#2 - Steelers 21, Colts 18 (2005) - Top 12 Greatest Wins in Steelers' History (Non-Super Bowl)

I remember thinking before the game that I would be happy if the Steelers just kept it close, which was understandable given the outcome of our game against them earlier in the season. Three quarters later, everything was sunshine and roses as we were leading 21-3. Then it started falling apart. First was the short slant to Dallas Clark, who was the beneficiary of about 100 missed tackles by the Steelers D and took the pass 50 yards to the end zone. Next was the Troy INT. When he snatched the pass, I jumped off the ground and began celebrating like the game was over. The Colts challenged the play out of pure desperation, and as the review dragged on I began wondering if the refs would indeed overturn the call. Everyone was SO desperate to see Pey Pey get a ring, so it was not out of the question in my mind that the refs were thinking along these lines. Even so, seeing Morelli come out and overrule the call on the field made my world fall apart instantly. Being 13 year old at the time, I ran crying up to my room where I stayed for the next 20 minutes, wondering why the magical run had to end so terribly. I was certain that the Steelers would lose; the zebras had given a dead opponent a second life they seemed unlikely to let slip through their greedy fingers. When the Colts lost the ball on downs with barely a minute left, my dad barged into my room and ended my pity party with a proclamation that we had won the game. I rushed to the TV to see that while the game was not quite over, it might as well have been. The Steelers were either going to punch it in for an insurmountable 10-point lead, or make a field goal and force the Colts to score a TD with 1:00 and no timeouts left. As the angst and tension drained from my body, I watched the Steelers line up at the 2. When Jerome fumbled, I thought I was imagining things. There was no way the Colts were getting a third life, not after I had gotten my hopes so high for the second time. I saw Ben make the tackle, but i didn’t appreciate it as much as I would later for obvious reasons. The Colts had 1:20 and 3 timeouts to tie or win, and they were already at midfield. Two quick completions later, they were inside the 30. I thought it was all over, and when they went deep for Wayne I could feel my stomach sink onto the floor. But B-Mac made the play of his career, and Indy lined up for the FG. When Vanderjagt missed, I ran around the house for several minutes, unable to contain my joy and relief. Had the Steelers lost that game, I’m not sure that I wouldn’t still be haunted by it today. Instead I have the DVD and have watched the game several times. What a perfect day that was…

the ups and downs, the yelling at the TV with your dad, The captioning of the picture of Cowher and Foote, “Penis goes where”, to realizing that this would be our year, and of course watching Payton Manning just being discombobulated by our Defense. I was awesome

But maryrose elaborates on this game exquisitely in his book. He covers the game comprehensively here, but in the book, he goes into greater detail about the experience of watching with his daughter, and a similar experience he had had wathching John Henry Johnson and the Steelers upset the Browns back in the 60s.

Great write up here as well, sir.

This is possibly my favorite Steelers game ever (in my life, not counting SBs). I bought the “Road to XL” DVDs primarily to rewatch this game, and boy is it a thriller.

I remember clutching my heart multiple times during this game. I remember my brother and my then-girlfriend (now wife) calming me down. I remember hitting the incredible highs and the depths of despair.

Just a great game.

And as everyone here already knows, I am a universal pessimist on game days. Going into this game, I was 100% certain that the Steelers were going to lose. They got plastered by the Colts in the earlier game, and I thought that it wouldn’t even be close.

Of course, that was back when Dick Lebeau wasn’t a Hall of Famer, and Big Ben wasn’t considered one of the best QBs in the league.

Anyway, great write-up. It really brought me back to that wonderful night.

And oh yeah … I was living in Beechview at the time (oh how I miss it), and this game was so dramatic that my dad and my little brothers all drove over to my house after the game just to talk it out. Good shit. Wish I was still in town to take part in those conversations.

I barely had the energy to walk into the living room, turn on the game and plop down on the couch. I figured we’d get creamed and the loss + the hangover would make the day a total fail. Needless to say, I woke up really quick. The first touchdown got a cheer, the second touchdown brought me out of the couch for good and I don’t think I sat down again. I freaked out for about 3 straight hours and was completely exhausted by the time it was over.

Our upstairs neighbors had a dog that kept on crapping in the back yard, and they never picked it up, so the day after the Colts game my neighbor left them a note telling them to literally clean up their shit. We immediately received a note saying that they will clean up their shit and that, in the meantime, we should do something about “the noise that Andrew makes during football games, at times it sounds like a sports bar other times it sounds like he is destroying things.” If only they’d seen that absurd call on Troy’s pick, they would have understood.

Just think, if not for that terrible review call, two of the top six non-SB wins in Steelers history would have been sealed with Troy interceptions.

In 2005, I was living in Germany. The games always started late and finished in the wee hours of the morning. A friend of mine (Raiders fan) was having a playoff party. I was the lone Steelers fan. Everybody left at halftime and my buddy went to sleep. We all had to work in the morning. So I just finished watching the game.
Like most people, trying to describe the emotional rollercoaster is near impossible. I had to mute my joy when Troy intercepted Peyton. My buddy and his kids were sleeping. Then a had to force my self to be calm when it was overturned. When Joey et al. stopped Peyton on the two yard line, I nearly jumped out of my skin in joy. Minutes later Jerome has THE worst play of his career! Ben tackled Harper. I was so depressed. I knew that the next day EVERYONE would be giving $#!+ for my beloved team snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Then Vandershank missed the field goal. Utter joy! I drove home knowing the Steelers would beat Denver.

