9. 2006 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION INDIANAPOLIS COLTS at 8. 2004 PITTSBURGH STEELERS
8. 2004 PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Record: 15-1
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 11th
Def: 1st
1st AFC North
d. Jets 20-17 Div Rnd
Lost AFC Title Patriots 41-27
HC Bill Cowher OC Ken Whisenhunt DC Dick LeBeau
Heinz Field: 45 degrees
Bill Hillgrove/Myron Cope/Tunch Ilkin
Offense
QB Ben Roethlisberger 22 R Miami
RB Jerome Bettis 32 N Dame
FB Dan Kreider 27 N Hampshire
WR Plaxico Burress 27 Mich St
WR Hines Ward 28 UGA
TE Jerame Tuman 28 Mich
LT Marvel Smith 26 Ariz St
LG Alan Faneca 28 All Pro LSU
C Jeff Hartings 32 All Pro Penn St
RG Keydrick Vincent 26 Ole Miss
RT Oliver Ross 30 Iowa St
Defense
LDE Aaron Smith 28 N Col
NT Chris Hoke 28 R BYU
RDE Kimo von Oelhoffen 33 Boise St
LOLB Clark Haggans 27 Col St
LILB James Farrior 29 All Pro UVA
RILB Larry Foote 24 Mich
ROLB Joey Porter 27 Col St
LCB Willie Williams 34 W Carol
RCB Deshea Townsend 29 Alabama
SS Troy Polamalu 23 USC
FS Chris Hope 24 Florida St
K Jeff Reed 25 UNC
P Chris Gardocki 24 Clemson
KR/PR Antwaan Randel El 25 Indiana
The '04 Steelers went 15-1 (really?) led by the best defense in football; it makes them the 8th seed in the region, the Steelers looking to move their 4th team forward. 28 year old Aaron Smith and 27 year old Joey Porter combined for 15 sacks. 5 picks for 23 year old Troy Polamalu, one All Pro, it's 29 year old James Farrior. It's Ben Roethlisberger's rookie year, he's 22, 18 scores and 11 picks. 13 touchdowns for 32 year old Jerome Bettis. 28 year old Hines Ward had over a thousand yards receiving. Two All Pros on the line, 28 year old Alan Faneca, 32 year old Jeff Hartings.
9. 2006 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Record: 12-4
Pythag: 10-6
Off: 2nd
Def: 23rd
1st AFC South
d. Chiefs 23-8 WC
d. Ravens Div Rnd 15-6
d. Patriots AFC Title 38-34
d. Bears Super Bowl 29-17
HC Tony Dungy OC Tom Moore DC Ron Meeks
Offense
QB Peyton Manning 30 Tenn
RB Dominic Rhodes 27 Midwestern St
WR Marvin Harrison 34 All Pro Syracuse
WR Reggie Wayne 28 Miami
TE Dallas Clark 27 Iowa
TE Ben Utecht 25 Minn
LT Tarik Glenn 30 Cal
LG Dylan Gandy 24 TTech
C Jeff Saturday 31 UNC
RG Jake Scott 25 Idaho
RT Ryan Diem 27 N Illinois
Defense
RDE Robert Mathis 25 Ala A&M
LDT Anthony McFarland 29 LSU
RDT Raheem Brock 28 Temple
RDE Dwight Freeney 26 Syracuse
LLB Gilbert Gardner 24 Purdue
MLB Gary Brackett 26 Rutgers
RLB Cato June 27 Mich
LCB Nick Harper 32 F Vall St
RCB Jason David 24 Wash St
SS Antoine Bethea 22 R Howard
FS Marlin Jackson 23 Mich
K Adam Vinatieri 34 S Dakota St
P Hunter Smith 29 N Dame
KR/PR Terrence Wilkins 31 UVA
It's Bill Cowher v. Tony Dungy; the Colts try to get their 5th team forward to the next round with the 2006 Super Bowl Champs. If they're going to do it, it'll be because of the 2nd best offense in football. Peyton Manning's 30, 35 scores and 9 picks. 34 year old Marvin Harrison had 95 catches for over 1300 yards and 12 scores. 28 year old Reggie Wayne had 86 balls, 1300 yards, 9 TDs. The defense is bad, 25 year old Robert Mathis and 26 year old Dwight Freeney combined for 15 sacks. The '92 Cowboys await the winners; let's go to Pittsburgh for the kick.
