:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/42546370/20120302_rvr_bb2_062.0.jpg)
Typically before I write this article each week, I always check to see if something important or noteworthy happened on the specific date. For the first time, I actually got a result.
This happened. And this video sums up my feelings about that.
I will not be focusing on that disaster this week. Instead, I want to focus on a different disappointment.
As we all know the Indianapolis Colts face the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend for the first time since 2011. The starter that day? Kerry Collins. Cue the Forrest Gump video again.
The history of the Colts and Steelers puzzles me a bit. Both teams came into the league around the same time, both teams moved to the AFC at the same time, and as we know, Baltimore and Pittsburgh aren't that far apart. Yet, the two teams have never really been rivals.
In fact, as far as I'm concerned, the two have only met in two meaningful games. One of them, I can't bring myself to write about. The other, the 1995 AFC Championship.
We all know the story of the 1995 Indianapolis Colts. The team wasn't supposed to be great. They had just jettisoned top pick Jeff George and were coached by Ted Marchibroda who had much more success in his first coaching stint with the team.
The starting QB was Craig Erickson, but he was backed up by some guy named Jim Harbaugh.
Eventually Harbaugh became the starter and led the Colts to a 9-7 record and a very unlikely playoff berth. Harbaugh led the league in passing efficiency and won comeback player of the year.
The next week, the Colts faced the top seeded Kansas City Chiefs. A hard fought 10-7 victory gave the Colts a berth in the AFC Title Game against the Steelers. That game was the first in a series of playoff dominance for the Colts over the Chiefs.
The Colts held a 16-13 lead later, but a near pick six kept a late Steelers drive alive when Bam Morris chugged in from one yard out to give them the lead.
Harbaugh had a chance though. The first of the comeback QBs the Colts have trotted onto the field in recent years, he drove the Colts downfield. A nearly completed Hail Mary ended the game and the Colts season.
While disappointing to be so close, it's tough to feel too badly about that game. The Colts exceeded everyone's expectations that season. Plus, I still remain unsure if they could have beaten the Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl. Of course, I assume Harbaugh wouldn't have thrown passes directly to the Cowboys. Twice.
The Colts will face their third AFC North opponent this weekend in the Steelers. The Colts are 6-20 all-time against the Steelers, and 0-5 in the playoffs. The Colts have won two of the last three (regular season) games.