdsAvgTD
Willie Parker241335.50
Najeh Davenport5479.41
Ben Roethlisberger11818.00
Hines Ward177.00
Charlie Batch100.00
Cedrick Wilson100.00

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 +106.3%7.4%3.2%5.0%3.3%3.1%

Positive margins favour Steelers; negative favour 49ers.

Half-point at risk

3.30%

outcomes that flip if the line moves 0.5

Model home win

63.9%

Expected total

43.5est.

Model

Where the number comes from

Each component is additive, in points of expected margin.

  • Team ratings (opponent-adjusted EPA)+3.73
  • Home-field advantage+2.56
  • Quarterback adjustment-0.70
  • Rest differential0.00
  • Expected margin+5.60