Analyzing the historic point totals of the Steelers’ prime time victory over the Panthers

The Steelers scored early and often in their Thursday night match up with the Carolina Panthers. After trailing 0-7, the Steelers only needed 0:24 to go up 14–7. As the points mounted up, the 2018 Steelers put themselves in elite company within one of the NFL’s most historic franchises.

The following are how the Steelers scoring compares to their all-time franchise marks, both regular season and playoffs, as the game progressed:

1st Quarter: 21 points

This point total is tied for the second most points the Steelers have scored in the opening quarter of a game. In Week 4 of 2016, the Steelers scored 22 points against the Kansas City Chiefs at Heinz Field. The Steelers have scored 21 first quarter points five other times in their history, including home games in 2013, 2004, 1995, and 1990. The Steelers also scored 21 points in the first quarter in Cleveland in 1979. In every one of these 6 games, the Steelers’s were victorious by at least 10 points.

Halftime: 31 points

Before tonight, the Steelers scored 31 points in the first half in 11 games including the post season. The most points the Steelers have ever had in the first half of a game was 38 in 1973 against San Diego. This was the sixth time the Steelers scored 31 points by half time, and every time the Steelers have eclipsed this mark they have gone on to win the game by at least two touchdowns.

End of the 3rd Quarter: 45 points

Thursday night was the third time the Steelers have scored exactly 45 points after three quarters, which is third on their all-time list. The Steelers scored 50 points by the end of the third in 1966 and 48 points in 1954. When reaching this point total before reaching the fourth quarter, the Steelers ‘ have been victorious every time by a minimum of 20 points.

Final: 52 points

Steelers reached 52 points in a game for the first time since 1984 against San Diego, and for the fifth time in their history. The team record for points in a game is 63 against the New York Giants in 1953. The other times the Steelers have reached 52 points was in 1954 with 55 points against Cleveland and in 1966 with 57 points in Atlanta. Of these five games, the smallest margin of victory it was 24 points.

Since the inaugural season of Heinz Field in 2001, Thursday night’s scoring output of 52 points was the most the Steelers have scored in their current home stadium. The Steelers spent the last 14:55 of the game wisely being more concerned about preserving player health than scoring more points in a game which was obviously out of reach. If not, Steelers may have set the all-time franchise record for points scored in a single game.