1st Qtr
Steelers at the 25.
1/10 - Jerome Bettis for 3, defensive holding on the next play is a first down
1/10 - 10 more for Bettis
1/10 - Duce Staley gets 24 yards and the Steelers are at the Colt 33.
1/10 - 12 for Bettis, Steelers entirely on the ground.
1/10 -17 for Staley - mercy, the Steelers chewing up huge yards on the ground and they are at the 4.
1/goal - Bettis --- Easily Into the End Zone -- TOUCHDOWN STEELERS - The Steelers just lined up and punched the Colts in the mouth - 6 plays, 75 yards -- all runs - easy money.
Colts at the 32.
They get a first down, Peyton Manning 11 yards to Reggie Wayne, but that's all. Steelers at the 34.
1/10 - Dan Kreider loses a yard.
2/11 - First drop back for Roethlisberger -- but there's pressure, he escapes -- runs -- and Ben's going to go for 11 yards and the first down.
1/10 - 9 for Bettis, Steelers into Colt territory.
2/1 - 13 for Kreider and the Steelers are at the 34.
1/10 - Give to Staley -- And It's a Big Hole -- Staley busts through the line -- the 20, the 10 -- Duce Staley Goes Into the End Zone -- TOUCHDOWN STEELERS - Again, the Steelers have yet to throw the ball -- run after run - and a 14 point first qtr lead.
Colts at the 22. Manning to Wayne for 17 on the first play -- on the second play, a Troy Polamalu Interception -- the Steelers take over at the Colt 49, already up 14.
1/10 - 6 for Staley
2/4 - 20 yard pickup for Staley - the Steelers are running the ball literally on every down.
1/10 - Bettis for 6, Steelers at the 17.
2/4 - Play action -- Ben -- End Zone - Randle El --- TOUCHDOWN STEELERS -- Thats a 17 yard strike from Roethlisberger to Randle El -- it is now 21-0 and we still have a minute left in the first qtr. This is an 8/9 matchup - but the Steelers are way, way too much for these Colts.
Colts at the 25, they net 4 on 2 plays and the qtr ends.
2nd Qtr: Steelers 21 Colts 0
The Steelers went 15-1 and they are showing why today, easy domination on the ground, super impressive. Colts 3rd and 6 at the 29.
They don't pick it up, James Harrison with the sack - Steelers take over at the Colt 48.
1/10 - Staley stopped at the line
2/10 - Staley stopped at the line
3/10 - Ben -- to Hines Ward -- that's a 15 yard gain, just the second pass attempt for the Steelers today and they are at the Colt 33.
1/10 - Bettis -- Bettis rolling through the Colts defense - Bettis gets all the way to the Colts 2 yard line before he is knocked out of bounds -- the Steelers have a first and goal at the 2.
The Colts hold them there - short FG makes it 24-0.
Colts get the good Terrence Wilkins return, they will start this drive at the Steeler 40.
1/10 - Dominic Rhodes gets a yard
2/9 - Manning to Ben Utecht -- it's a big gain, 14 yards over the middle to the 27.
1/10 - Rhodes gets 1
2/9 - Addai gets 3.
3/6 - Manning - crossing route to Marvin Harrison - Harrison's first catch, he's got a step -- Marvin Harrison is gonna go -- Into the End Zone -- TOUCHDOWN COLTS - Indianapolis is in the endzone on a 23 yard pass from Manning to Harrison, it's 24-7 Steelers.
Nice run back by Randle El, Steelers start at their own 46.
They get a couple of first downs, all short runs, 4 and 5 yards a clip - one pass, Ben to Bettis -- but the drive ends on a Nick Harper interception of Roethlisberger, the Colts get the ball back just before the 2 minute warning at their own 32.
3 and out. Steelers at their own 27.
1/10 - Staley gets 17 yards and it's the 2 minute warning.
1/10 - Ben - Randle El, 10 yards - Steelers into Colt territory.
