Steelers Beat the Colts in an Zany Finish
Monday January 16, 2006
I bet there wasn't a Steelers fan in the country sitting down yesterday around 4:00pm, Indy time. The Steelers, who surprised almost everyone but their own fans, came out pounding against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday and entered the fourth quarter with a 21-3 lead. It would take a miracle for the Colts...one they almost got.
It was definitely a heart-stopping fourth quarter for Steelers fans - just as they were starting to get comfortable. That miracle the Colts wanted was born with a sweet 50-yard catch and touchdown by Colts tight end Dallas Clark, bringing the Colts to 21-10. Then it was the unbelievable reversal of the interception by Troy Polamalu, which gave the Colts back their chance. The Colts capitalized, bringing in another touchdown. Suddenly the Steelers runaway was a 3-point game. It couldn't get any worse, could it?
The Steelers defense came up big in the final minutes, sacking Manning twice after the Colts got the ball at their own 18-yard line, and the Steelers took over at the two-yard line. Then the unthinkable happened. Jerome Bettis, who can almost always carry it over the line, was stopped for a 2-yard loss and the helmet of Gary Brackett caused Bettis to fumble. The Colts Nick Harper recovered and headed for the endzone, in the miracle that may have saved the game for the Colts. But Ben Roethlisberger, who played well all day, had saved his biggest play for last. The only Steelers player between Nick Harper and that touchdown, Big Ben managed to tackle Harper at the Colts 42-yard line.
The Colts were still hoping for that miracle, as Manning got them into position for a Vanderjagt field goal. But the 46-yard attempt sailed wide to the right as Steelers fans around the country let out a collective yell of relief.
The win over the heavily favored and No. 1-seeded Colts, advances the No. 6 seed Steelers to the AFC Championship game in Denver against the Broncos.
It was definitely a heart-stopping fourth quarter for Steelers fans - just as they were starting to get comfortable. That miracle the Colts wanted was born with a sweet 50-yard catch and touchdown by Colts tight end Dallas Clark, bringing the Colts to 21-10. Then it was the unbelievable reversal of the interception by Troy Polamalu, which gave the Colts back their chance. The Colts capitalized, bringing in another touchdown. Suddenly the Steelers runaway was a 3-point game. It couldn't get any worse, could it?
The Steelers defense came up big in the final minutes, sacking Manning twice after the Colts got the ball at their own 18-yard line, and the Steelers took over at the two-yard line. Then the unthinkable happened. Jerome Bettis, who can almost always carry it over the line, was stopped for a 2-yard loss and the helmet of Gary Brackett caused Bettis to fumble. The Colts Nick Harper recovered and headed for the endzone, in the miracle that may have saved the game for the Colts. But Ben Roethlisberger, who played well all day, had saved his biggest play for last. The only Steelers player between Nick Harper and that touchdown, Big Ben managed to tackle Harper at the Colts 42-yard line.
The Colts were still hoping for that miracle, as Manning got them into position for a Vanderjagt field goal. But the 46-yard attempt sailed wide to the right as Steelers fans around the country let out a collective yell of relief.
The win over the heavily favored and No. 1-seeded Colts, advances the No. 6 seed Steelers to the AFC Championship game in Denver against the Broncos.
Comments
No comments yet. Leave a Comment