Menudo Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 (edited) I'm just reviewing the game in my head, and, wow, that game was absolutely crazy. Now, for your viewing pleasure, and to annoy some of my fans, the game in pictures: 1st Quarter The crowd at the RCA Dome was fired up and ready to watch the Colts start on their Super Bowl march. Terrible Towel amongst a sea of blue and white The Steelers come out on fire, with Ben Roethlisberger moving the ball through the air. On the 2nd play of the game, he hits Heath Miller with a beautiful 36 yard pass. Ben and Miller throw the game's first punch 6 Plays later, Ben hits Randle El to give the Steelers the lead. Randle-El celebrates, as the Steelers grab the lead Peyton Manning's first turn on offense didn't last long, as they went 3 and out. Manning gets ready to try to escape his past playoff blunders On the Steelers next drive Ben is hit and intercepted, but the defense steps up and holds the Colts to another 3 and out. On the Steeler's next drive, on 3rd and 10, Roethlisberger and Hines Ward connect on a big play. Ward pusing for more yardage while getting facemasked Ward is finally pushed out of bounds 2 plays later, Ben hits Heath Miller with a bullet and the Steelers go up 14-0, shocking the Colts crowd. The Colts then finally get a first down, but are forced to punt, and the 1st Quarter ends, 14-0 Steelers. 2nd Quarter On the first two drives of the quarter, both defense held tough. Big Ben attempts to elude the speedy Colts front 7 Then the Colts finally got it going on offense, moving from their own 2, all the way to the Steelers 1. The Steelers 'D' stood tall though, and forced the Colts to a Field Goal. Larry Foote stops Edgerrin James just short of the goaline The half ends, Steelers 14 - Colts 3. 3rd Quarter Both defenses started strong, as neither team was able to score on their first possessions. The Steelers were able to pick up some first downs and kill some clock with some nice runs from Parker and Bettis. Willie Parker picks up a solid 9 yard gain After the Colts were sacked and forced to punt from their own 1, the Steelers took advantage of the great field position. They used 6 straight runs, with the last one being a Jerome Bettis 1 Yard Touchdown to extend the lead to 21-3. Bettis soars into the endzone Bettis spikes the ball following his TD Bettis celebrates, as the Steelers seemingly have the game in hand It took Peyton Manning only 6 plays to get the TD back though, after a gutsy call to go for it on 4th and 2 from their own 36 yard line, the Colts had gotten the ball to midfield. 4th Quarter On the 2nd play of the quarter, Peyton Manning hit Dallas Clark for a 50 yard TD, pulling the Colts back to within 11. The Steelers got the ball back and ran off some clock, twice converting 4th down and 1's. One of those coming after a peculiar play where the referees determined there was no false start or offsides after they had ruled a play dead. Cowher questions how there can be no offsides or false start on a play whistled dead The Steelers punted the ball back to Manning and the Colts and seemed to have the game won when Troy Polamalu intercepted a Manning pass, fumbled and recovered the ball. Troy Polamalu recovers his own fumble after an apparent interception In one of the most questionable calls in NFL history, the call is overturned, and the Colts retain possession. 3 plays later, Peyton Manning hit Reggie Wayne for a TD, and then a 2 point conversion, and the Colts were back in the game, only down 3 points with 4:29 still left on the clock. After a pass interference call on the Colts, the Steelers were held quickly, and the Colts got the ball back with one last shot to either tie or win the game. This was the spot the Colts seemingly were made for. Cedrick Wilson is interfered with while attempting to catch a pass from Big Ben After a 2 yard pass to Wayne, Joey Porter broke through and sacked Peyton Manning for a loss of 8 yards. Joey Porter backs up his talk with a HUGH sack at a crucial time Porter celebrates his big play After an incompletion on 3rd down, Joey Porter and James Farrior came through with the apparent game clincher, sacking Manning at the 2 yard line. Porter and Farrior converge on Peyton Manning for the sack Bill Cowher and the Steelers fans were going crazy, they had just beaten the # 1 seeded Indianapolis Colts. Cowher celebrates the sack that appeared to clinch a Steelers victory Steeler fans in Indy celebrate the apparent victory With the ball at the one, the unthinkable happens. Jerome Bettis is trying to score and he fumbles, it is picked up by Nick Harper, who appears to be heading for the unthinkable go ahead TD when Ben Roethlisberger makes his biggest play to date and tackles Harper with a little help from Jerame Tuman. Ben Roethlisberger gets just enough of Harper's knee to save the Steelers However, the Colts unbelievably had another chance, down by 3, the ball at their own 42 and 1:01 on the clock. A 22 yarder to Harrison and an 8 yarder to Wayne set the Colts up at the Steelers 28. On 2nd and 2, Manning took a shot at Wayne in the endzone, but the play was broken up by the Steeler rookie corner, Bryant McFadden. McFadden makes a game-saving pass break-up On 3rd and 2, Manning again is incomplete, setting up a 46 yard field goal attempt for the tie, to be kicked by the most accurate kicker the game has ever seen. The kick sailed extremely wide right, and the Steelers victory was finally complete. Vanderjagt's kick is wide to the right Vanderjagt reacts to his miss The game was over, and despite a lot of adversity in the 4th Quarter, it was time to celebrate, the Steelers had done what almost everybody said they couldn't. They had gone into the RCA Dome and beaten the #1 seeded Indianapolis Colts 21 to 18. The Steelers celebrate the victory Steeler fans back in Pittsburgh celebrate the victory Hines Ward rushes the field in celebration of the Steelers victory James Farrior celebrates the victory with the Steelers fans in the RCA Dome HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO !!!!!! Steelers Edited January 16, 2006 by Menudo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gdawg Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 No doubt. One of the whackiest games in playoff history Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 i've loved the "he missed it" montages on all the highlight reels. classic stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bier Meister Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 stupid kicker! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gdawg Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 IND shouldnt have even been in a position to tie the game, guess it was just Fate. What an insane in the membrane afternoon of football. The second game was almost as full of whacky calls and bizarre plays... