ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 15, 1996 TAG: 9601150106
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: PITTSBURGH
SOURCE: BARRY WILNER ASSOCIATED PRESS
A year ago, the ball bounced away in the end zone, and the Pittsburgh Steelers came up inches short of the Super Bowl. This year, the ball fell to the ground in the same end zone and, by inches, the Steelers are back there at last.
The Steelers didn't fall 3 yards short of the AFC championship on the final play Sunday, as they did in January 1995. They survived, beating the Colts 20-16 when Indianapolis receiver Aaron Bailey couldn't control Jim Harbaugh's last-gasp pass as time expired.
``Maybe it was poetic justice, having been there again with the ball in the air, and an opportunity to win a championship,'' said Bill Cowher, the Steelers' coach.
With the Three Rivers Stadium crowd on its feet to watch a play that seemed to last forever, the ball was tipped, rolled across Bailey's chest, down his left arm and onto the turf before he could grasp it.
For several seconds nobody seemed sure what happened. Two Colts had their arms in the air, signaling touchdown. But then the referee ruled the pass incomplete.
``This erases last year,'' said defensive end Ray Seals, ``because this time we finished it.''
A year of anguish was over and the Steelers were heading for their first Super Bowl since 1980, ending Indianapolis' miracle run. Barely.
``I saw everything in slow motion,'' Bailey said. ``I saw the ball in slow motion. I saw me jump in slow motion. I came down in slow motion. I fought for the ball in slow motion.
``It hit the ground. I am not going to argue with it.''
One year ago, almost to the day, the Steelers drove to the San Diego 3-yard line, where, on their last play, Neil O'Donnell's pass fell incomplete.
One of the defenders on Sunday's final critical pass thought for a moment the Colts had scored.
``I thought he caught it,'' said cornerback Willie Williams, who was in the pack in the right corner of the end zone. ``I was in disbelief. It was sick. I can't explain what I felt.
``I kept looking at the referee and, finally, he signaled incomplete.''
That signal touched off a mob scene on the field as nearly the entire Steelers team gathered to hug and slap hands.
``Today we said we would not be denied,'' said running back Bam Morris, whose 1-yard surge provided the winning touchdown with 1:34 remaining. ``We've been saying for 30 weeks that if it came down to one play, we had to get it done. And we got it done.''
Harbaugh, the league's most efficient passer this season, guided the Colts to the Pittsburgh 29 with five seconds remaining. His pass, and two teams' Super Bowl hopes, hung tantalizingly in the air. The ball, and two cities' championship dreams, came down in a cluster of reaching arms.
As Bailey fell to the ground, the ball dropped into his lap. It rolled in his searching arms as Bailey rolled over.
And it slipped away.
``What a great effort it was,'' Harbaugh said. ``Nobody counted us in, but all of the guys in the locker room believed until the very end.''
The end of the Colts' miracle run provided a spectacular finish to their stunning postseason run. They traveled to San Diego and upset the Chargers, then went to Kansas City and stunned the Chiefs, owners of the best record in the NFL during the regular season.
``All I know is we played our hearts out. We just ran out of miracles,'' Harbaugh said.
Throughout the regular season, when it went 9-7, Indianapolis wasn't considered a legitimate championship possibility. Yet, suddenly, the Colts appeared headed to the Super Bowl after Floyd Turner got loose and caught a 47-yard touchdown pass with six minutes to play.
Instead, the Steelers displayed the fortitude they lacked a year ago. Faced with its biggest challenge, in the most dire situation, Pittsburgh came through.
O'Donnell hit Andre Hastings for 9 yards on fourth-and-three at the Colts' 47 on the winning drive. He then found Mills down the right sideline, putting the ball at the 1.
Morris plunged in two plays later, and redemption belonged to the Steelers, who won all four of their Super Bowl appearances during their glory years.
``Deja vu all over again,'' linebacker Greg Lloyd said, noting there was a major difference in 1996. ``We waited for one whole year to get this trophy. It means so much.''
The Steelers will face the NFC champion Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl on Jan.28 in Tempe, Ariz.
Rookie sensation Kordell Stewart sparked the Steelers' first touchdown drive, and Norm Johnson kicked two field goals for Pittsburgh. The Colts got three field goals from Cary Blanchard.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. 1. The Colts' Aaron Bailey (80) can't hold on to aby CNBdesperation pass in the end zone on the final play of the game
Sunday against Pittsburgh. The Steelers advanced to Super Bowl XXX
with a 20-16 victory in the AFC championship game at Three Rivers
Stadium. color. 2. Pittsburgh running back Bam Morris (33) scores
the winning touchdown as Colts defender Jeff Herrod (54) tries to
prevent it.