• as an added bonus. I won the Superbowl playoff bracket (I was the only one to pick the Steelers to beat Seahawks) and had the first quarter score from the Superbowl grid.

BB SAVED Bettis’ rear end in that game, and got him his super bowl ring..and now, the HOF..would he have gotten in without that victory? Who know, but would you want to go down as the man who fumbles the game away on an apparent win? Bettis should be kissing BB instead of throwing him under the bus!

The ups and downs, The Steelers never giving up the lead. My favorite play is that 4th down play. Dad tuned up a blitz that Peyton did not see coming. I think he fell to the floor instead ofgettin hit. What a wuss. The Polamalu INT was for real and the refs had it wrong. I was late in tuning in to the TV, I think I had to work later in the day. My friend was a Colts fan and she kept swearing that they are going to win. I agreed, but i had a feeling that the Colts would have to play this game and that I thought they were looking ahead to the AFC game. I hate the Colts and I hate that fake noisy stadium full of wagon riders

This was an awesome game to watch. I was screaming at the TV when the ref overturned Troy’s INT…not a pretty picture

For whatever reason, when Jerome scored to make it 21-3, I thought it was in the bag. I don’t know why. With the Colts’ offense being at potent as it was, I should have known better.

But, in reality, if the Troy INT stands, that game probably ends, 28-10 or something. Anyway, when Troy had that pick, I knew the game was over……..then they overturned it. I couldn’t believe it. I kept saying, “I can’t believe they’re trying to take the game from us.” Joey Porter was criticized for saying much the same thing afterwards, but he was expressing what everyone felt at the time. Morelli’s explanation was bizarre and made no sense. So, let me get this straight. Had Troy simply stayed put on the ground, the pick would have stood, but since he tried to get up and prolong the play, it was an incomplete pass? How that official is still in the league is beyond me.

Funny story, after the Colts scored to make it 21-18 and the Steelers were forced to punt with 2:42 left, I’m ashamed to say that I left my uncle’s house. I just couldn’t take it. I just drove around with the radio off but was estatic when I turned it on and heard Hillgrove singing “turn out the lights, the party’s over.” Which proves my point that I can still be overjoyed despite missing something. Although, I had no idea all that I missed in that little ten minute window.

Can’t wait to see what number 1 is.

When my parents came over from Germany last summer to visit me and the college, it was during training camp. After watching a few practices, my dad got intrigued. He is an avid soccer fan born in a region that is pretty much exactly the Pittsburgh of Germany: Steel and coal industries dominated for centuries, and the local team is more than just a soccer team – it is a lifestyle. Needless to say, his interest was sparked, but he still needed some convincing from me to be completely into it.

So when visiting my family in Germany this summer, I took my ‘Road to XL’ DVD with me and showed him just one game – 2005, AFC divisional playoff game, Steelers vs. Colts. I told him some of the necessary facts before watching the game (Bettis one of the greatest RB of all times, 2nd year QB, Colts domination of the Steelers in the regular season, etc), but then did something I can never do when watching the Steelers: I kept to myself.

During the game, his facial expression turned from sceptical to curious, and then finally to delight. I probably watched him more than I watched the game (I have watched it so many times, I could probably to a blind play-by-play by now), but he didn’t notice. His eyes were focused on the TV, from the opening kickoff until the final play. When the game was over, it was after 11pm. Still, he looked at me and only said a few words: “Let’s watch the next one.” This game made my father, living all the way in Germany where no football games aside from the Super Bowl are broadcast on regular TV, become a passionate Steeler fan. Needless to say, for Christmas a Steelers Jersey is coming his way.

When I saw Harper pick up the ball and start taking it the other way all I could think was that Bettis’s very last touch in the NFL would be the all-time goat highlight of the NFL. . . and that he didn’t deserve that. Honestly, that entire thought went through my head in those few seconds — maybe because it seemed like time stood still. That postseason was such a triumphant march. And so incredibly gratifying.

I was sitting on my futon, chatting (read: Talking smack) with a quasi-friend of mine, who just happened to be a Bengals fan, on the Mud (text-based RPG) I used to play.

When Vanderjagt shanked that kick, I yelled so loud my GF at the time, almost jumped out of her seat across the room. And oh yeah, she’s a deaf.

I spammed the hell out of the open chat channel on the Mud. It drove most of the community nuts, but I didn’t care.

Later that week, I was walking to the store to get smokes, wearing my #7 jersey, and some She-hawks fans drove by and yelled “Steelers suck!”. It was most humorous.

Couldnt believe it. The ups and downs. Bettis’s fumble. Yelling at the refs(TV) when they waved off the interception. Imagine if any other player than Harper picked up that ball, TD and possible game over

On a side note, I think that was one of our defenses all time performances. Seeing Peyton running for his life, and getting nailed, is something that doesnt happen very often.

True bliss of a football game. Should be noted in NFL History as one of the best and entertaining games ever played

Cheers MaryRose. Absolutely brilliant