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chargerz Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 Vanderjagt's miss gives redemption to one of the worst calls at the goal line I've ever seen (when Cowher calls for a hand-off to Bettis who promptly fumbles it)!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebdog Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 Its a darn goog thing Pittsburgh won, otherwise we'd never hear the end of this game. It would have gone down as the Horse Shoe Game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menudo Posted January 16, 2006 Author Share Posted January 16, 2006 Vanderjagt's miss gives redemption to one of the worst calls at the goal line I've ever seen (when Cowher calls for a hand-off to Bettis who promptly fumbles it)!!!! 1269332[/snapback] That is a tough one to blame on Cowher. The Colts still had 3 timeouts. The Steelers needed a TD there. If they simply down it, the Colts use their timeouts, the Steelers kick the field goal, and the Colts get the ball back with about a minute left needing a TD to win it. The Colts offense can score a TD in 15 seconds, let alone a minute. Also, Bettis hadn't fumbled all season, and has fumbled very little in his entire career. This might sound strange, but, I would have downed it on 1st and 2nd down, and then tried to run it on 3rd. It makes them use their timeouts, and you still take a chance at the score. However, I really can't blame Cowher, a TD wins the game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gdawg Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 That is a tough one to blame on Cowher. The Colts still had 3 timeouts. The Steelers needed a TD there. If they simply down it, the Colts use their timeouts, the Steelers kick the field goal, and the Colts get the ball back with about a minute left needing a TD to win it. The Colts offense can score a TD in 15 seconds, let alone a minute. Also, Bettis hadn't fumbled all season, and has fumbled very little in his entire career. This might sound strange, but, I would have downed it on 1st and 2nd down, and then tried to run it on 3rd. It makes them use their timeouts, and you still take a chance at the score. However, I really can't blame Cowher, a TD wins the game. 1269394[/snapback] Yeah, I think it was the right call. Still, why the HELL was the Bus carrying that ball like a loaf of bread? Too good of a player for that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menudo Posted January 16, 2006 Author Share Posted January 16, 2006 Yeah, I think it was the right call. Still, why the HELL was the Bus carrying that ball like a loaf of bread? Too good of a player for that... 1269404[/snapback] It was one of those helmet to the ball plays. That still doesn't explain why he couldn't hold onto the ball, you are right, there is no excuse for it. My guess, is that he was only thinking of charging into the endzone and winning the game. I am just SO glad that they didn't lose that game. Bettis is one of my favorite players of all-time, obviously for his play, but just as much for his leadership and his actions off the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gdawg Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 Well, you know who I was rooting for in this game but I have nothing but respect for Bettis. It would have sucked for Bettis to go out like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 That is a tough one to blame on Cowher. The Colts still had 3 timeouts. The Steelers needed a TD there. If they simply down it, the Colts use their timeouts, the Steelers kick the field goal, and the Colts get the ball back with about a minute left needing a TD to win it. The Colts offense can score a TD in 15 seconds, let alone a minute. Also, Bettis hadn't fumbled all season, and has fumbled very little in his entire career. This might sound strange, but, I would have downed it on 1st and 2nd down, and then tried to run it on 3rd. It makes them use their timeouts, and you still take a chance at the score. However, I really can't blame Cowher, a TD wins the game. 1269394[/snapback] running it on first down was the right call. you either score and the game is over, or you come up short and they have to use a timeout. or bus fumbles and almost costs you the game seriously though, i think cowher did the only smart thing there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menudo Posted January 16, 2006 Author Share Posted January 16, 2006 Well, you know who I was rooting for in this game but I have nothing but respect for Bettis. It would have sucked for Bettis to go out like that. 1269419[/snapback] I truly think if they had lost on a play like that, Bettis wouldn't have retired. I think he is still on the fence right now. He has never once said he is going to retire. With his new limited role, he might opt to stay, if the Steelers come up short. If they win it, he obviously retires. That would be the fitting ending: The Bus goes back to his hometown of Detroit and leads the Steelers to the Super Bowl victory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gdawg Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 He'd better retire soon, its gotta be getting harder to find pants that fit him Funny, I had the same thought, if the Steelers ended up losing because of his fumble he would come back for next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Beatings Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 I think it is amazing that having been stabbed in the leg by his wife the night before, Harper is the guy to end up with a potential game-winning fumble return! Without a shiv in his knee, maybe he would have made it all the way. Makes you wonder if Harper's wife cost the Colts a trip to the Championship game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gdawg Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 I think it is amazing that having been stabbed in the leg by his wife the night before, Harper is the guy to end up with a potential game-winning fumble return! Without a shiv in his knee, maybe he would have made it all the way. Makes you wonder if Harper's wife cost the Colts a trip to the Championship game. 1269586[/snapback] Hmmm, I wonder how much money Mrs. Harper had on the Steelers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guggs Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 If the Colts had returned that Bettis fumble for a TD, I would have to say that game would have been one of the top games of all time. It reminded me of the miracle at the Meadowlands, Herm Edwards picking up the fumble and scoring the winning TD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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