By Darin A Game of Inches and Heartbeats
Football is frequently described as a game of inches, but on January 14, 1996, it was a game of fingertips. The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the AFC Championship at Three Rivers Stadium as heavy favorites, but they ran into a “Cardiac Colts” team that refused to follow the script. Led by the gutsy Jim Harbaugh—affectionately known as “Captain Comeback”—Indianapolis pushed the Blitzburgh defense to the absolute brink in a defensive struggle that culminated in one of the most iconic final plays in playoff history.
Article from Jan 15, 1996 The Modesto Bee (Modesto, California)
The Defensive Slog and the Final Charge
For much of the afternoon, the game was a tactical chess match. The Steelers’ “Zone Blitz” defense, orchestrated by Bill Cowher and Dick LeBeau, struggled to pull away from a resilient Colts squad. With just over two minutes remaining, the Steelers took a 20-16 lead thanks to a Bam Morris touchdown run.
However, Harbaugh wasn’t finished. He orchestrated a masterful final drive, marching the Colts down to the Pittsburgh 29-yard line with only seconds remaining. On the game’s final play, Harbaugh launched a towering Hail Mary into a sea of black and gold jerseys in the end zone.
The ball was deflected and appeared to land squarely on the chest of Colts receiver Aaron Bailey. For a fleeting second, Three Rivers Stadium fell silent, fearing the upset was complete. However, as Bailey hit the turf, the ball bobbled loose, hitting the ground just as he attempted to secure it. The pass was ruled incomplete, and the Steelers escaped with their lives.
A Legacy of Survival
The Steelers’ 20-16 victory propelled them to Super Bowl XXX, ending the franchise’s 16-year drought without a championship appearance. For Indianapolis, it was a heartbreaking end to a Cinderella season, but for NFL fans, it remains a gold standard for playoff drama. The image of Bailey sitting in the end zone, inches away from glory, serves as a permanent reminder of how thin the line is between a legendary victory and a devastating defeat.
