2005 AFC Divisional playoff game (Pittsburgh–Indianapolis)
The 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers–Indianapolis Colts playoff game was a National Football League (NFL) Divisional Round playoff game between the sixth-seeded Pittsburgh Steelers and the top-seeded Indianapolis Colts, taking place during the 2005–06 NFL playoffs at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana on January 15, 2006.
RCA Dome, site of the game | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | January 15, 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Stadium | RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana | ||||||||||||||||||
| Referee | Pete Morelli | ||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 57,449 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hall of Famers | |||||||||||||||||||
| Steelers: Dan Rooney (owner/administrator), Bill Cowher (head coach), Bill Nunn (scout), Jerome Bettis, Alan Faneca, Troy Polamalu Colts: Bill Polian (general manager), Tony Dungy (head coach), Dwight Freeney, Marvin Harrison, Edgerrin James, Peyton Manning | |||||||||||||||||||
| TV in the United States | |||||||||||||||||||
| Network | CBS | ||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers |
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Although memorable for other reasons, the game is best remembered for a late-game fumble by Steelers running back Jerome Bettis just as the Steelers appeared to have the game won, which was recovered by Colts player Nick Harper and returned near midfield until Ben Roethlisberger made a shoestring tackle to prevent what would have likely been a game-winning touchdown for the Colts. The play, which became known both as The Immaculate Redemption (as a play on the earlier Immaculate Reception that the Steelers were on the winning side of) and The Tackle (not to be confused with an earlier play during Super Bowl XXXIV), has since entered Pittsburgh sports lore, and while initially appearing to be fatal helped the Steelers pull off an upset victory over the Colts. With the victory, the Steelers advanced to the AFC Championship Game, the first-ever number six seed to advance to either an AFC or NFC Championship Game, en route to the team's victory in Super Bowl XL, its first Super Bowl victory in 26 years. In the game's aftermath, organizational changes by the Colts preceded its first Super Bowl victory since moving to Indianapolis in 1984 only one year later.
The game has been featured on NFL Films Game of the Week, and is often marked as one of the greatest NFL games of all-time, as well as one of the biggest upsets in NFL history.