1/10 - 10 yards for Bettis, Steelers stop the clock at the Colt 36. 3 plays, 3 first downs.
1/10 - 7 yards for Bettis, Steelers keeping the clock moving - Colts jump offsides on the next play and it's a first down at the 24. Less than 90 seconds left.
1/10 - Give to Slaley, he gets 7 and a timeout for the Steelers.
2/3 - Ben - Ward over the middle and he is brought down at the 3 yard line - Steelers use their final timeout and they have a first and goal with a minute and change.
1/goal - Ben - Endzone -- Plaxico Burress -- TOUCHDOWN STEELERS -- we're about to go into the locker room and this one looks ready for bed. 31-7 Steelers.
Colts can't do anything in the last 45 seconds and it's halftime.
3rd Qtr: Steelers 31 Colts 7
Pittsburgh's not breathing hard today, they are exterminating the '06 Champs.
Colts at the 34.
1/10 - Joseph Addai takes the first play 56 yards -- a home run for Addai, all the way to the 10 yard line.
1/goal - Manning - End Zone -- Harrison -- TOUCHDOWN COLTS - the Colts come right out of the locker room and score, they still trail by 17.
Steelers at the 27.
1/10 - Bettis for 5.
2/5 - Staley loses a yard.
3/5 - Ben - Burress - 11 yards and the first down.
1/10 - Staley loses 3.
2/13 - First carry for Verron Haynes, 10 yards.
3/3 - Ben - quick out to Ward, 6 yards and the first.
1/10 - Bettis for 6.
2/4 - Ben - Ward - 11yards and Pittsburgh is at the 28.
1/10 - Bettis gets 1.
2/9 - Ben - Ben's Going to the Endzone for Burress -- Perfect Shot -- TOUCHDOWN STEELERS - Roethlisberger just drives the nail into the Colts with the 73 yard TD drive ending in the 27 yard TD pass to Burress. 38-14 Steelers.
Colts at the 28. They get a first down, Rhodes 18 yard run - but they punt.
Steelers at their own 13.
1/10 - Staley for 10.
1/10 - Staley for 10.
1/10 - Bettis loses a yard.
2/11 - Staley for 8, Steelers at their own 40.
3/3 - Quick slant to Randle El -- and he gets a step -- Randle El goes 43 yards to the Colts 17 - that's the end of the qtr.
4th Qtr: Steelers 38 Colts 14
This is done, never in doubt - Pittsburgh will place its 4th team into the second round and they'll head to Dallas to face the top seeded Cowboys. 1st down at the Colts 17 when the 4th begins.
1/10 - Ben -- over the middle -- Hines Ward -- He's Going to Race Into The End Zone -- TOUCHDOWN STEELERS - Pittsburgh goes up 45-14, it is a real whipping today.
Colts start at the 34, they have a 5 minute drive to score a TD. Manning to Harrison for 10, to Moorehead for 19, the big gains. Manning to Addai for 11 for the score. TOUCHDOWN COLTS.
Less than 10 minutes left, Steelers ball at their own 37, up 45-21.
11 plays, 10 rushing attempts and a third down where they were going to pass, Ben wound up running for a third down. 7 minute drive, Willie Parker 21 yrd TD run to make it 52-21. TOUCHDOWN STEELERS
And that's it - Colts get 3 first downs, Manning 19 to Harrison, Manning 10 to Wayne, Manning 11 to Addai - but eventually they turn it over on downs, victory formation for the Steelers and it ends.
Final: Steelers 52 Colts 21
Never in doubt, Pittsburgh overwhelms the Colts. 34 firsr downs to 16, 550 yards of total offense, almost 38 minutes time of possession.
Roethlisberger: 13 for 15, 186 yds 4 TD/INT
Manning: 17 for 27, 196 yds 3TD/INT
Staley: 20 carries, 178 yds, 1 TD
Bettis: 18 carries, 125 yds, 1 TD
Addai: 15 carries, 82 yds, 2 catches, 22 yds, TD
Burress: 3 catches, 41 yds, 2 TD
Harrison: 5 catches, 64 yds, 2 TD
Farrior: 15 tackles
Player of the Game: Duce Staley
